This practical course is designed for beginners and will accommodate the expressed needs and interests of the students. The unit of study is short prose - fiction and non-fiction. However, non-prose writing will be included to explore different considerations and techniques. Build on your understanding and enjoyment of writing by developing theme, plot, structure, settings, characterisation, dialogue and editing.

Confused about how to find or create your voice as a writer? Practical techniques and exercises will help you discover and use the voices and styles within you.

Readers today want fast moving stories. So, how do you describe settings, characters, add emotional punch, and explain the background information and technical details your readers need to know without turning them away? Learn effective ways of making descriptions and explanations streamlined, while still including the pertinent and interesting details.

Discover what Point of View really is and how to select the best POV for your story. Learn how to establish and maintain a POV, how to use limited and multiple narrators, how to switch POV effectively, and more.

Lack of editing is a major reason publishers reject manuscripts. New writers often believe editing means spell checking, but editing is much more. This course will help you better understand the writing process and introduce the techniques that will make you an effective editor. Also included is information on critiquing manuscripts, and writing partners and groups.

You've written a story, article, play, novel, poem. Now what? Get advice on the publishing industry including where to send your manuscript, copyright, agents, appraisal services, pseudonyms, grants and manuscript presentation. Vital information on how to write a query letter and a synopsis is included. The tutor prefers that students have a completed piece of writing that they are considering having published.

Digital print technology has dramatically changed self-publishing with eBooks and POD, but also in the areas of marketing and promotion. This course will cut through the hype and misinformation providing you with the information you really need to know.

Nowadays both traditional and self-published writers need to understand marketing. This course will help you build your platform both online and in the real world, and create a marketing plan to suit your needs and your budget. Suitable for writers of fiction and non-fiction.

Cut through the hype and contradictory advice about social media marketing. In this hands-on project-based class, learn how to make social media marketing work for you, with or without advertising, and create eye-catching and engaging posts for the platforms you decide are best for you and your book.

Interested in writing poetry but don’t know where to start? In this course you’ll explore various types of poetry, both rhymed and unrhymed, and get information on publishing and competitions. Come along and ignite, or reignite, your passion for poetry.