Throughout the course, you will learn key elements to writing fiction such as:

• Creating believable characters
• Developing plots that will keep your readers reading
• Creating a strong sense of place
• Writing believable dialogue
• Structuring a novel or short story; and
• Getting your book out into the world

Detailed Course Outline

This course is made up of a number of lessons or units. Each of these has self assessment questions, a set task (practical homework) and an assignment which you can upload online.

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction

• • What is Fiction
  • Writer’s Notebook
  • Types of Fiction
  • Genres and Tropes
  • Considering your Audience

2. Elements of a Story

• • What are Story Elements
  • Where do Ideas Come from?
  • Brainstorming
  • Write What You Know

3. Character

• • Protagonist vs Antagonist
  • Minor Characters
  • Character Motivation
  • Creating Realistic Characters
  • Goodies vs Baddies

4. Conflict

• • Why us Conflict Important in Fiction
  • Types of Conflict
  • Using Conflict to Drive your Story
  • The Cost of the Conflict

5. Plot

• • Plotters vs Pantsers
  • A Simple Approach to Plot
  • A More Detailed Plot Structure
  • Creating a Character Arc

6.Setting

• • The Power of Words
  • Using the Five Senses
  • Show, Don’t Tell

7. Writing Dialogue

• • Dialogue Punctuation
  • Writing Convincing Dialogue
  • What is Your Character’s Motivation
  • Knowing when to Start and End Your Dialogue
  • Dialogue Tags

8. Style

• • Past Tense vs Present Tense
  • Point of View
  • Tone and Voice

9. Outlining your Story and Writing your First Chapter

• • Creating a Story Outline
  • Writing the First Chapter

10. Getting Your Work Out there

• • The Editing and Drafting Process
  • Getting Your work out into the world
  • Other Opportunities

When you have completed the lessons of your course, you will be given the option of taking the optional exam. It’s okay if you don’t want the exam, we still issue your Careerline Certificate. For Advanced Certificates however, the exam is compulsory (per module) and are included in the course fee.