Charlie Laidlaw is an author and tutor at Creating Writers

There are lots of creative writing courses out there.  Some are good, bad and ugly.

Our Diploma course is, we believe, a little bit different.  For a start, if you successfully complete the course, you get an accredited Diploma.

It’s a qualification that might be useful in your career, let alone in your writing journey.

The course can be completed in between six and eight months.  But don’t worry if it takes longer; we want to be as flexible as possible.  We know you have other commitments.

The course is aimed mainly at anyone who would like to write a novel, but feels a little daunted at the prospect.   After all, most of us want to write a book but never quite get around to it.

And over 90% of people who start to write a book never finish it.

Pressures

There are always competing pressures on our time, from work to family to friends.  There are always obstacles to overcome.  Not least knowing where and how to start, and feeling a little overwhelmed.

This course will help you overcome those obstacles and, we hope, mark the start of a whole new journey for you.  Wherever that journey takes you, we’re on your side.

Some of you may dream of becoming a successful author, whether of fiction or non-fiction.  You may already have ideas for the next crime thriller, chick-lit romance, or children’s book.

But not everyone on this course may have that ambition.  It may be that you simply want to become a better writer, because that could help your career.

This course is about helping you to understand what makes good writing.  The literary components that fit together to form a well-told story.  If you understand them, then you’ll be well on your way to becoming a better writer.

During the course, we’ll be on hand to answer your questions and provide more detailed feedback.  Not just through the school portal but face-to-face every week on Skype.

Our objective is to give you the building blocks for better writing.  What you choose to build with them is up to you but, don’t worry, we’re always here to help.

Encourage

Remember: creative writing is all about being a storyteller, and to be a storyteller you need a story to tell and the skills to tell it well.  This course aims to give you those storytelling skills.

During the course you’ll be set writing assignments.  These are all aimed at giving you an understanding of plot and character, and everything else.

But they’re also aimed at getting you to think forensically about writing.  If you’re serious about writing a book, you’ll also start writing it on the course.

We’re not here to judge, but to encourage.  And the first step on the course is to understand your writing ambitions.  That way we can better build the course around you.

It’s immersive and challenging, but fun.  Because, more than anything, writing should be something to enjoy.

At Creating Writers, that’s what we hope to do.  Make it fun, but also turn you into a writer with all the confidence and skills you’ll need to succeed.

That’s what makes our Diploma course a little bit special.  It’s practical, inspiring and with a real qualification at the end of it.

Want to know more?  Contact us here.

Photo by Lukas Blazek on Unsplash