Creative Writing - Beginners (Cherwell School) - Summer

Course code: WCXR104P

Subject area: English

Study level: Part Time

Course level: E

Course details

6:30pm - 8:30pm

Thursday

22nd Apr 2021 - 8th Jul 2021

The Cherwell School

Contact details

enquiries@abingdon-witney.ac.uk

01235 555 585

Have you always wanted to write and never found the time – or summoned up the courage? Do you write but never quite see things through to a conclusion? Would you just like to dip your toes into the water and give it a try? Not sure how to begin? Or how to shape an idea?

This is the course for anyone who wants to write or try writing. Your tutor has written 6 crime fiction novels, as well as short stories, non-fiction and a couple of scripts for short films. He knows the ups and downs of writing and getting published and will lead you gently through the process of freeing your inner writer and exploring some of the many elements of creative writing.

The course will cover many of the following, but allowance will be made for the specific needs and aims of the students who attend:

• Short stories and novels
• How to get started and find inspiration
• How to shape a story – story arc, sub-plots and building tension
• How to create and develop strong and interesting characters
• How to write convincing dialogue
• First and third person points of view
• How to review and edit drafts
• Writing for stage and screen
• Poetry and/or music lyrics
• Blogging and writing for magazines/websites
• How to get published

The final lesson of the course will concentrate on exploring the different publication options available for learners, based on their work and genre preferences - including books, magazines, internet, outlets for film, TV and stage scripts, as well as self-publishing.

Please note there will be no teaching sessions on 03/06/2021

Abingdon and Witney College is subject to Ofsted regulation and is required to work with all its students to make sure they understand Government initiatives around Safeguarding, Prevent and Fundamental British Values. Information on these matters will be shared with you during your course.

You will also be asked to complete monitoring paperwork, which helps us to deliver course content to the highest quality.

There are no specific entry requirements, but you will be expected to do written exercises in class and (to make the most of it) as homework.
You will need to come with notebook and pen (or laptop if they prefer).

Please note - you should be 19 years old or over at 31st August 2020 prior to starting the course.

Courses can fill fast, so please enrol early to avoid disappointment. Decisions on whether a course is to run are made two weeks prior to the start date - an email will be sent to you should there be changes to your course or if it is cancelled. Please check your inbox leading up to your course, including the junk folders. For anyone without an email account, our Admissions team will phone you instead.

For the first week of the course you will need to bring a valid form of identification; this includes passport, driving licence, debit/credit card, Birth Certificate or National Insurance card.

Please note - you should be 19 years old or over at 31st August 2020 prior to starting the course.
Courses offered by the college are fully or partly funded by the Government and the published fee takes account of this funding.

Before starting a course, the College is required to check you meet conditions relating to that funding, e.g. age, residency status within the UK/EEA, prior qualification level and employment status. In some circumstances (such as with online enrolments), these checks can only be completed after you have enrolled and paid.

If you are unable to pay in full for this course at the time of enrolment, and the course tuition fee is £300 or more, an instalment plan is available. If this is your preference, please do not enrol online but rather call the Admissions Team on 01235 216400 to enrol.

Once enrolled, Admissions will take the first instalment payment from you and pass on your details to the Finance team who will email you to set-up your payment plan. Please return a fully completed instalment plan to Finance as failure to do so could result in being withdrawn from your course.

The 19+ full fee button displays the full fee that may apply. As the rules on fee reduction are complicated, we would encourage you to talk to our Admissions Team on 01235 216400 to discuss these options. You can also visit the Course Fees & Finance page by searching 'Fees and bursaries' at the top of the page.

16 - 18 Fee


19+ Fee

Tution Fee: £121.00
Exam Fee: £0.00

Total Cost: £121.00


19+ Reduced Fee

Tuition Fee: £72.60
Exam Fee: £0.00

Total Cost: £72.60

As this is a non-accredited course, there is no formal qualification. However, you will be asked to complete activities that demonstrate how you are progressing on your course.
In every lesson, you will be exposed to different styles of writing through exercises. Feedback will be provided on assignments and you will be encouraged to consider how far your work meets the objectives laid out in lessons to include self-assessments. Individual feedback will be provided on work completed during the course, but you will also be encouraged to listen to and learn from fellow learners to include peer-assessments.