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Creative Writing

The winner of the 2009 Katherine Mansfield Short Story Competition (novice section for previously unpublished writers) studied this Creative Writing course.

It's fun to write from your imagination. It's mentally satisfying to write really well.

During this one year course, aspiring fiction writers learn the basic techniques of different creative styles and genres. By the time you graduate (with a diploma) you will know how to write stories with a proper beginning, middle, and satisfying ending You'll know how to create characters your readers either love or hate. You'll put a plot together so your readers want to know what happens next (we call that a page-turner). A key skill is knowing how to use “dialogue” to move your story along. It'll be easy to switch scenes and time zones. In a year you should become reasonably proficient at these basic writer’s skills. Warning: becoming an expert fiction writer takes a lifetime, but all accomplished authors have to start somewhere.

This is the right place to start. It’s where Karen Phillips started. She was only part way through when one of her course assignment stories won the Katherine Mansfield award!

In a year you will learn a little about a lot. For instance, how to write a short story, novella, poetry, memoir, family history, personal journal, autobiography, plus various other forms of fiction.

When you have this course you will be ready to specialise in your writing.

You might choose from: writing sophisticated short stories, novel, poetry, stories for children, romance, mystery, historical, fantasy, true life stories, family history, biography etc. All your options will be OPEN.

Students also enjoy a significant (though unexpected) benefit. Your improved writing skill mean you will create better quality letters, emails, work documents, reports, blogs, websites etc. Even your general conversation will be peppered with fresh insights inspired by newly discovered word skills.

Please wait until you’ve graduated before you decide whether writing will stay as a fun part time hobby, or whether you will take on paid (commissioned) writing. You’ll be introduced to these options during the course.

Exciting times lie ahead, even if you’ve never done creative writing since your school days. Your age and health are no barriers when your mind is kept active.

The Institute Prospectus gives you complete information on the Creative Writing course, including tuition fees. The Enrolment Application form is within. Complete the boxes below and you will get an instant email with the course Prospectus as a pdf attachment. Download the information without obligation. Read it, then call the Institute to discuss your options.