Start writing fiction
On this page
Have you ever thought of writing short stories or trying your hand at a novel? This 12-week online course provides a practical introduction to writing fiction – firing your creativity and imagination as well as equipping you with basic narrative strategies. During the course you will write two short pieces, for which your tutor will provide detailed individual feedback. You will also have the opportunity to work with your tutor, along with other students, in an online environment. You will read and learn from the works of writers as well as listening to their advice on beginning to write fiction.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | A174 |
| Credits | 10 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| No examination |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
| Start | End | Fee | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
No current presentation - see Future availability |
| This course is expected to start for the last time in February 2012. | |||
What you will study
This course gives you the opportunity to study and practise plot and story-structure, character creation, place, and voice. You will be encouraged to build up a regular practice of writing by keeping a writer's notebook, doing warm-up exercises, and reading as a writer, adding to your repertoire of techniques by examining other writers' methods. Online discussions with your tutor and group will help you to develop and revise your work. There will be two assessed pieces of work: the first one a set of exercises written to a given theme; the second an entire short story or the beginning part of a longer narrative. The course is written by a novelist and is supported by an audio CD containing interviews with several novelists talking about their own inspirations and methods. The course consists of five blocks.
Setting out will show you how to keep a notebook as a seed-bed of ideas, how to discover 'your kind of writing', and to learn by doing. It will encourage you to read as a writer, learning techniques, 'tricks', and solutions from other writers.
Genre and subject-matter identifies the many different genres and cross-genres in fiction-writing and also suggests possibilities for finding your themes.
Plot, narrative, and time defines the difference between plot and story and looks at the impact of different time-frames on your stories.
Point of view helps you decide who is telling your story; to whom; and with what degree of reliability (how much does your teller know, and are they telling the truth?)
Beginnings explores and gets you to practise ways of 'hooking' the reader at the outset of your stories.
These five blocks are taught online via the course website, where you can access most of the study materials, and supplemented by an audio CD and a printed course guide.
For further information visit the Start Writing website.
Entry
There are no entry requirements but as this is an online course you should feel comfortable using a computer and accessing the internet.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The majority of this course is delivered online so the time spent using a computer and the internet will be considerable. If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in operating a computer or the internet and have any concerns about accessing the types of study materials outlined you are advised to talk to our Student Registration & Enquiry Service about support which can be given to meet your needs.
The study materials are available on audio in DAISY Digital Talking Book format and written transcripts are available for the audio visual material. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Course website, online forum, online library access, audio CD, and printed course guide.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
Your tutor will mark and comment on your written assignments. You can contact your tutor through email and the online forum. If you are new to the OU, you will find that your tutor will be particularly concerned to help you with your study methods.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.
The second TMA builds on the skills developed in the first one.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2011 and February 2012 when it will be available for the last time. A replacement course is not planned.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | A174 |
| Credits | 10 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| No examination |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Student Reviews
This was my first course with the Open University but definitely not my last. I loved it and my tutor ...
Read more
Loved this course. My tutor was very supportive and gave out lots of positive advice. It's an ideal way to ...
Read more
Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
Browse the prospectus
Get a prospectus
Download or
order
Share
This PageThe University wishes to emphasise that, while every effort is made to regularly update this site, the material on it is subject to alteration or amendment in the light of changes in regulations or in policy or of financial or other necessity.