Developing the Writer’s Toolkit: Voice, Character and Structure

You will start by examining contemporary fiction to develop your distinctive voice and style, training your eye to select details that fit the narrative and crafting effective dialogue.

Several sessions will focus on characterisation, helping you create dynamic, complex characters, understand their motivations, and decide the story’s point of view.

You’ll analyse various plot structures: straight line, curved line, journey, suspense, courtroom, and moral plots. You will have ample opportunities to draft and revise your work based on teacher and peer feedback.  

Any essential or recommended reading will be shared by the course teacher once the course is confirmed to run.

If you have fully engaged with all the learning activities and have attended regularly, by the end of the course, you should be able to:

• Understand the principles of writing powerful fiction
• Edit your own work beyond the initial draft
• Give and take positive and constructive class feedback
• Know how to present a manuscript and where to send it for publication 

It is recommended that learners should have already gained some experience in writing.

We welcome all and are committed to fostering a positive culture and sense of community among learners and staff. We expect learners to treat others with dignity and respect. Learners must be aged 16+.

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, health condition, or personal circumstances which may affect your learning, please let us know so that we can make appropriate adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Wherever possible, we mainstream adjustments in line with the University’s Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy.

Learners will have limited access to the University’s student support services. 

It is recommended that learners should have already gained some experience in writing.

You will need to have reading, listening and communication skills, including the ability to understand detailed ideas and information presented verbally and in writing. You must be comfortable learning in English if it is not your first language. You will need basic digital skills, such as using a computer and navigating a website, to access the learning materials.

Please note that the course booking deadline is 8 days before the course start date.