Start Writing Fiction

Discover the rituals and approaches that successful fiction writers use

On this online course, established writers – including Louis de Bernières, Patricia Duncker, Alex Garland, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Tim Pears, Michèle Roberts and Monique Roffey – will talk about how they started writing.

You’ll consider the rituals of writing and keeping a journal; learn how to develop your ideas; reflect on your own writing and editing; hear writers talk about their approach to research; and start turning events into plot.

You’ll also have the opportunity to review the work of fellow writers and receive comments on your own, learning to read as a writer and respond to feedback.

This course is intended for those with an interest in starting to write fiction or improving their fiction writing, and does not require any previous experience of studying this subject.

Please be aware that participation in this course involves reviewing work posted by other learners. You may find some material used in these stories is of an adult nature (e.g. language, sex, violence) and although captured in context, may offend. Learners on this course are instructed to place warnings at the top of their work to indicate use of such content.

Recommended for learners age 16+.

• Starting to write fiction
• Introduction
• Keeping a notebook
• Other writers
• The habit of writing
• Do it your way
• Observation and imagination
• The blank page
• Writing is editing
• Reflecting on what you have written
• Editing your work
• Writing is your training
• Building your story
• Keeping a writer's notebook
• Character and plot
• Ideas for stories
• Creating convincing characters
• Character and conflict
• Types of character
• Sources of character
• Developing and portraying characters
• Revealing characters
• Portraying characters
• Writing a first draft
• Reading as a writer
• Learning from reading
• Reading as a writer
• Learning from fellow writers
• Your final story
• Sharing and reflecting on writing
• Reflecting on your own writing
• Carry on writing