Welcome to the Advanced Creative Writing Course at NZ Writers' College.

Do you want to know more about the technique of writing fiction? When you have learned and practiced the craft of writing, you have the skills you need to make the story you write on paper resemble the story you have developed in your head.

Our Advanced Course in Creative Writing is designed to take the tools you acquired in the Basics Course and teach you how to use them in more sophisticated ways to achieve mature, polished writing.

The course consists of three modules, and takes between three and six months to complete. Detailed notes are accompanied by a set of exercises to be completed in Module 1 and 2. Module 3 consists of exercises and a final scene, which will be rewritten according to the tutor’s recommendations.
 
**Please note that this course is only open to graduates of our Basics of Creative Writing Course who attained a minimum pass mark of 75%.

Course Details:

• Modules: 3 Modules
• Duration: Course can be completed at own pace: between three and six months
• Start date: At any time; applications all year round via our website

Student must complete:

• 20 writing exercises and a final scene of 1500 - 2000 words

Admission Requirements:

• Student must be a graduate of our Basics of Creative Writing Course
• Computer skills, e-mail and Internet access required

Tutor for this course : Helen Brain

 

Course Curriculum

Module 1 - Dialogue

Practicing the three layers of dialogue. Writing internal dialogue. Writing good dialogue: Using dialogue to show characterisation, mood and backstory. How dialogue is used in fiction: moving the plot forward, building suspense.

Module 2 - Characterisation

Building up strong characters using dialogue, action and description. Ways to introduce a character. Using metaphor to show character. Your character’s interactions. Back stories Exploring your emotions as a way of developing strong characters.

Module 3 - Atmosphere and Mood

How to use description to build mood and atmosphere. Writing a 1500-2000 word scene using the skills of dialogue, characterisation and atmosphere that you have learned so far.

 

How does the course work?

The course consists of three modules. Detailed class notes covering the content of each module are e-mailed to students.

At the end of each section, students will be required to complete writing exercises. In total, the course includes 20 short writing assignments, all of which count towards the final result of the student.

Once the writing assignment has been completed, and e-mailed to the lecturer, an assessment and feedback will be sent to the student, and the module will be considered complete. The next module will then be e-mailed to the student.

 

Conditions of Certification:

Students will receive an NZ Writers' College Certificate upon successful completion of the course, provided they meet the following conditions:

• Students must have completed all writing assignments 
• The course must have been completed within six months of registration.
• Students are expected to attain a minimum average of 50% for the course

Minimum Estimated Time Commitment:

This is hard to predict, as some people are simply faster writers than others. However, the course should take 3 months to complete with allowable extensions up to 6 months.

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“My experience with the course was excellent. My writing confidence has increased and more importantly, my writing skills have improved. Helen was fantastic. She gave constructive criticism and clear direction which improved whichever piece I was writing. Completing both the Basics and the Advanced Creative Writing course has been life-changing for me. My experience with The Writers’ College has been 100% positive.” Deborah Forbes, Advanced Creative Creating

“I walked away from the course with a deeper respect for all writers out there, as well as some self-confidence in my own abilities. I've learnt just how much work goes into producing a scene that people will enjoy reading. Helen is not only a gifted writer but an exceptional teacher. She has the ability to help you create writing pieces with heart and soul. She'll tell you if she thinks you're heading off in the wrong direction and encourage you to produce something more authentic that readers can connect with. If you've ever been curious about what goes into making a great story I strongly recommend taking up a course with The Writers’ College - you won't be disappointed.” Suze Kolaczynski, Advanced Creative Writing