The Creative Writing Short Course …

The BBC provides a number of creative writing courses suitable for either beginner, intermediate or advanced levels.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/getwriting/minicourse

Considering that I have not really engaged in creative writing I browsed the beginner courses available.

I have included below a copy of the course listings …

The Art of Reviewing Learn how to review other writers’ short stories, scripts and poems, and develop skills to review your own work.

Finding Inspiration Learn to find inspiration for your writing in everyday life or from enduring stories.

Finding Your Voice Develop your own writing style by working to your own strengths and interests.

How to Start a Poem Learn how to lay down ideas and word structures which will form the bones of your poetry with exercises and advice from the professionals.

How to Start a Short Story Set aside time to write and develop the confidence to put pen to paper for the first time.

Rhythm, Rhyme and Other Techniques Discover how the placement of words in your poetry can alter their mood and meaning.

What Is a Short Story? Learn what makes a short story tick and how to keep your readers engaged.

The courses which most appeal to me were Finding Inspiration, Finding Your Voice, How to Start a Short Story and What Is a Short Story. Each of these courses consist of a clear objective stated at the beginning and then the course is broken up into parts which include exercises to complete. There is also an external link which provides learners with articles that may help them progress through the course, as well as additional exercises.

The reason why I decided I wanted to do a creative writing course is because I believe that I am a person who can articulate themselves well through words and who has many ideas and experiences that would make a great story. I’ve always had a dream (among many others) to become an author as well, although I believe I wouldn’t be able to make a living out of it because I have a tendency to start writing but never really sustain it and so I never finish it!

Upon further navigation through the site I also came across a children’s writing course.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/getwriting/children

I love kids and I love helping my little cousins with their homework but I have found that some of my young cousins struggle to read and speak English despite attending English-spoken primary schools. I think undertaking this course would help me become a better writer, but at the same time it can help me produce something that will help and encourage my cousins to be involved with and enjoy their education. I have an idea of compiling a series of short stories for them to read and so I may be looking at the short stories course as well. I am eager to take this course but at the back of my mind I don’t know how committed I will be to it because lately I have been very stressed because of time restraints that come with commitments outside of class. But for now it looks like the option to go with.