The Basics of Creative Writing Course
15% Off! December Special
**Apply and pay by 12 December. Start now or before the end of January.
The Basics of Creative Writing Course
15% Off! December Special
**Apply and pay by 12 December. Start now or before the end of January.
This course is a fast, effective way to gain the skills required to write any form of fiction
A rigorous training for both beginners and seasoned writers
The Basics of Creative Writing Course provides breakthrough writing techniques required for fiction. Practise your skills in 40 writing assignments, with feedback on each from an award-winning writer.
Whether you want to sell the stories that you produce, enter writing competitions, or simply write for the pleasure of it, this course is a powerful way to achieve your writing goals.
The Basics of Creative Writing Course Gives You...
No Automated Marking
We use traditional methods of assessing work, as editors at publishing houses would. No generic feedback!
A Flexible Schedule
Work wherever and whenever you want. You can easily fit our courses around work and other commitments.
Relevant, Usable Content
Easy-to-digest course notes that capture a lifetime of writing experience, ready for you to apply to your own writing.
Ongoing Assessment
Your writing is assessed continuously as your course progresses.
Expert, Individual Feedback
Get prompt, honest, detailed feedback on every assignment from an award-winning writer. We focus on your unique writing strengths.
No Peer Reviews!
You will only be assessed by your tutor, a leader in their field. No more guessing and wondering how to write; you'll be guided line by line.
Master the
Basics of Creative Writing
Jump-start your fiction writing project
Developed and refined over many years, this course offers a unique opportunity to benefit from years of writing experience in just four months.
You will work with an award-winning author for the duration of the five-module course. It is this one-to-one, professional feedback and mentoring that brings about the most noticeable improvements to your writing.
Work through your 200-page course manual and complete 40 writing assignments, with feedback on each writing exercise.
Don’t waste time making the same mistakes and doubting your writing ability. Let your expert tutor guide you through the potential pitfalls of fiction writing and show you how to bring your writing to life.
Master the Basics of Creative Writing
Jump-start your
fiction writing project
Developed and refined over many years, this course offers a unique opportunity to benefit from years of writing experience in just four months.
You will work with an award-winning author for the duration of the five-module course. It is this one-to-one, professional feedback and mentoring that brings about the most noticeable improvements to your writing.
Work through your 200-page course manual and complete 40 writing assignments, with feedback on each writing exercise.
Don’t waste time making the same mistakes and doubting your writing ability. Let your expert tutor guide you through the potential pitfalls of fiction writing and show you how to bring your writing to life.
'I could not have found a better college. The course was wonderful in every respect.'
Gill Palliser, Basics of Creative Writing Course
Course Overview
COURSE FEE
R 6 995.00
Price includes VAT
NUMBER OF ASSIGNMENTS
40
The assignments vary in length.
NUMBER OF MODULES
5
These modules include around 200 pages of course notes.
COURSE DURATION
4
Work at your own pace – up to a maximum of four months.
START DATE: ANYTIME
Working with an individual tutor means you can start the course at any time.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Excellent grammar knowledge is essential.
- Computer skills, e-mail and Internet access required.
- No previous tertiary qualification required.
Our Graduate Students' Successes
We are proud of our graduates who have achieved success. Here are a few among dozens of our creative writing success stories.
Tutors for this Course
Helen Brain
I’ve been writing for 25 years, and teaching creative writing for 15. I’ve seen over a thousand students graduate from my courses, and have an exceptionally high completion rate.
I’m very interested in the craft of writing and believe that this is something that can be learned and practised so that the story that appears on the page correlates more closely with the story in your head.
I love teaching one-on-one, and supporting my students as they stretch themselves creatively and technically.
Achievements:
- Over 60 books published for children, young adults, 1997 – 2019
- Here be Lions, a memoir, published 2006
- Fiery Spiral trilogy acquired by US publisher Catalyst Press 2018
- Ibby South Africa Honours list multiple years
- ATKV Award for her teen novel Tamara
- Three of her books have been selected for the SACBF (South African Children’s Book Forum) Honours List
Nerine Dorman
Nerine Dorman is a South African author and editor of science fiction and fantasy currently living in Cape Town. Her novel Sing down the Stars won Gold for the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature in 2019 and The Percy Fitzpatrick Award for Children’s and Youth Literature in 2021. Her YA fantasy novella, Dragon Forged, was a finalist in the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature in 2017.
Nerine is the curator of the South African Horrorfest Bloody Parchment event and short story competition. Her short story On the Other Side of the Sea (Omenana, 2017) was shortlisted for a 2018 Nommo award. Her novella The Firebird won a Nommo for ‘Best Novella’ in 2019. Her short fiction published in numerous anthologies. In addition, she is a founding member of the SFF authors’ co-operative Skolion.
Course Curriculum
Module 1
- 20 practical lessons on the basics of creative writing
- Learn the components of fiction – description, action and dialogue
- Task: Complete and submit 20 short exercises on these components
Module 2
- Learn how to write balanced scenes using description, action and dialogue
- Learn from the experts, analysing scenes from the world’s best fiction writers
- Discover how to build up a scene step by step
- Task: Analyse scenes from established writers, focusing on description, action, dialogue, mood and pace
Module 3
- How to begin writing
- How to edit and rewrite
- Task: Write a 1200-word scene from a prompt; submit a synopsis, backstory, setting and scene plan
Module 4
- Where to next with your writing?
- A few necessities for writing well
- Commit to writing
- How to improve your drafts
- Task: Edit and rewrite your scene; submit the second draft of your scene
Module 5
- Over 80 pages of local and international writing opportunities
- Task: Submit the third and final draft of your scene
Bonus session!
Attend a group video meeting
Helen runs four Google Meet face-to-face sessions per year for all of her students. You will be invited to attend while you are on the course. This is not compulsory (but a lot of fun).
What Our Students Say
Get These Additional Benefits
Lifetime Course Access
Benefit from free lifetime access to future course updates and access to our writing resources.
Work at Your Own Pace
Our courses work around you. You can pace your course around your busy life.
500+ Bonus Articles on Our Blog
A superb, constantly updated resource with articles on writing and interviews with writers.
Work Opportunities
Top students are invited to join our writers and editors for hire service.
Be the First to Know About Writing Competitions
We'll help you keep up to date with the latest competition announcements
Join a Community of Writers
You will have access to our friendly Facebook community, daily writing tips and writing inspiration.
Risk-Free 100% Money-Back Guarantee
We are so confident that you will love your course that if you’re not 100% satisfied with the quality of our training, simply ask for a refund within 30 days.
Complete the Application Form to Enrol on the Basics of Creative Writing Course
You will receive an approval email and invoice within one working day.
Should your form not submit, please let admin know at admin@sawriterscollege.co.za
Questions?
We've Got Answers
The course consists of five modules. Detailed course notes covering the content of each module are emailed to you. At the end of each module, you will be required to complete writing exercises. In total, the course includes 40 short writing assignments, all of which count towards your final result. Once the writing assignment has been completed and emailed to your tutor, an assessment and feedback will be sent to you and the module will be considered complete. You will then download the next module from the Student Centre.
Absolutely. You have direct communication with your tutor for the duration of the course. The more questions you ask, the more you will get out of the course.
You will get lifetime access to the course. You will also benefit from future updates and improvements to the course.
For the majority of our courses, only your tutor will see your work. It will remain completely private unless you get it published. The journalism courses might see your work published in the public domain, but you do have the final say as to whether or not this happens.
Students will receive a Writers College Certificate upon successful completion of the course, provided they meet the following conditions:
- Students must complete all 40 writing assignments
- The course must be completed within four months of registration
- Students are expected to attain a minimum average of 50% for the course
- Basic writing skills are essential.
- Basic computer skills, as well as email and Internet access are required.
- No previous tertiary qualification is required.
Because you will work with an individual tutor, you can start your course as soon as your application has been approved. There are no specific start dates as would be the case with a traditional college.
An application is usually approved within one working day. Once we receive proof of payment, your can start your course.
You could be starting your course today!
There is no research required for this course, just planning and writing. The speed at which you work is entirely up to you. You have four months to complete the course (and an extra 21 days if your course runs over the Christmas and New Year break).
You are welcome to finish the course sooner if you want to, but we wouldn’t want you to rush the process too much!
Once your application has been approved, you will receive notification of approval and an invoice via email. As soon as we receive proof of payment, the first module as well as your tutor’s email address and your login details will be sent to you. Your tutor will also be in touch to welcome you.
Any work created on our courses is owned by you. We will never make a claim to anything you produce. We follow the rule that copyright subsists with the creator (you).