Improving my Writing In The New Year 2016

I’ve been encouraging one of my brothers to become a writer of more than just his Christmas letters. So he thinks he needs to learn more about this craft. He has signed up for the writing course at FutureLearn which is free and encouraged me to do the same. So I did. It is an eight week course which will take up some of my time while I’m working on the next Nurse Hal Among The Amish book and quilting. I’m sharing the latest email with you so if any other writers would like to try the course. I’ll be sure and let you know the first of April how I measured up.

Hello Fay,

Thank you for joining The Open University’s course, Start Writing Fiction. Welcome to this course, I am your lead educator and am looking forward to us getting started on 18 January 2015.

You can find my profile and follow me on FutureLearn.

This course is suitable for anyone with an interest in creative writing. Even if you have already studied this topic, there will be much that is fresh in it.

The eight-week course will run online and consists of a variety of audio and video clips, articles, discussion and assignments. You will have an opportunity to purchase a Statement of Participation at the end of the course that provides a physical and digital record of your achievement.

In the first week, you will start keeping a writer’s notebook to help you capture and develop your ideas.

You will explore the difference between fact and fiction and take a look at some characters from George Orwell and Zoë Heller novels. You will hear from writers including Alex Garland, Monique Roffey, Louis de Bernières and Michèle Roberts talking about how they started to write. And you’ll start to write your own characters and stories.

If you can’t wait for the course to start…

Help us improve your online learning experience – please fill out our pre-course survey.

Explore related content on OpenLearn (the OU’s home of free learning) where you’ll find valuable resources to prepare you for this course. Visit the Start Writing Fiction area on OpenLearn.

Take a look at The Open University’s formal qualifications in Creative Writing or our Creative Writing module.

Try some creative writing tasters and starter exercises–including activities to do with observations, people, research and ‘writing what you know’.

Connect with other learners

There will be plenty of opportunity to interact with other learners on FutureLearn once the course begins. In the meantime feel free to let people know you’ve joined this course by using the hashtag #FLfiction16 on social media. Follow @OUFreeLearning to find other learners before the course begins.

What next?

We are really looking forward to starting the course and having you on board. We will contact you again just before the course starts on 18 January 2016.

If you have any queries or feedback at this point, FutureLearn will be able to help if you email feedback@futurelearn.com

Best wishes,

Dr Derek Neale

The Open University

Start Writing Fiction Lead Educator

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