Creative Writing for Beginners (Evenings)
- Level(s) of Study: Short course
- Course Fee:
£450 (Summer Term 2025) or £460
- Start Date(s): 30 April 2025, 1 October 2025, 21 January 2026, 15 April 2026
- Duration: Wednesdays 6 - 8:30 pm, ten weeks
- Study Mode(s): Part-time
- Campus: City Campus
- Entry Requirements: More information
Introduction:
Course dates:
30 April - 2 July 2025, Wednesdays 6 - 8.30 pm
1 October - 3 December 2025, Wednesdays 6 - 8.30 pm
21 January - 25 March 2026, Wednesdays 6 - 8.30 pm
15 April - 17 June 2026, Wednesdays 6 - 8.30 pm
Where the flickering flames of imagination dance with the shadows of the unknown, there lies a story waiting to be told.
It's a tale that begins with you, the daring adventurer of words, stepping into the enchanting world of creative writing for beginners.
With every pen stroke, you'll summon vibrant characters from the depths of your mind, breathe life into evocative landscapes, and weave narratives that will awaken the curiosity of readers.
This course invites you to unlock the secrets of storytelling in various genres, from the verses of poetry to the drama of playwriting.
Your journey is one of exploration, guidance, and camaraderie, as you discover the writer within and set sail on a literary odyssey.
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You’ll be part of a creative writing community; one that promotes discussion, collaboration, and encourages experimentation and the constant swapping of ideas. -
Benefit from learning with an active, expert writer-tutor who has established links to the profession and significant experience working in a wide range of genres. -
Get published with our student anthology; every term we ask for submissions and print a short anthology of your original creative writing, which you can keep after the course. -
Study Creative Writing in a UNESCO City of Literature. Nottingham is a place of discovery, exchange, ideas and learning for everyone who loves words and stories. Our vision as a UNESCO City of Literature is for a city where everyone is reading and writing their way to a better life.
Here's what our previous attendees said
'I wanted to do this course to develop my writing skills, get feedback on my work and meet like-minded people. I've taken away plenty of tips about writing and the industry. I most enjoyed the workshops and discussions, sharing my work with the group. The handouts were really valuable too! This was a really great course!' LC
'I wanted to explore a new creative release for my personal hobbies, that doesn’t relate to my career. Learning about the different areas of creative writing has been broad and interesting, having a different subject area each week kept it exciting. I most enjoyed interacting with likeminded people, learning from the tutor's expertise and hearing other people's work. This course has been the highlight of my week and some true 'me' time, thank you!' LH
'I chose to do this course because I thought it would be a good way to meet new people and find a new hobby. I have gained confidence in my writing, I wasn’t sure whether I'd be able to do it, but the tutor was inspiring and very encouraging. I enjoyed the whole course, and it was nice how all of the students tried to help and support each other. I've enrolled on the Level two course, and I can't wait to start it!' SM
'I wanted to do this course because I've always enjoyed writing, so I wanted to learn more and get advice on my work. From doing this course I now feel that I am a Writer. Saying that was always something I was afraid of, I felt silly about my ambitions, but this course has kickstarted something. The tutor was excellent, full of knowledge and great advice.' NH
'I wanted to do this course to improve my writing, gain confidence in my voice and to meet a community of peers. From doing this course I have a greater understanding of the scale of work that people can create. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to listen to other students work and receiving feedback on my own work.' SW
What you’ll study
This comprehensive course will ignite your creativity and help you embark on a journey into the world of writing.
If you've never attended a creative writing course before, if you’ve had an idea but don’t know how to approach it, or if you’re simply looking to challenge yourself, this course is the perfect starting point.
Throughout this course, you'll explore a diverse range of writing genres, including poetry, short stories, flash fiction, playwriting, and even the ambitious task of crafting a synopsis for a full-length novel.
You'll engage in classroom discussions and participate in a variety of practical writing exercises that will serve as stimuli to inspire your creativity and encourage exploration of your writing skills.
During this course, you will:
- create a sense of place for your writing and your characters
- develop the hook that will get readers to read on
- understand the different working styles for different writing projects
- use poetry as a way in to further creative writing
- learn about the importance of a well-constructed synopsis
- gain knowledge of different opportunities to enter creative writing competitions
- understand how to submit your work to agents and publishers
- learn how to redraft and refine your work.
Embark on this creative writing adventure and unlock your potential as a writer and storyteller.
Get ready to be inspired, challenged, and supported as you take your first steps into the world of creative writing!
What you will gain by the end of this course
By the end of the course, you'll not only have a variety of writing projects in progress but also a network of fellow writers and potential collaborators.
You will have learnt how to analyse and critique what makes an engaging piece of writing for both reader and audience, how to apply this to the redrafting of your own work and have the confidence to formulate your own ideas and structure your writing.
Get published with our student anthology; every term we ask for submissions and print a short anthology of your original creative writing, which you can keep after the course.
You’ll be able to continue your creative writing journey and take your work to the next level, and if you’re feeling brave after completing this course, you’ll be able to enter creative writing competitions and even submit your work to agents, publishers, theatres and producers.
- Getting started, finding inspiration and creating characters who breathe
- Short story writing, poetry, flash fiction and the mini saga
- Exploring the world of playwriting and writing for television.
Playing with ideas
An introductory session enabling you to get to know each other and your individual writing needs and interests, as you start to share work within a workshop environment.
Searching for the Original
Looking at the ideas and themes that inspire us, and how to begin to select those we wish to develop further, whilst also considering the required passion for the ‘subject’, necessary to carry us through and to bring the ‘story’ to life. Considering the importance of ‘originality’, in order to engage the reader/audience, and the different methods this can be achieved – storyline, structure, time set, and narration. What creates the ‘Wow’ factor, which makes us feel this is something ‘different’, and how ‘different’ can become ‘special’.
Creating Characters who Breathe
Looking at the importance of creating strong realistic and believable characters who resonate with the contemporary world. Considering what makes a character truly ‘exist’, and the attraction for both publishers and producers to connect with characters who can ‘breathe’ both on and off the page.
Selecting appropriate lead characters and considering the importance of creating the right ‘sense of place’ to enable their development against both their environment, and their relationship with others. Looking at what makes us relate to/believe in a character, and areas of weakness in construction that fail to suspend our disbelief, or leave us needing/wanting more, in order to fully engage with them.
The Importance of the First Page
Leading the reader in. Looking at favourite and inspirational works by published authors. Considering what makes us ‘want to read on’, and how the important ‘hook’ is created. You will be working on creating your own ‘first page’ as an introduction for either a short-story or a full-length novel.
Keeping It Short
Working on the styles and techniques required for the art of Short Story Writing. The similarities and differences from writing a full-length novel, and the challenges that writing the successful short story can bring. Information will be given on a variety of short story competitions, for those who are interested in submitting work.
Flash Fiction and The Mini-Saga
Maxi to Mini – taking ‘big ideas’ and the art of making them into small masterpieces. Using these shorter writing styles to help to focus and structure our ideas, and to highlight the key themes and intentions of our work, whilst considering how few words are really needed to tell a ‘good story’.
Working with Lines
Looking at how poetry can work both within a poetry collection, and other forms of writing. Considering poetry as an ‘economical’ way of writing, and a ‘way into’ developing other writing forms. Also considering the poetic ‘rhythm within a piece of prose, and how prose can ‘become’ a piece of poetry.
Starting A Play
How to begin working on a play, and the importance of character development. Looking at contemporary ideas/themes for the modern-day stage, the working relationship between writer and director, and what brings a play ‘to life.’ Considering the differences between writing a novel and a play, and how one may be adapted into another.
Writing for TV
Looking at new original ideas for the TV market, and opportunities available and open for submission. The importance of ‘professionally’ formatting work, moving through the initial synopsis, treatment, scene by scene, to completing the full script.
Creating A Synopsis
Looking at the importance of being able to create a well-constructed and information synopsis for your work, and one which will inspire and encourage the reader to look at the ‘full story’. Using a synopsis to create an idea for a full-length novel. Looking at what inspired you/drove you, to create the piece, and how to convey that effectively in a short paragraph.
The Art of Redrafting
The End is just the Beginning – The importance of redrafting, and refining, and condensing your work. Getting ‘it down’ is only half the journey and learning to redraft successfully is an art in itself. Learning how to cut work and redefine it effectively, as well as sometimes having to ‘let go’ of something we really wanted to keep, because it isn’t ‘needed’.
How you’re taught
You will receive guidance and feedback in a supportive seminar environment, engaging in classroom discussions, critiques, and practical writing exercises.
This course will be delivered in person on Nottingham Trent University city campus.
98% of previous course attendees were satisfied with the course, received the attention they needed and would consider doing another short course at NTU.
By the end of the course, you will have a variety of writing projects in development, and a network of fellow writers and potential collaborators with whom you can progress your work further.
Contact hours
You will receive 25 contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.
Careers and employability
The course is designed to prepare you to succeed in the creative writing industry; students who have taken this course have gone on to build a portfolio of published work through submitting to literary magazines or self-publishing, progressed onto degree courses and embarked on careers in writing, publishing and teaching.
This course is your toolkit to ensure that you are well-prepared to pursue a successful career in the competitive field of creative writing.
Certificate of attendance and digital badge
Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a digital certificate of attendance and a digital badge powered by Accredible.
Your digital credential is more than just a certificate – it’s secure, verifiable, and protected against fraud through encryption and blockchain technology.
They also come with detailed metadata, including an overview of the skills you have achieved on the course, evidence of completion, and assessment criteria if appropriate.
Share your achievements seamlessly with friends, customers, and potential employers online, and proudly add your badge or certificate to social media platforms such as LinkedIn, so all the right people can see it.
Are you interested in progressing your writing?
Find out more about our undergraduate and postgraduate courses:
Campus and facilities
You will be studying creative writing in a UNESCO City of Literature, and be based in the School of Social Sciences on the City Campus.
You will find modern teaching spaces and quiet study environments to develop your ideas and writing.
You’ll have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.
You’ll also be invited to join WRAP, our Writing, Reading and Pleasure programme of book groups, meet ups and talks from readers and authors.
You will receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.
Entry requirements
Level: Beginner
Entry requirement: No experience required.
You must be over the age of 18 in order to attend this course.
Fees and funding
The fee for this course is £450.
Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.
Secure your place with a deposit - If you're booking more than two months before the course starts, we can accept a £200 deposit to secure your place, and the balance is due one month before the course starts.
Your course fees cover the cost of studies, including great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.
You will also need to bring with you a notepad and pen, or a laptop if you prefer.
If you'd like to do some pre-course reading, you can look at:
- Write, by Phil Daoust (Guardian books)
- More Five Minute Writing, Margret Geraghty - How To Books (Constable and Robinson Ltd).
You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.
How to apply
This course is available for booking via the NTU online store:
30 April - 2 July 2025, Wednesdays 6 - 8.30 pm
1 October - 3 December 2025, Wednesdays 6 - 8.30 pm
21 January - 25 March 2026, Wednesdays 6 - 8.30 pm
15 April - 17 June 2026, Wednesdays 6 - 8.30 pm
Browse all our creative writing short courses.
Any questions?
Contact the short course team:
- Email: creativeshortcourses@ntu.ac.uk
- Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2813