Writing Stories for Performance
- Level(s) of Study: Short course
- Course Fee:
£240
- Start Date(s): 21 August 2025
- Duration: Thursday and Friday 10 am - 4 pm, two days
- Study Mode(s): Part-time
- Campus: City Campus
- Entry Requirements: More information
Introduction:
Course dates:
21 - 22 August 2025, Thursday and Friday 10 am - 4 pm
Do you enjoy writing stories, and would love to see them brought to ‘life’?
Hearing your written words through the voice of an actor, as an audio or visual performance can be immensely exciting, or you may even wish to take on the role of performing your own work!
This intensive course will look at the techniques involved in the process of writing a script, through a variety of exercises and stimuli, whilst examining the similarities and differences between playwriting and screenwriting.
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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. -
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. -
Benefit from learning with an experienced tutor who has established links to the profession and significant experience working in varied practices. -
On successful completion of the course, you will receive a digital certificate of attendance and a digital badge.
What you’ll study
This course is for both beginners and more experienced writers, covering the various skills and writing styles needed to effectively bring a story from ‘page’ to ‘performance’.
During this course, you will:
- explore the power of both playwriting and screenwriting as visual ‘literary’ mediums, and how to professionally formulate your scripts for each of these writing areas
- look at how other forms of writing- poems, short stories, and novels can be effectively developed and adapted into a performed form of art
- develop strong, realistic and believable characters who ‘breathe’ and resonate effectively with the contemporary world
- consider the development of your own work and ideas against a variety of plays and screenplays, examining what makes a successful script for the contemporary market
- receive advice and feedback on your work to help your writing develop and progress in a supportive environment.
- learn how to prepare work for submitting to competitions, theatres and production companies.
By the end of the course you’ll have explored how to progress in your writing for both personal and professional development.
You'll have one or more writing ideas in progress and 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 a contemporary audience and have the confidence to formulate your own ideas and structure your writing for both playscripts and filmscripts.
You’ll be able to continue your creative writing journey, taking your work to the next level, with information on how to enter creative writing competitions and to submit your work to agents, theatres and producers.
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll study during the course:
- Bringing your story to life
- Creating your world through dialogue
- The Power of the Monologue
- From ‘Page’ to ‘Performance
- Looking at subjects, topics and themes that inspire you to write, and considering their interest, relevance and effectiveness for engaging with a contemporary audience/viewer.
- How to create characters the audience can powerfully connect and empathise with, whilst looking at the importance of their inner flaw(s).
- Consider the importance of the right ‘backdrop’ to enable character development against and/or alongside both their environment and relationship with others.
- Select the most appropriate visual or audio form for ‘bringing your story to life’, and the different formats/structures for each.
- Look at the art of realistic dialogue and consider when words aren’t necessary.
- Less is ‘more’ and the art of reading both ‘between’ and ‘underneath’ the lines of dialogue.
- Examining the importance of ‘beats’ and ‘pauses’ for conveying powerful moments of conflict and tension within the dialogue.
- The importance of ensuring each character has their own individual voice.
- Look at the popularity of the monologue, and consider what makes an engaging character/story for this medium.
- Consider how other characters can be effectively and naturally brought to life within the story, through the sole voice of one narrator/performer.
- Develop a short story/poem written in the ‘first person’ into a powerful performed monologue for stage/film or audio.
- Consider the appropriate length and style/pace for your monologue to retain the interest and engagement of the audience.
- Learn how to create a good ‘pitch’ including an effective logline to bring a strong immediate engagement with your work.
- Discuss and explore various competitions and companies open for submitting work.
- Looking at opportunities for producing your own work, including applying for Arts Council Funding.
- The role of the Director in creatively and artistically bringing your story to life.
How you’re taught
This course will be delivered in person on Nottingham Trent University city campus.
You will receive guidance and feedback in a supportive seminar environment, engaging in classroom discussions, critiques, and practical writing exercises.
Contact hours
You will receive 10 contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.
Careers and employability
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.
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/Intermediate
Entry requirement: No previous experience is required.
You must be over the age of 18 in order to attend this course.
Fees and funding
The fee for this course is £240.
Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include 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.
Please bring with you to the first session:
- your preferred materials for writing (pen & notebook/ paper, or laptop)
- any notes, ideas or examples of previous writing.
If you'd like to do some pre-course reading, you can look at:
- Into The Woods - How Stories Work And Why We Tell Them - John Yorke
- The Idea - The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage, or Fiction - Erik Bork.
You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.
Need accommodation for a week long summer course?
Accommodation can be booked separately to the course; the rooms are only a few minutes’ walk from our studios and classrooms, and cost £259 per week.
These are single rooms with a private bathroom in shared apartments in Nottingham Trent University’s city campus accommodation, which is ideal if you're looking to be based in Nottingham's lively city centre and want an economical place to stay.
Find out more and book your accommodation here.
How to apply
You can book onto this course for the following dates via the NTU online store:
21 - 22 August 2025, Thursday and Friday 10 am - 4 pm
Browse all our creative writing courses.
Any questions?
Contact the short course team:
Email: creativeshortcourses@ntu.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 2813