Writing Fiction (Online)
offered by Oxford University

Public University
1 Campus
Estd. 1096

Writing Fiction (Online)
at
Oxford University
Overview

Ability to deploy time-honoured story-telling tricks & techniques to improve their fiction

Duration	10 weeks
Total fee	₹43,700
Mode of learning	Online
Course Level	UG Certificate

Writing Fiction (Online)
at
Oxford University
Highlights

Earn a certificate of completion from Oxford university

Writing Fiction (Online)
at
Oxford University
Course details

Who should do this course?

For those who know that they want to write novels or short stories

What are the course deliverables?

Debunk the misconception that you have to be someone special to write
Show how important it is to cultivate the right mind-set first
Take broad overview of the topography - from the blank page to revision and polishing, and what comes after
Break the process of writing down into constituent parts and reveal the art and craft at work
Opportunity to roll up their sleeves and 'have a go
Opportunity to put it all together and create a short piece of fiction

More about this course

This course aims to debunk the myths and through refreshingly practical and down-to-earth advice help anyone with the motivation to pick up a pen and write
This course aims to debunk the myths and show that anyone with sufficient interest and motivation can write
In the company of an experienced tutor, the student learns the time-honoured techniques of good, old-fashioned storytelling and also acquires the confidence to deploy those techniques

Writing Fiction (Online)
at
Oxford University
Curriculum

Essential preliminary demystification

I could never do that

The demon in your head

Getting the idea

The joys of recombining

Mind-mapping

Idea starters

Character I

The raw materials

Presentation

Dialogue

Too much detail and the myth of pictoriality

Dialogue as poetry

Character II

Flat and round characters

The human heart, simplified

Achieving growth

Backstory

Inner turmoil

Plot

Coincidence and causality

Metaplots and three-act structure

Turning up the heat

Good old-fashioned story-telling

Don't be boring

Science fiction and fantasy

Switching genres

Flamboyance

The Fictive Dream I - The Big Picture

Your heart in your mouth

Picture the scene

The Fictive Dream II - The Small Picture

Some principles

Particularity and 'thisness'

Defamiliarisation

Write like Emmeline Pankhurst

Traditional storytelling techniques

Tips from a pro: Scheherazade

How to be a good coquette

Mystery

Suspense

All writing is re-writing

Setting your expectations

Famous lost manuscripts

You never stop learning to write

Getting published

Writing Fiction (Online)
at
Oxford University
Faculty details

Dr Gareth Dickson

Gareth Dickson is an Australian author specialising in fiction. He received a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Queensland in 2015 and was shortlisted for the Australian/Vogel Literary Awards in 2016 for his novel, 'A Minor Fifth'.

Writing Fiction (Online)
at
Oxford University
Entry Requirements

Eligibility criteria Up Arrow Icon

Prerequisite: Familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet

Conditional Offer Up Arrow Icon

Yes
In countries where the normal examinations have been cancelled, university will expect the conditions of student's offer to be met by the alternative assessment put in place by qualifications' regulators.