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Creative Writing (FETAC Level 5)

  • Course Fee: Special Offer price Now only: €249.50
  • Was: €499
  • Award: FETAC Level 5 component Certificate in Creative Writing (N22790).
  • Distance Learning home study course accredited by: FETAC
  • There are no lectures to attend, and all course materials are provided.
  • Students can complete this course within 3 months which is ample time and can start it at any time of the year that is convenient. If students need to extend this period for any reason during or near the end of the course they can request an extension through the college.

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Course Details:

This course is designed to give students an opportunity to develop their creative voice through writing. It aims to give students an understanding of the process of writing, key aspects of writing fiction, as well as the possibility of getting work published.

Course documentation for this journalism course is detailed, comprehensive and easy to read. This FETAC accredited, distance learning course means that students can study flexibly at home, or at work, while gaining a Nationally accredited Qualification.

Topics covered include:

  • Unit 1: Writing Skills
  • Unit 2: Characterisation
  • Unit 3: Structure and Plot Development
  • Unit 4: Setting and Atmosphere
  • Unit 5: Getting published.

Learners who successfully complete this module will:

  • Develop their creative voice through writing
  • Produce a range of confident writing, which will include the opening section of a novel or two complete short stories
  • Have utilised key aspects of writing for a novel or short story
  • Understand the process of publication in Ireland
  • Be able to submit work for publication.

Specific Learning Outcomes

Unit 1: Writing Skills

Learners should be able to:

  • Keep a track of ideas in a notebook
  • Research their ideas using a variety of sources
  • Produce a variety of written pieces of work, which range in content and length
  • Use grammar to alter the narrative
  • Understand the concept of showing not telling in writing
  • Be constructively self-critical and provide critical analysis to others
  • Revise and edit work.

Unit 2: Characterisation

Learners should be able to:

  • Produce different characters
  • Make characters that are believable
  • Show feelings and emotions through words and actions
  • Understand the character’s Language and Idioms.
  • Create dialogue that comes from the character
  • Understand the purpose of a character
  • Determine the history of a character
  • Write in the first, second, third person
  • Identify if the narrator is present or omnipresent.

Unit 3: Structure and Plot Development

Learners should be able to:

  • Understand different possibilities for plotting a story
  • Understand timelines in relation to the narrative
  • Understand Point of View
  • Show different ways of telling the same story
  • Flash forward and flash back
  • Create intrigue for the reader.

Unit 4: Setting and Atmosphere

Learners should be able to:

  • Create a strong sense of place through language
  • Use real locations as the source for fiction
  • Create clothes and costumes that are unique to the story
  • Use language to set the tone of the narrative
  • Decide on events which are determined by their environment
  • Understand the limitations of the world they create
  • Understand different genres.

 Unit 5: Getting Published

Learners should be able to:

  • Know the process of getting work Published in Ireland and abroad
  • Source a variety Agents and Publishers in Ireland
  • Present work for an agent or publisher which is correctly laid out according to industry practice
  • Understand the role of an Agent.
  • Understand the role of a Publisher
  • Submit work for competition and/or publication
  • Understand self-publishing.

 

Entry Requirements / Prerequisites:

  • Level 4 Certificate, Leaving Certificate and/or equivalent qualifications and or/relevant life and work experiences.
  • As this programme is delivered through distance learning, students must be capable of studying on their own initiative.
  • Students must be competent in both written and spoken English.
  • If you take this course by distance learning the course material will be posted to you.  You can complete and return assignments/projects which must be typed rather than handwritten either by post or by email.
  • If you take this course by eLearning you will need basic IT skills and have access to broadband.
  • For more details on participation suitability of this course click here».

 

Assessment:

This course is assessed through a combination of assignments(2) and Project.

  • Project 75%
  • Assignment 25%

Project: The internal assessor will devise a project brief that requires candidates to demonstrate

  • Research and planning
  • Their ability to write fiction, whether in the format of a novel or short story
  • Their ability to structure and plot a story, develop believable characters through language and event, and create an interesting fictional environment.
  • Their ability to present work in a logical manner as though they were presenting the work to an agent or publisher As part of the research and planning, candidates should produce examples of the following
    evidence of research from different sources:

– Title for work
– One short synopsis of novel or short story (approx 100 words)
– Two examples of characterisations
– One time line of events clearly set out, including time frame of story
– One example setting and location sketched
– One short piece of dialogue
– An example of self-directed editing

Candidates should produce the opening section of a novel of approximately 2000 words.

OR

Candidates should produce one or two complete short stories of approximately 2000 words.

Assignment

Publishing: The internal assessor will devise a brief that requires the candidate to produce an assignment which shows the results of their research into publishing in Ireland. The candidate should show the process of getting written work published, from the completion of a story to its appearance on the shelf in a bookshop. It should include information on presentation and layout of manuscripts, and it should identify the role of an agent and publisher in relation to writing.

Grading
Pass 50 – 64%
Merit 65 – 79%
Distinction 80 – 100%

Accreditation

  • Following successful completion you will receive a FETAC Level 5 component Certificate in Creative Writing (N22790).
  • The Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) is the national awarding body for further education and training in Ireland. The Open College is registered with FETAC to offer programmes leading to FETAC awards in the National Framework of Qualifications in Ireland. Click here for details of the National Framework of Qualifications.
  • Click here for more detailed Accreditation information.
  • There is a €85.00 registration fee payable to include administration, moderation and FETAC accreditation.

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Further Study Options:
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