Short Story Writing

Course Overview

You'll discover how to really bring a story to life, using convincing dialogue, developing plots and creating dramatic tension. As well as helping you to improve your writing, this course will give you advice on how to sell your work.

Pre-requisites

The great news is that you don't need any previous experience to take this course.

Qualification

ICS Short Story Writing Diploma

Support and Benefits

As an ICS student you will have your own personal tutor helping you with your course work and with any questions you may have. Plus you can contact our Student Advisors by email or phone for all the practical advice you may need – so we really are with you 100%.

What's more, you'll have access to the ICS online Student Community, where you can interact with other students, browse our resource library and manage your account.

Key Topics

• Introduction to Writing

Learn the technical terms that are used in writing. Discover sources of ideas. Explore methods of writing evocatively.

• Writing for the Market

Identify a market for which you would like to write and study that market. Explore how conflict and motivation are used in short stories. Learn how to analyse the stories of others. Discover how to present your work professionally.

• Structure and Plotwork

Learn how to plan the sequence of events in a story, and discover how to get the length of your story right. Explore the components of one, two and five tier plots. Consider openings and endings.

• Creating Atmosphere and Tension

Learn how to hold your reader’s interest. Examine characters, settings, complications, atmosphere, suspense and flashbacks.

• Using Dialogue Effectively

Explore how to write effective dialogue and how to create atmosphere through dialogue. Learn how to convey a character’s mood through the tone of their voice. Discover how to make effective and judicious use of dialect, accent and colloquialism.

• Titles, Hints and Small Points

Learn how to give your short stories enticing titles. Explore the naming of characters. Consider the research that you may have to conduct to give your story authenticity. Examine clichés and discover how to avoid them. Explore the revision process.

• Writing for Young People, Humour and Romantic Stories

Explore the elements which picture stories must have and learn how to create scripts for picture stories. Examine the use of animals in stories. Discover how to make your reader laugh. Learn how to write an effective romantic story.

• Short and Longer Stories

Explore the different lengths of ‘short stories’, from short short stories to longer short stories. Examine adventure, crime, mystery, sci-fi and fantasy stories. Learn how to write a story for radio.

• Business Aspects of Writing

Explore copyright laws. Examine the duties of editors. Consider the reasons why some writers choose to employ a literary agent. Investigate writers’ circles, writing workshops and writing competitions.

Course Code

D08

Outline

You’ll complete nine assessments during your course. These assessments can be submitted to ICS online via the Student Community, or they can be posted to ICS. It is recommended that you submit your assessments online as you will receive your results more quickly this way.

Assessment Breakdown

• Assessment 1: 4 short answer questions and 1 question requiring you to write a short story
• Assessment 2: 1 compulsory short answer question, 1 compulsory activity, and a choice of 2 questions, the first requiring you to analyse a short story and the second requiring you to write a short story
• Assessment 3: 1 short answer question, 1 question requiring you to outline the plot for a short story, and 1 question requiring you to write the beginning of this short story
• Assessment 4: 1 short answer question and 1 question requiring you to either write a new short story or continue the story you submitted for Assignment 3
• Assessment 5: 3 writing activities
• Assessment 6: 1 writing activity and 1 question requiring you to write a short story
• Assessment 7: 1 question (of a choice of 3) requiring you to write a short story
• Assessment 8: 1 question requiring you to write a short story
• Assessment 9: 1 question (of a choice of 2) requiring you to write a short story

Notes

Short answer questions usually require you to analyse aspects of set short stories. For example, you may be asked to analyse a specific character in a short story. Through examining about other writers’ work you will find that your own stories improve.