Short course
Writing Fiction: An Introduction
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates:
28/09/2026 - 30/11/2026
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£315.00
If you’re a beginner with little or no experience in creative writing, this course is for you; and if you’re an intermediate writer, this course will deepen your understanding.
Each week a different aspect of the novelist’s craft will be introduced and we’ll discuss how it works in our two set texts and in excerpts from other stories.
You’ll learn about the messy process of fiction-writing, from getting ideas (tip: always carry a notebook) through outlining, drafting and of course, revising. You’ll end up with a full toolbox of fiction-writing techniques and the confidence to exercise your unique literary voice.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Programme details
Course starts Monday 28 September 2026
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Mondays, 7.00-9.00pm.
Week 1: Writer Mindset + Scenes
Week 2: Character
Week 3: Motivation
Week 4: Idea into Story
Week 5: Detail
Week 6: Point of view
Week 7: Outlining
Week 8: Dialogue
Week 9: Backstory
Week 10: Revising
Teaching methods
This is a practical class in which students are expected to complete a short writing exercise every week.
At least half of every class will be a supportive and fun writing workshop, in which we examine three to four of their pieces.
Following a brief lecture on an aspect of the fiction-writer’s craft, and we will have a discussion, often based on a close reading of a set text. The writing exercise for the next week will then be explained, and there’s time for questions.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will have been given the opportunity to have learnt how to:
- understand the underlying concepts of fiction;
- be confident in the use of these concepts;
- complete a piece of original work.
Assessment methods
Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation, in advance of the course start date, can submit coursework/assignments for assessment.
Assessment
You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Level and demands
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, ie first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.
Course aims
This course aims to introduce the fundamental tools of fiction-writing and to enable students to use these tools in their own creative practice.
Course objectives
- To encourage creativity and experimentation in creative practice.
- To develop good critical reading habits.
- To encourage participation in discussion and debates about writing.
Programme details
Course starts Monday 28 September 2026
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Mondays, 7.00-9.00pm.
Week 1: Writer Mindset + Scenes
Week 2: Character
Week 3: Motivation
Week 4: Idea into Story
Week 5: Detail
Week 6: Point of view
Week 7: Outlining
Week 8: Dialogue
Week 9: Backstory
Week 10: Revising
Teaching methods
This is a practical class in which students are expected to complete a short writing exercise every week.
At least half of every class will be a supportive and fun writing workshop, in which we examine three to four of their pieces.
Following a brief lecture on an aspect of the fiction-writer’s craft, and we will have a discussion, often based on a close reading of a set text. The writing exercise for the next week will then be explained, and there’s time for questions.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will have been given the opportunity to have learnt how to:
- understand the underlying concepts of fiction;
- be confident in the use of these concepts;
- complete a piece of original work.
Assessment methods
Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation, in advance of the course start date, can submit coursework/assignments for assessment.
Assessment
You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Ms Helena Echlin
Helena Echlin is the author of the psychological thriller, Clever Little Thing (2025). She taught fiction-writing for Stanford University in California and has written for many publications such as the Guardian and the Times.
Assessment methods
Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation, in advance of the course start date, can submit coursework/assignments for assessment.
Level and demands
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, ie first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee (with no assessment) | £315.00 |
| Assessment and Accreditation fee | £60.00 |
Module code: O26P479CRW
How to enrol
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.
How to register for accreditation and assessment
To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for this course, if you wish to do so, you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.
If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.
