Welcome to the Literary Short and Flash Fiction Course at SA Writers' College.
Have you always loved writing stories, and wish you could become a published writer? In this course, we teach you all the writing tools you need to write short stories, and share some tips to help you get them published in literary print and online journals. You will receive feedback on 10 writing assignments, including eight pieces of fiction you write during the course, from well known, award-winning writers.
During this course we'll examine:
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How to set up good writing habits
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How to create convincing characters
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The structure and plot of a good short story
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How to write realistic dialogue
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How the point of view affects your story
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How to write flash fiction
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Editing your own work before submitting it
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Where to send stories for publication, both local and international
Course Details:
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Modules: 10 Modules
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Duration: Course can be completed at own pace: within six months
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Start date: At any time; applications all year round via our website
Student must complete:
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10 writing exercises (assessment and feedback on each); of which six are full short stories of 1500 words each, and two pieces of flash writing of 500 words each.
Admission Requirements:
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Basic writing skills are essential
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Students must be proficient in the English Language
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Computer skills, e-mail and Internet access required
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No previous tertiary qualification required
Tutor for this course:
Alex Smith
Course Curriculum
Module 1 - An Introduction to the Short Story
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What is a short story?
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Getting started
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Getting into a routine
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Battling writer’s block
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Some writing tips
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Module 2 - 10 Basic Tools for Creative Writers
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Use Anglo Saxon not Latinate words
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Show Don’t Tell
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Use the Active Voice
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Cut adverbs, and replace with stronger verbs
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Point of View
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The three components of Creative Writing
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Writing action – reducing stage directions
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Writing Descriptions – be specific.
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Writing Dialogue
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How to pace your writing using action, description and dialogue
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Module 3 - Characterisation
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Character-driven writing
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Types of characters
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Knowing your characters
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Presenting characters
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The importance of the “back story”
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The importance of the right name
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Module 4 - Writing Dialogue
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The function of dialogue
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Writing believable dialogue
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Starting your story with dialogue
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Writing authentic dialogue
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The use of “said”
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Using slang and dialect effectively
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Using silence as part of the dialogue
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How to convey thoughts
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Module 5 - Choosing your Point of View
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Writing from First Person POV
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Writing from the Second Person POV
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Writing from Third Person POV
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Module 6- The Plot
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What is a Story Plot?
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Key Elements of Plot
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Various Plot Patterns
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The Twist in the Tale
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Sourcing Ideas for Plots
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Module 7- Structure, Setting and Style
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The definition of ‘structure’ in a story
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Structural devices to add interest
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Writing style: Using metaphors for maximum impact
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How settings can define your story. Or not.
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Module 8 - Editing your Story
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Avoiding repetition
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The importance of the word count
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How to cut for maximum impact
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Tying up the loose ends
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Module 9 - Flash Fiction
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What is flash fiction?
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Key elements of flash writing
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Where to submit flash fiction
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Module 10 - How to Submit Stories for Publication
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Where to submit short stories online and in literary publications
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How to submit a story
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Literary Competitions
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How does the course work?
The course consists of ten modules. Detailed class notes covering the content of each module are e-mailed to students.
At the end of each module, students will be required to complete a writing exercise. In total, the course includes 10 writing exercises of which six are full short stories of 1500 words each and two pieces of flash writing of 500 words each.
Once the writing assignment has been completed, and e-mailed to the lecturer, an assessment and feedback will be sent to the student, and the module will be considered complete. The next module will then be e-mailed to the student.
Please note: Assignments should be returned as attachments, not in the body of the e-mail.
Conditions of Certification:
Students will receive an SA Writers' College Certificate upon successful completion of the course, provided they meet the following conditions:
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Students must have completed all assignments
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The course must have been completed within six months of registration.
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Students are expected to attain a minimum average of 50% for the course
Minimum Estimated Time Commitment:
There is no research required for this course, just planning and writing. The speed at which you work is entirely up to you. After studying the modules, the exercises should take between half an hour and two hours to complete. A completed story could take longer.
