Course: Certificate in Short Story Writing

There is a market for well-written short stories and this course will help aspiring authors to identify opportunities for publication.

You will learn the skills required to structure and plot short stories, and receive training in the correct use of written English, creating atmosphere and tension, and using dialogue to good effect. The course includes the specific requirements of picture story scripting, the youth market and romance. You will also acquire useful knowledge about the short story market, copyright laws, the role of literary agents and how best to prepare your work for editorial scrutiny.

Included materials

The Complete Guide to English Usage textbook
Twentieth Century Short Stories textbook

Valued at $46.90!

Course Number	83800
Course Fees From	$46.43 per week View our payment options

Delivery mode:	Print or online
Course duration:	Max 18 months
Assessments:	9 written assessments
Qualification:	Open Colleges Certificate
Nationally Recognised	No
Government Funding	No

Career One jobs for:

ID	Subject expand all

	Introduction to writing Why freelance writers must be disciplined in their approach to their work Differentiate between fiction writing and journalism Assess the approximate wordage in a story Find sources for ideas Use words to stimulate your readers
	Writing for the market Identify a market for which you would like to write Study your chosen market and develop suitable plot ideas Express how motivation can be demonstrated in your characters Lean how to analyse a story Prepare your work professionally to impress an editor
	Structure and plot-work Plan the sequence of events and the wording you will use in a short story Define the plot sentence Know how to subject an idea Choose your chief character and use character portraits
	Creating atmosphere and tension Hold your reader's interest Use flashback skilfully Make your character credible Use crises to build up suspense
	Using dialogue effectively Use dialogue to allow characters to reveal details about themselves Let your characters speak naturally Avoid unnecessary details by slipping fragmented description between passages
	Titles, hints and small points Use enticing titles for your short stories Check 1st and 2nd drafts, and prepare final drafts Give characters realistic names
	Different forms of writing Set up scripts for picture stories Write different kinds of stories for young people without condescension or moralising Distinguish when and how much intimate detail to use in romantic scenes
	Short stories and longer stories Outline strong plots for use in short and long stories Write a simple, short and clear story for radio to keep audiences listening
	Business aspects of writing Copyright laws Discuss the duty of editors to their publication and readers Reasons for employing a literary agent Deal with rejections and follow the advice given by editorial teams Enter competitions and understand the implications of the rules and conditions
	English for writers Define masculine, feminine, common and neuter genders Punctuate passages of prose and written conversation Learn why slang is generally unsuitable for written English Learn how to use nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives and prepositions correctly to build phrases and sentences

Entry requirements

Minimum education

Open entry. Previous schooling and academic achievements are not required for entry into this course.

Minimum age

Minimum age of 16 years. If you are under 18 your application must be signed by a parent or guardian.

Computer requirements

Students will need access to a computer and the internet. For students who do not have access to either a computer or the internet please contact a student support officer to discuss alternative methods of communication.

Minimum specifications for the computer are:

Microsoft Office 2003 or equivalent, and
Microsoft Windows 98, or
Mac OS X, and
CD-ROM drive.

Students will also need access to a printer and the following applications:

Adobe Acrobat Reader and
Macromedia Flash player.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language and you did not complete the last two years of secondary education in English, you are required to provide evidence of English language competency before enrolling into the course. Examples of appropriate evidence are listed below:

Evidence	Example
IELTS	Overall score of 5.5
TOEFL	530 (paper), 197 (computer) or 71 (internet)
12 months in English-speaking employment	Testimonial, statutory declaration

Additional requirements

There are no additional requirements for this course.

Upon completion of this course, you will have developed a better understanding of the subject area and be able to put your new skills into practice.

June Colbert

A published author and experienced English teacher, June Colbert is also a trainer with Open Colleges and writes instructional materials for both adults and young people.

Born in the UK, June emigrated to Australia as a child. Gaining a Commonwealth scholarship to Sydney University, she completed a BA in English Lit and a Diploma of Education (1973). Since then, June has also completed a Diploma in TESOL and has recently taken the Developing the Novel course through University of California, Berkeley. She is now working towards her Master of Arts in English.

June began writing fiction for young people in 2000 and has since had a short story published, as well as four novels for young people: The King of Large, The Last Boy, Volcano and What Willow Knew, which was listed for the Sisters in Crime Awards.

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