Course: Certificate in Writing a Best-seller

To produce a best-selling novel you must strike a chord with a wide audience. This course will develop your skills in areas that are significant in the context of mass market fiction, and provide useful strategies for getting your manuscripts noticed.

Among other skills, you will learn how to generate story ideas, plot your novel, invent believable characters, write dialogue, research the setting, incorporate pace and suspense, and edit your manuscript. You will also study the business of publishing, including the influence of technology, the roles of promotion and networking, and what editors are looking for.

Course Number	92720
Course Fees From	$42.81 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

	The technology debate The age of information technology Writing for the internet Why readers like the internet Editing by computer Do writers need to work on computers? How do you edit on-line? Electronic publishing About e-books E-book software How can I convert my own documents to e-books? Some worthwhile internet sites for all writers
	Promote yourself to success The waiting game Networking with other writers Mentors, workshops and conferences Building a reputation for reliability Using a critique/editorial service Keeping records and backup copies; financial records and taxation Your next book How to make a living while you're waiting to be rich and famous Self-promotion: talking about what you do Dealing with rejection; professional DO's and DON'T's
	So you want to write a best-selling novel? Writing best-selling fiction What is a 'best-seller'? The characteristics of genre fiction Mainstream and literary fiction How to decide what type of book you should write Some opinions about writing and getting published An editor's view of what will sell: 'Turn-offs' for an editor; categorise your novel
	Plotting your novel The best way to plot your story The beginning; that vital idea Taking an idea and shaking it Your plot at a glance From cluster to outline Your timeline Who is telling the story? Having the end in sight Background, minor characters and subplots Is my idea best suited to a novel or short story?
	The characters in your story Starting with a character Character tags Creating a character file Describing your characters Third person narrator Character motivation What comes first, the characters or the plot? Characters in a situation Don't make your characters all good or all bad The difference between major and minor characters The viewpoint character; the first person narrator Bringing your characters on stage; naming your characters
	Research, setting and mood Putting your characters on-stage The setting of your novel Some tips on researching Your 'contacts' book Writing historical fiction Do your research Researching for novels with a medical background Mood Police procedure; science fiction, fantasy and futuristic A trick to make your background come alive The physical background; what interests readers? Don't give your reader a chance to flip pages
	The self-publishing option Producing your own book The production process Writing, editing, design and printing Structure of a book Australian books in print Selling your book Terms of trade Using a distributor Glossary of acronyms and terms Useful addresses Your rights and responsibilities: copyright
	Structure, pace and suspense The suspense meter How to create suspense right from the start; the difference between suspense and conflict; ways to create suspense How to maintain tension and conflict Checklist for conflict, pace and tension Playing on emotions; anticipation and fear Controlling pace through scenes, writing scenes Four ways to keep your story moving The structure of a scene; tying up loose ends
	First page, first chapter What does a first chapter have to do? Using the 'Five Ws' How to describe your characters Your first chapter checklist How to end a chapter The importance of your novel's opening
	Editing and polishing your novel Is your novel ready to send away? The novelist's ABC: active voice, beginnings, cut, don't assume, endings, facts and your files, group support, info dumping, judgement, keep it simple, lead, middles, natural style, overview, paragraphing, question technique, rewriting, soapboxes, tenacity, understanding, viewpoint, wordiness, 'x' marks the spot, you and your career, and zeal
	Marketing your novel Submitting a manuscript Copyrighting Writing a synopsis A sample query letter Pitfalls in writing for children Writing in an outmoded style Would I make a good children's writer? Writing for teenagers Should I have an agent? Partials v a full manuscript Best-selling fiction for the juvenile market What you should know about writing for children Stories for children can be a variety of lengths General tips for writing children's story books Other ways to make money from being a children's writer
	Writing effective dialogue The importance of good dialogue What is 'good dialogue'? How do you write effective dialogue? Different types of speech tags Building tension through dialogue Dialogue and humour How to check that your dialogue works Accents, slang and cliches How to make dialogue and narrative work well together; interior monologue

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.

Ann Harth

As an internationally published author, tutor Ann Harth knows what it takes to achieve success as a writer.

Ann writes her own adult fiction and spent more than five years working with contemporary authors on their short stories as the assistant fiction editor of the online magazine at moondance.org. She is also a contributor to Reader’s Digest and has also ghost-written a number of non-fiction books on diverse subjects. Her non-fiction articles and columns can be found on a number of online publications and e-zines, including the writing4success website. Ann is also a highly accomplished, award-winning children’s fiction writer.

As a dual citizen of Australia and the US with more than 20 years’ residency in each, Ann is comfortable writing for the international community. Her diverse background and Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) supply her with an endless array of characters, experiences and settings on which to draw.

Ann enjoys sharing her experience and expertise with students and is always available for questions. She is committed to helping her students achieve their writing goals.

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Student Testimonial

"The course information was set out so well I felt organised and in control. My tutor was excellent in answering any queries I had. I have thoroughly enjoyed studying and feel enthusiastic and confident about travelling on the new path that has opened before me. Thank you."
- Karen L