Creative Writing for Beginners

What you'll learn

Learn the craft of storytelling with our writing short courses in Sydney!

Every great story starts with a spark of an idea, but turning that spark into a story that grips a reader takes a few key skills. Creative writing gives us a way to play with ideas, explore other lives and perspectives, and discover our own voice on the page. With some encouragement and regular practice, anyone can begin to write with more confidence and imagination.

In this creative writing for beginners course, we will explore the building blocks of fiction and creative prose through lively reading discussions, short exercises and guided writing time. Over eight weekly sessions, we will look at how stories begin, how characters and scenes come alive, and how to develop a draft through revision.

Please note: Sharing your writing in class is entirely optional, and all feedback focuses on craft choices in a supportive environment.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this creative writing course, you should be able to:

Generate original story ideas and craft engaging openings
Create vivid scenes, distinctive characters and evocative settings
Use dialogue, point of view and structure with greater intention
Revise your work constructively and establish a realistic writing habit

Course content

What will be covered in this creative writing for beginners course?

Beginnings, hooks and generating ideas. Learn how to turn an ordinary situation into a compelling opening.
Show, don’t tell. Explore how sensory detail, action and scene can engage readers.
How to create compelling characters. Build believable characters with tensions and contradictions.
Setting and atmosphere. Explore how to make place active in a story and use it to shape mood.
Dialogue and conflict. Reveal character and tension through what is said and what is left unsaid.
Point of view and voice. Explore how perspective and audience can change a story.
Plot, structure and story. Shape a narrative through selection, sequence and recurring detail.
Revision and writing practice. Learn how to rework a draft and plan your next steps as a writer.

Intended audience

Who is this creative writing course for? This course is for anyone who is curious about writing fiction or creative prose, including complete beginners and people returning to writing after a break. No prior experience is needed.

Course venue

Where is my class located?

This course is delivered live online via Zoom. A link to join each session will be emailed to you before the course begins.

Course materials

What to bring to class

A computer, laptop or tablet with a stable internet connection, webcam and microphone
Zoom installed and tested before your first session
A notebook and pen, or a device for writing on
Any writing you have started and would like to develop (optional)

Course testimonials

Jess said: This class ticked all the boxes for me. I have learnt a great deal... and it has created the inspiration and the motivation I needed.
Kirsty said: This course has given me great tools to apply to storytelling in various forms. The teacher is professional and approachable, and the recording function for online classes allowed me to keep up when I was unable to attend a session.
Samantha said: The course was fun and useful. I learned critical writing skills to help structure my writing project... also the confidence to kickstart my creative writing journey. Shannon was passionate, fun and engaging. I will miss our Monday night class, where I met some wonderful like-minded people. Thank you for a great 6 weeks.
Mark said: Thankyou so much
Hugh said: I look forward to starting the next course.

This course has no current classes. Please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Creative Writing for Beginners