Advanced
Creative Writing
Did you love the Basics of Creative Writing Course? Well, the Advanced Course is even better!
6 Months
Intermediate-advanced
5
- Guaranteed 100% money back
- 12 000+ Writers trained since 2005
- Rated 5/5 on Google Reviews
Advanced
Creative Writing
Did you love the Basics of Creative Writing Course? Well, the Advanced Course is even better!
6 Months
Intermediate-advanced
5
- Guaranteed 100% money back
- Rated 5/5 on Google Reviews
- 12 000+ Writers trained since 2005
What You'll Learn
- Write vivid, convincing scenes using description, action and dialogue in balance
- Identify and fix the most common mistakes beginner fiction writers make
- Develop and sustain compelling characters across a piece of fiction
- Apply professional editing and rewriting techniques to your own drafts
- Produce a polished 1,200-word scene ready for submission or competition entry
- Understand where and how to submit your work for publication
- Build a sustainable, consistent writing practice
Learn More About
Creative Writing Techniques
Fine-tune your fiction writing project
Now that you’ve completed the Basics of Creative Writing Course, it’s time to learn more sophisticated techniques for even better storytelling.
This course teaches you how to:
- use dialogue, action and description to create strong characters
- drive your story forward and keep your reader hooked
- build mood, atmosphere and tension
- write impactful scenes
Challenge yourself by completing 20 rigorous writing assignments in five modules, working one-to-one with Helen Brain.
**Please note that this course is only open to graduates of our Basics of Creative Writing Course who attained a minimum average of 75%.
Learn More About
Creative Writing Techniques
Fine-tune your
fiction writing project
Now that you’ve completed the Basics of Creative Writing Course, it’s time to learn more sophisticated techniques for even better storytelling.
This course teaches you how to:
- use dialogue, action and description to create strong characters
- drive your story forward and keep your reader hooked
- build mood, atmosphere and tension
- write impactful scenes
Challenge yourself by completing 20 rigorous writing assignments in five modules, working one-to-one with Helen Brain.
**Please note that this course is only open to graduates of our Basics of Creative Writing Course who attained a minimum average of 75%.
What makes studying with us different?
No Automated Marking
We use traditional methods of assessing work with a real writer assessing your words. No generic feedback!
A Flexible Schedule
Work wherever and whenever you want. You can easily fit our courses around work and other commitments.
Relevant, Usable Content
Easy-to-digest course notes that capture a lifetime of writing experience, ready for you to apply to your own writing.
Ongoing Assessment
Your work is assessed continuously, so your tutor can track your development and build on your strengths in real time.
Expert, Individual Feedback
Every assignment is read and assessed by a multi-award-winning writer who knows what editors want, what publishers look for and exactly what is holding your writing back.
No Peer Reviews!
You will only be assessed by your tutor, a leader in their field. No more guessing and wondering how to write; you'll be guided line by line.
This course is for you if:
- You've always wanted to write fiction but don't know where to begin
- You've started stories before but struggle to finish or improve them
- You're writing for pleasure, competition entry, or eventual publication
- You want honest, expert feedback — not AI-generated or peer responses
- You live anywhere in the world and need a flexible, self-paced structure
- You want easy-to-digest course notes that capture a lifetime of writing experience, ready for you to apply to your own writing.
Course Curriculum
Module 1: Writing Dialogue
Formulaic structure and grammar.
- Introduction
- What is dialogue?
- Writing good dialogue
- Five writing assignments
Module 2: How Dialogue is Used in Fiction
Discover the secret formula to yield the best results
- Bringing characters to life through dialogue
- Revealing important information about characters through dialogue
- Using dialogue to move the plot forward
- Using dialogue to build suspense
- Four writing assignments
Module 3: Creating Strong Characters Using Dialogue
Hallucinations
- Building character through dialogue
- Building character through action
- Building character through description
- Introducing your character immediately
- Demonstrating character through the eyes of other characters
- Using metaphor to reveal a character’s life path and worldview
- Interactions with other characters; power relations (who is dominant/submissive?)
- Seven writing assignments
Module 4: Developing Backstories for Characters
Find your unique voice
- Backstories
- Exploring your own emotions
- Six writing assignments
Module 5: Creating Atmosphere
Plunder your memories
- Some rules about setting
- Ways to use setting
- Four writing assignments
I’ve been writing for 35 years, and teaching creative writing for 20. I’ve seen over a thousand students graduate from my courses, and have an exceptionally high completion rate.
I’m very interested in the craft of writing and believe that this is something that can be learned and practised so that the story that appears on the page correlates more closely with the story in your head.
I love teaching one-on-one, and supporting my students as they stretch themselves creatively and technically.
Achievements:
- Over 60 books published for children, young adults
- Here be Lions, a memoir, published 2006
- Fiery Spiral trilogy acquired by US publisher Catalyst Press 2018
- Ibby South Africa Honours list multiple years
- ATKV Award for her teen novel Tamara
- Three of her books have been selected for the SACBF Honours List
Our Graduate Students' Successes
We are proud of our graduates who have achieved success. Here are a few among dozens of our creative writing success stories.
Course Overview
COURSE FEE
NZ$ 995
£ 495
ZAR 8795
Price includes VAT/GST
NUMBER OF ASSIGNMENTS
20
The writing assignments vary in length.
NUMBER OF MODULES
5
These modules include around 200 pages of course notes.
COURSE DURATION
6
Work at your own pace – up to a maximum of six months.
START DATE: ANYTIME
Working with an individual tutor means you can start the course at any time.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Must have successfully completed the Basics of Creative Writing Course.
- Computer skills, e-mail and Internet access required.
- No previous tertiary qualification required.
What Our Students Say
Get These Additional Benefits
Lifetime Course Access
Benefit from free lifetime access to future course updates and access to our writing resources.
Work at Your Own Pace
Our courses work around you. You can pace your course around your busy life.
Be the First to Know About Writing Competitions
We'll help you keep up to date with the latest competition announcements.
500+ Bonus Articles on Our Blog
A superb, constantly updated resource with articles on writing and interviews with writers.
Work Opportunities
Top students are invited to join our writers and editors for hire service.
Join a Community of Writers
You will have access to our friendly Facebook community, daily writing tips and writing inspiration.
Complete the Application Form to Enrol on the Advanced Creative Writing Course
You will receive an approval email and invoice within one working day.
Should your form not submit, please let admin know at info@thewriterscollege.com
We are so confident that you will love your course that if you’re not 100% satisfied with the quality of our training, simply ask for a refund within 30 days.
Questions?
We've Got Answers
How does the course work?
The course consists of five modules. For each module, you will email an assignment with a specific word count to your tutor for assessment. Once you have received feedback, the module will be considered complete.
Is it interactive? Can I ask my tutor questions?
Absolutely. You have direct communication with your tutor for the duration of the course. The more questions you ask, the more you will get out of the course.
For how long will I get access to the course?
You will get lifetime access to the course. You will also benefit from future updates and improvements to the course.
Will anyone else see my work?
For the majority of our courses, only your tutor will see your work. It will remain completely private unless you get it published. The journalism courses might see your work published in the public domain, but you do have the final say as to whether or not this happens.
Why would I pay for this when I can use AI?
Every assignment you submit is read by a published, award-winning, human author, someone who has sat where you’re sitting, struggled with the same craft problems and built a writing career from scratch.
Your tutor reads your work, responds to your unique voice and gives you specific feedback. AI can only give you generic, formulaic input.
We’ve been doing this since 2005, long before AI existed. Our methods work because writing is learned through practice and genuine, expert human response, not through machine-generated content.
What are the conditions of certification?
Students will receive a Writers’ College Certificate upon successful completion of the course, provided they meet the following conditions:
- Students must complete all 20 writing assignments
- The course must be completed within six months of registration
- Students are expected to attain a minimum average of 50% for the course
What are the admission requirements?
- Students must be graduates of the Basics of Creative Writing Course.
- Students must have achieved at least 75% on the foundation course.
- Applicants who haven’t previously studied with the Writers’ College, but who can provide evidence of prior learning, or publication, will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
When can I start a course?
Because you will work with an individual tutor, you can start your course as soon as your application has been approved. There are no specific start dates as would be the case with a traditional college.
An application is usually approved within one working day. Once we receive proof of payment, your can start your course.
You could be starting your course today!
What is the 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. You have six months to complete the course (and an extra 21 days if your course runs over the Christmas and New Year break).
You are welcome to finish the course sooner if you want to, but we wouldn’t want you to rush the process too much!
When will I get access to the course?
Once your application has been approved, you will receive notification of approval and an invoice via email. As soon as we receive proof of payment, the first module as well as your tutor’s email address and your login details will be sent to you. Your tutor will also be in touch to welcome you.
Who owns the rights to the work I produce?
Any work created on our courses is owned by you. We will never make a claim to anything you produce. We follow the rule that copyright subsists with the creator (you).
What if I choose the wrong course?
During the application process, we get a good idea of your suitability for the course you have chosen. If we feel there is an alternative course that will serve you better, we will always recommend that you consider that course before we approve your choice. We provide plenty of detail on each of our courses online so that you can make an educated choice as to which course will suit you best. If you want advice before you apply, just ask us. We have a lot of experience in determining your needs as a writer and finding the most suitable course for you.
If you do embark on a course and find that it is the wrong choice, then we will happily transfer you to another course, as long as it is early on in the course (i.e. within the first module). If you change your mind later on in the course, we will charge you pro rata for the modules you have completed as well as an administrative fee.