Diploma in Creative Writing

Overview

This course is made up of six modules, each worth 20 credits. Students can study for the whole Diploma or choose individual modules. Each module is four months in duration. Study and practice involves approximately 12 hours per week.

Each online course begins with an introductory week where students get to know one other online, and practise using online communication facilities. Instruction is divided into week-long blocks. Students are assigned to a small group. The tutor is available for contact throughout the course and offers feedback on material presented at workshops at various intervals.

Modules

Short Fiction One - Mastering the Craft

This course has been developed by Adrienne Jansen, writer and teacher. It is an intensive, practical writing course, balancing imagination and craft. Each week you'll do writing exercises which may lead to completed short stories. You'll also work closely with others through a series of on-line workshops.

Short Fiction Two - Pushing the Boundaries

This course is for the fiction writer who wants to be challenged in technical skill and imagination, in both what you write about, and how you write it. You'll take part in on-line workshops, and there is a strong emphasis on revising and crafting the first draft. This course is also written by Adrienne Jansen.

Scriptwriting - The Short Film

This course is for writers who want to move into writing for the screen. It provides an introduction to the craft of visual writing, and the requirements of a screenplay. At the end of the course you will have a short film script - an invaluable calling card for entering the film writing industry. The course is written by Susy Pointon, a script consultant and teacher with many years experience in the industry both locally and overseas.

Poetry
Written by Wellington poet, James Brown, this course will take you through the many and varied forms of writing poetry. At the end of the course you will have a portfolio of work and a good understanding of critiquing poetry.

Non-Fiction

Learn the skills to write a feature article for a magazine, a proposal for a non-fiction book, write a portion of your memoirs, and write for the web. This course is a collaboration between Pip Byrne, journalist and editor, and Adrienne Jansen, with a special feature on writing memoirs by novelist and playwright, Renee.

Writing for Children

Teaching material from internationally renowned children's author Joy Cowley forms the core of this module, which guides writers through the requirements of writing for a variety of age groups. Writers will produce original pieces in a variety of genres - short fiction, plays, non-fiction and chapter books. This course draws on the expertise of a number of writers for children. Adrienne Jansen has compiled the course material.

To find out about the technical requirements needed to do this diploma online, go to the Online Learning section under Studying at Whitireia.

Online Access

Online students studying with Whitireia New Zealand use the Moodle Learning Management System (L.M.S).  Moodle is a highly interactive, self-paced learning platform. Here at Whitireia, we have named our Moodle 'Whitireia Online', which can be accessed:

• anywhere in the world
• at any time 24 hours a day