Certificate in Fiction Writing Course at West Dean

Creative Writing & Publishing

Certificate in Fiction Writing

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Campus Open Day – Saturday 18 January 2025 - Register now
Award: Certificate in Fiction Writing
Duration: 1 year, part-time
School: School of Arts
Campus: West Dean and London

Our Certificate in Fiction Writing course is delivered across three in-person and weekend course units, self-directed study and the final submission of 5,000 words of fiction.

The course seeks to bring together the key elements of writing fiction into one continuing programme and supports the development of skills in characterisation, voice, plot and structure, and points of craft. 

Each weekend unit will be devoted to informal lectures, group discussions of key texts and themes, and writing exercises in the morning. In the afternoons, you will have time to work on your writing and the opportunity to take up an individual tutorial. Writers can submit 500 words in advance for feedback during the tutorial. The course is aimed at writers who wish to commit to an extended programme of study without having to make a significant time commitment and who will benefit from a cohesive course that offers focus on the key elements of successful writing over the course.

The certificate course also offers a potential pathway to those interested in applying for our Higher Education programmes in Creative Writing and Publishing.

Course structure

This course is designed for writers who want an extended and cohesive course on fiction writing, delivered by successful authors and teachers. The course delivery mirrors that of our MA programme in Creative Writing and Publishing. It offers a deeper and broader raft of teaching, designed to enable the student to take on a piece of longer fiction. At the end of the third unit, students will be asked to submit the first 5,000 words of a Work in Progress for marking and feedback from the tutors. 

Course Aims

Introduction

To introduce you to the key skills and knowledge that underpin fiction writing and the development of the novel. These will include the organisational skills required for plotting, character development and narrative technique. It will also introduce you to constructive and focused critical reflection of your work and support the development of rewriting/drafting skills.

Skills Development 

The course will offer a stimulating and varied learning environment to enable writers to develop their skills around characterisation, point of view and narrative drive. Writing exercises, along with discussion and textual analysis, will be the key modes of learning.

It will facilitate constructive critical thinking/reflection and cover redrafting, narrative drive and the development of voice.

Contextual and Critical Studies 

The course will offer insight into the traditions, theory and responsibilities of the writer and enable you to make clear authorial and editorial choices about your developing work.

Course units - Sussex

Unit 1: Character and Point of View
Tutor: Laura Wilkinson | 21–23 February 2025 | Weekend | SWE33233  

Unit 1 will include:  

  • Ideas generation, testing ideas and thinking like a writer (Friday evening) 
  • Building character 
  • Point of view 

Pre-course preparation:
A reading pack of PDFs will be sent to you prior to the course. For How-to reading, Francine Prose’s Reading Like a Writer is a great place to start, if you wish. You can submit 500 words from a work-in-progress to Laura for feedback during your individual tutorial.

Unit 2: Plot and Place 
Tutor: Bethan Roberts | 6–8 June 2025 | Weekend | SWE33236  

Unit 2 will include:  

  • Structure and plot
  • Sense of place (and time)
  • Narrative drive

Pre-course preparation:
A reading pack of PDFs will be sent to you prior to the course. You can submit 500 words from a work-in-progress to Bethan for feedback during your individual tutorial.

Unit 3: Writing Your Book
Tutors: Bethan Roberts and Laura Wilkinson | 5-7 September 2025 | Weekend | SWE33237  

Unit 3 will include: 

  • Show, don’t tell
  • Dialogue and pacing
  • A writing workshop in which you will get feedback on your work from your colleagues and tutor

Course units - London

Unit 1: Character and Point of View
Tutor: Laura Wilkinson | 1-2 March 2025 | Weekend | D2D35448

Unit 1 will include:  

  • Ideas generation, testing ideas and thinking like a writer (Friday evening) 
  • Building character 
  • Point of view 

Pre-course preparation:
A reading pack of PDFs will be sent to you prior to the course. For How-to reading, Francine Prose’s Reading Like a Writer is a great place to start, if you wish. You can submit 500 words from a work-in-progress to Laura for feedback during your individual tutorial.

Unit 2: Plot and Place 
Tutor: Bethan Roberts | 10-11 May 2025 | Weekend | D2D35454

Unit 2 will include:  

  • Structure and plot
  • Sense of place (and time)
  • Narrative drive

Pre-course preparation:
A reading pack of PDFs will be sent to you prior to the course. You can submit 500 words from a work-in-progress to Bethan for feedback during your individual tutorial.

Unit 3: Writing Your Book
Tutors: Bethan Roberts and Laura Wilkinson | 19-20 July 2025 | Weekend | D2D35456

Unit 3 will include: 

  • Show, don’t tell
  • Dialogue and pacing
  • A writing workshop in which you will get feedback on your work from your colleagues and tutor

Final writing

On completion of the course, students will submit the first 5,000 words of a piece they have developed on the programme.

Sussex course deadlines

  • Submission date for 5,000 words: 7 November 2025 (two months following the final unit)
  • Feedback from the programme tutors: by 7 December 2025

London course deadlines

  • Submission date for 5,000 words: 18 August 2025 (two months following the final unit)
  • Feedback from the programme tutors: by 15 September 2025

Completion

On successful completion, students will receive a Certificate of Completion and be offered an interview for the MA in Creative Writing and Publishing, should you want to continue your studies and project. The MA is set up to facilitate the production of a completed novel.

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    Entry requirements

    The following qualifications will be considered for entry to the course: 

    • A firm commitment to attending all three units 
    • Some experience of writing or attending a short writing programme 
    • An interest in and awareness of the fiction writing genre 

    Please read our standard Terms and Conditions for short courses. Specific Terms and Conditions include a commitment to attend all three weekend course dates listed, as no alternative course date can be offered for any that you are unable to attend. Therefore, no refund can be made for the course fee for any weekend you are unable to attend. Course locations for the weekend units are not interchangable.

    Fees

    The course fees are payable in advance of study. 

    Sussex
    Course fee:  £1,044 (non-residential, payable in one instalment covering all three units – payable by 10 January 2025, or on booking if after this date).

    Accommodation, including dinner and breakfast is available at an extra cost at our Sussex campus. Find out more about our accommodation options and costs.

    London
    Course fee:  £900 (non-residential, payable in one instalment covering all three units – payable by 18 January 2025, or on booking if after this date).

    We may routinely increase our course fees from year to year for one-year courses as well as courses lasting two or more years and may review and change such course fees without notice.

    How to apply

    Online
    Book this course online following one of payment links below:
    Sussex Course
    London Course

    Email
    Email the Bookings Team [email protected]

    Phone
    Call us on (01243) 818 300 and select option 2

    Any questions?

    Please contact our Bookings Team at [email protected] or call (01243) 818 300 and select option 2

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    Tutors

    Laura Wilkinson Tutor on the MA Creative Writing course at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation
    Bethan_Roberts_Author

    Bethan Roberts

    Tutor - Certificate in Fiction Writing

    Bethan has published five novels and writes stories and drama for BBC Radio 4. Her books include: The Good Plain Cook (Serpent’s Tail, 2008), which was a Radio 4 Book at Bedtime; My Policeman (Chatto & Windus, 2012), the story of a 1950s policeman, his wife and his male lover (a major Amazon Original movie starring Harry Styles and Emma Corrin) and Mother Island (Chatto, 2014), which received a Jerwood Fiction Uncovered prize.