Please note that the course fee of £800 (which covers all three units) is payable in advance of study.

This West Dean College Certificate in Historical Fiction Writing is awarded in recognition of the successful completion of all three weekend course units spread across each academic term, self-directed study and the completion of the first 5,000 words of an historical fiction novel.

The course seeks to bring together all the key components of good historical fiction writing into one continuing programme and to offer an insight into the writer's toolkit necessary for developing skills and building your confidence.

Each weekend unit will be based at West Dean College's London campus, located in the heart of literary Bloomsbury. 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 historical fiction writing over the course of an academic year.

This first unit will include:
- An introduction to historical fiction
- The rules of historical fiction
- Historical research
- Structure: Creating a solid foundation
- The five key elements of plotting