Content is king, we all know! And when we say that, it is a sum of various factors. However, a key ingredient determines how glued your readers are to your content i.e., how creative your content is. Even simple information presented creatively makes a huge difference. Perhaps we could say, creativity is the soul of the content. While some are innately blessed with an artistic bent for writing, creative writing is a skill that can be easily learned and cultivated. This article guides you into aspects of creative writing and some of the top creative writing courses in Birmingham.

TOP CREATIVE WRITING COURSES IN BIRMINGHAM-compressed

Creative Writing in a Nutshell

Creative writing as the name suggests, is structuring the words in a fashion that resonates with the readers by evoking an emotional response. We humans are emotional beings and our decisions are majorly driven by pleasure or pain.

Through your written piece, if you can express your thoughts and ideas in a fashion that strikes a chord with your readers, you can call yourself a successful creative writer. Creative writing is different from academic or technical writing, where creative writers enjoy the freedom of self-expression through flowery language, metaphors, symbolism, similes, etc.

They are not bound by a particular format or structure and that helps them to infuse life into the character or central theme of their write-up. One of the key elements of creative writing is that the writers can share their opinions, feelings, or personal insights into their content.

Hence creative writing is majorly used in non-factual, entertaining pieces although not confined to merely writing non-fiction books, novels, or poetry.

Especially in this digital era where businesses are online, catching the audience’s attention is paramount and so how creative one can get especially with their content, their ad campaigns on social media, to a great extent undoubtedly contributes to the overall success of the organization.

Also Read, Digital Marketing Courses in Birmingham

Creative Writing is Divided Into:

  • Fiction
  • Non-fiction

What is Fiction Writing?

Anything that is pure imagination, your creation is written for entertainment to grasp the reader’s attention or simply to express your point of view. Fiction writing is generally non-historical writing and need not be necessarily backed by factual data. Creative writing is thus easily an essence in fiction writing.

Some Forms of Fiction Writing:

  • Playwriting: Playwriting has a dramatic structure, and consists of dialogues – monologues, soliloquies, and stage directions that guide artists, directors, and the technicians involved in the play.
  • Short Story: This is a brief work of fiction that has fewer characters and where the entire story orbits around a single plot or theme.
  • Novella: It is longer than a short story but more concise than a novel and generally is anywhere between 20,000 to 40,000 words.
  • Novel: It comes under the long form of writing with over 40,000 words and multiple characters, plots, and subplots.
  • Script-writing: It is also known as screenplay. You will see this form of writing for creating scripts for television media, radio, theater, and films. A good script-writing makes a story come alive.
  • Poetry: It is a form of literary expression that evokes feelings through the use of emotional language, metaphors, etc. It sometimes rhymes and has a rhythmic feel to it.

Check These Few More Creative Writing Courses For Skill Development:

What is Non-Fiction Writing?

Non-fiction writing is content that comprises real events and actual people. Its main objective is to inform, educate, or persuade the readers by providing accurate factual information that is verifiable. Each one of us has had the experience of some form of non-fiction writing in a lifetime, for example, school essays, journaling, diary writing, official emails, etc.

The Four Main Components of Non-fiction Writing Are:

Expository: The main purpose of this kind of writing is to state facts and give logical explanations to the readers. The author needs to do thorough research, gather factual data, and has to have a clear understanding of the subject. Textbooks, instruction manuals, academic books, etc. are good examples of expository writing.  

Narrative: Here, the author puts forward facts in the form of a story or a sequence of events or topic-wise. Narrative writing can be seen in stories, novels, short essays, etc.

Persuasive: In this form of writing, the author aims to convince or persuade the readers to accept a particular point of view or persuade them to take a particular action. This form of writing is quite compelling and presents arguments or strong evidence. Some examples of persuasive writing are editorials, advertisements, speeches, etc.

Descriptive: The main objective of this form of writing is to give readers a holistic experience by engaging all their senses. Descriptive writing uses sensory language and good examples are travel guides, cookbooks, poetries, etc. However, one ought to understand that there is certain non-fictional literature that can also be considered to be a part of creative writing, although they are categorized under non-fiction.

Here Are a Few Examples of Creative Non-fiction Writing: 

Memoir:  It is subjective and is written from the first-person perspective. It is an autobiographical form of writing where the author shares incidents and experiences from his or her life.

Biographies and Autobiographies: A Biography is a life story of a person written by someone else, while an autobiography is when someone pens down their own life and relevant incidents.

Journalism: Journalism aims at reporting factual information and real current events and issues. Investigative reports and new articles are classic examples.

Political Writing and Humour Writing:

Writing political essays that analyze social and political systems and ideologies, political satire, etc. are also forms of creative non-fiction writing.

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Scope of Creative Writing

In the world of uncertainty, it is understandable one might be apprehensive about the future of creative writers. But the good news is, that the world today is highly influenced by technological advancements and the future of the digital world is only evolving.

The majority of the world has moved from its primitive way to online. This provides a golden opportunity for creative writers to showcase their talent by creating engaging content on digital platforms. Besides, as a creative writer, you can work from any remote location and even work as a freelancer.

Some Key Skills Needed to be a Successful Creative Writer:

  • Language proficiency
  • Basic Technological understanding
  • Research skills
  • Imagination and Creativity
  • Good observation
  • Curiosity and enthusiasm

 Creative Writing in Birmingham

Birmingham is a major vibrant city in the West Midland region of England. This dynamic city has abundant opportunities for creative writers due to its flourishing literary community. Birmingham is the second largest city in the United Kingdom has various literary events and festivals which give aspiring writers various creative writing opportunities to explore and hone their writing skills.

Birmingham Writers’ Guild and similar organizations regularly conduct events and workshops that provide a platform to network with other writers. Also, several local educational institutions and community centers in Birmingham offer courses and writing workshops for creative writers to improve their craft. Thus, one can easily make a career as a creative writer by enrolling in creative writing courses in Birmingham.

What Career Options Are Available for a Creative Writer?

In this era of social media, there are a plethora of opportunities available for a Creative Writer. Hence, on successful completion of your creative writing courses in Birmingham, you will have the freedom to choose diverse career paths across industries depending on your writing skills. Some Roles You Could Explore Are:

  • Copywriter (Digital Copywriter or Advertising Copywriter)
  • Content Writer
  • Web Content Manager
  • Proofreader
  • Internal Communication Specialist
  • Social Media Expert
  • Social Media Marketer
  • Academic Librarian
  • Columnist
  • Ghostwriter
  • Script Writer for films, TV shows, etc.

Now, having learned about the job market for creative writers in the United Kingdom, let us quickly explore creative writing courses in Birmingham.

Recommended Read For a Few More Creative Writing Courses:

 

Top 10 Creative Writing Courses in Birmingham for Success

 

1. IIM SKILLS

IIM SKILLS is one of the most trusted brands in the education industry with its online presence. It has attracted students from around the globe. Their reputation is the product of their dedication and continuous efforts at delivering the best skill development training programs from industry experts themselves. While they provide a host of courses, their flagship course is the writing course.

Hence, if you are someone who aspires to be a creative writer, you cannot afford to miss IIM SKILLS. Although IIM SKILLS doesn’t offer a creative writing course separately, they cover it in depth under the Creative Writing module within their Content Writing course.

Thus, you not only learn about creative writing but also have the advantage of learning different styles of writing when you enroll in their Content Writing course. The Content Writing Master Course at IIM SKILLS is a 4 weeks live classroom online program with a 3-month guaranteed internship.

In the 30 hours of training, you will learn Article Writing, Blogging, E-book, Book Writing, Press Release, Copywriting, Legal Papers, Business Listing, and many more.

Also Read: IIM SKILLS Content Writing Course Review

As part of creative writing, you will learn to write the first draft of your book and attempt a short story, both fiction and non-fiction. The Learning Management System (LMS) at IIM SKILLS is a handy tool that gives you lifetime access to the latest content.

Also, you get over 14 hours of Internship lectures along with 50+ hours of Internship assignments. Real-life case studies and practical assignments make you job-ready and give you an edge over others.

The Master Certification from IIM SKILLS is globally accredited. Also, their job assistance services allow you to be hired by their renowned recruiting partners which include big media houses, top writing agencies, and Fortune 500 companies.

With all this put together, IIM SKILLS offers one of the best creative writing courses in Birmingham.

Course Title – Content Writing Course

Course Duration – 1 Month Training + 3 Month Guaranteed Internship

Course Fee – 16,900 INR + 18% Taxes

Free Job Placement Assistance

For further details, please visit: www.iimskills.com

or email at: info@iimskills.com  

You may also want to look at other Professional Courses at IIM SKILLS

 

2. MAC Midlands Arts Centre

Midlands Arts Centre is set in Birmingham amidst the magnificent surroundings of Cannon Hill Park. Since May 2010 it has emerged as a hub of creativity and learning in the Midlands. It is a great place for aspiring creative writers of all age groups from children, and young people to adults with over 150 creative courses and workshops to choose from.

Among several other Creative Writing and Literature courses offered by MAC, the Introduction to Creative Writing course is one of the most popular creative writing courses in Birmingham. This course is open to anyone over 18 years and requires no previous creative writing experience.

Also, if you are someone who hasn’t indulged in creative writing for long, this course is sure to be a game changer. In this program, you will start with an understanding of free writing and Clustering and learn to apply that in your writing.

Proceeding further, you will master different techniques of writing like Poetic Writing, Diary Writing, Film Premise, Characterisation, Archetypes, etc. which you will be able to sync in your write-ups and make your writing an exemplary piece.

The importance of collaborative writing is emphasized in this course by encouraging students to work in groups. Also, periodic constructive feedback and handouts are provided to students enabling them to understand their areas of improvement in their creative writing.

Key Takeaway from this Course:

  • Different genres that are used in creative writing
  • Different styles of writing
  • Secret techniques used by published writers and how to use them in your writing
  • Enhance your understanding and knowledge of others’ writing styles through group work

Thus, for beginners who want to enroll in creative writing courses in Birmingham, this course is sure to kick-start your creative writing journey.

Course Title – Introduction to Creative Writing

Course Duration – 11 weeks for 2 hours each, every Monday

Some other courses offered by MAC:

  • Introduction to Poetry and Poetic Writing
  • Creative Writing Improvers
  • Creative Writing Beginners
  • The Writing Factory
  • Introduction to Life Writing
  • Writers Reading Group

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3. Writer’s Digest University

Writer’s Digest is quite well known in the world of writers and since 1920 has been catering to writers through its magazine. It has a host of comprehensive writing courses for both beginners and experienced writers. If you are looking for creative writing courses in Birmingham, you need not look beyond the Creative Writing 101 course offered by Writer’s Digest University.

This course is designed in a fashion that not only motivates you to write but also helps you learn the intricacies of creative writing. The structured program enables you to sketch the plot of the story along with the characterization of the archetypes.

Creative Writing 101 not only teaches the key elements of good storytelling but also combines the development of the protagonist making it a complete program on creative writing. The classes are conducted by award-winning instructors who make sure to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.

Also, various concerns and challenges that you may face while writing a story are addressed in detail during the sessions. You will also receive instructor feedback on written assignments.

Key Takeaway From This Course: 

  • How to define your story
  • Creating the order of the story
  • How to create obstacles
  • How to select a point of view
  • Dialogue writing
  • Making the content more visual
  • How to plan the hook and the ending

This course is an ideal course for beginners with a strong penchant for writing but without a sense of direction. Also, serves as a refresher course for individuals.

Course Name – Creative Writing 101

Course Duration – 12 Sessions

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4. Coursera

Coursera is a popular reliable online learning platform that offers a host of courses and specializations in various subjects. It partners with top universities and educational institutions around the globe to provide access to premium quality educational content.

While Coursera offers a wide range of creative writing courses in Birmingham, you can start with the one that best caters to your needs. One of the most popular writing courses with Coursera is, The Creative Writing Specialization by Wesleyan University.

This course is a beginner level and requires no creative writing experience. The specialization is a 5 course series giving you the flexibility to choose these courses in any order. With a focus on key aspects of writing, you will be trained in three major creative writing genres: short story, narrative essay, and memoir.

By the end of the course, you will be a refined writer but with critique writing. It is a self-paced course with access to recorded sessions. You will be given assignments that will help you gauge your work through peer reviews.

Key Takeaway From the 5 Series Course:

  • Learn techniques to write a compelling story
  • Creating a plot
  • Framing memorable characters
  • A Descriptive style that is refreshing
  • Complete a story

This course is suitable for aspiring writers to get a deep understanding and in-depth knowledge of the subject. Course Title – Creative Writing Specialization Course Duration – 3 to 6 months

5. Henry Harvin

Henry Harvin is an institute associated with Henry Harvin Education and offers professional certification courses in content writing, digital marketing, data sciences, and others. It ranks among the top 500 Global EdTech companies with an enviable recognition for its Certified Creative Writing Specialist course.

The creative writing course comprises 16 hours of live interactive classroom sessions and 8 hours of writing assignments that are conducted by subject matter experts from the industry.

The syllabus is well-designed, involves practical-based training, and makes you job-ready on the completion of the course. By the end of the course, the participants gain mastery in all 4 genres of creative writing – fiction, non-fiction, drama, and poetry.

In addition, this course offers its students a One-year gold membership with Henry Harvin Academy with access to post-training follow-ups. Due to its flexible schedule and tailor-made training, this course is suitable for students, content writers, digital marketing professionals, and even housewives who enjoy writing with a good understanding of the language.

Course Title – Creative Writing Course

A 3-month paid Internship

guaranteed Job support on course completion

6. Bangor University

Bangor University in Wales is a prestigious public university established way back in 1884 and happens to be a good choice for creative writing courses in Birmingham. It offers more than 490 programs both undergraduate and postgraduate courses ranging from Arts, Environmental Sciences, and Human Sciences etc.

It is one of the best public research universities and welcomes nearly 2,000 international students from across the globe. Bangor University offers various full-time undergraduate courses in creative writing. Each student gets personal attention as the teaching and lectures are conducted in small groups by the subject matter experts.

One-to-one supervision helps the students to understand the concepts better and seek proper guidance with the queries resolved satisfactorily. Also, on completion of these courses, the student has an option to avail international exposure – either to study or work abroad for one additional year.

The alumni are impressive with a lot of former students making their mark in media and various literary fields through their writing and work published. This course is for anyone who wishes to explore career options in the creative industry as a digital content creator, editor, and publisher to name a few.

Course Title – Creative Writing

Course Duration – 3 to 4 years

 

7. EdX

EdX is a popular online learning platform founded by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It provides a wide spectrum of programs, courses, and professional certificates on diverse subjects like languages, humanities, business, and others.

Over the years, it has partnered with world-renowned institutions and universities to offer top-class online education to students across the globe. EdX offers various creative writing courses in Birmingham that include writing poetry, novel writing, fictional writing, screenplay write-ups, and many more.

These courses are held online and are self-paced which gives students the flexibility to study from remote locations or the comfort of their homes. This course is suitable for anyone who wants to start as a creative writer.

 

8. University of Oxford

The University of Oxford in Oxford, England is one of the most prestigious and renowned universities in the world and holds huge credibility, especially for courses in English language and literature. Oxford University holds various programs like Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and short-term courses in creative writing.

The Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing is a two-year part-time course and students can choose either online or classroom teaching. This program allows you to specialize in the genre of your choice. Under the two-year part-time Postgraduate program, students get two guided retreats and the highlight of this program is one placement over two years.

Their short courses in creative writing are comprehensive and cover all genres like poetry, drama, fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, and writing for young adults. The students have the flexibility to choose online sessions or classroom training at their convenience.

Also, Oxford University holds a week-long creative writing summer camp. These courses offered by Oxford University are suitable both for beginners and experienced creative writers making it a great choice among the best creative writing courses in Birmingham.

Course Title – Creative Writing

Mode of Instruction – Option available for virtual or classroom training

 

9. British Council

The British Council is an international organization that promotes cultural relations and educational opportunities mainly in the English language making it an ideal choice for creative writing courses in Birmingham.

Their Creative Writing Module-1 course involves 36 hours of online classes while 14 hours of interactive sessions will happen through their online learning platform. The course carefully covers plot, characters, and other elements of fiction writing.

You will learn various forms of writing including memoirs, screenwriting, Experimental writing, Travel writing, children’s fiction, etc. Also, this course will help you differentiate between reports, articles, news, newspaper columns, etc.

The module is structured by seasoned trainers to guide and enable you to write creatively and is useful for anyone wishing to emerge as a successful creative writer.

Course Title – Creative Writing for Adults – Module 1

Course Duration – 9 weeks of online classes

 

10. Skillshare

Skillshare is an online learning platform that provides a variety of creative writing courses in Birmingham with its paramount focus being on creative skills. It attracts students from all over and trains students in various subjects like marketing, business, writing, graphic designing, etc.

The courses are pragmatically structured and conducted by subject matter experts. It offers various creative writing classes to develop and enhance various writing skills like personal writing, self-publishing a book, etc.

As per your liking, you can look for courses on Creative Nonfiction writing, fiction writing, Screenwriting, Novel Writing, Storytelling, poetry, and others that are available online with Skillshare. These courses train creative writer aspirants on better imagination and how to create interesting characters etc. This course is suitable both for newbies and prospective creative writers.

Best Creative Writing Books for a year

  • On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
  • Writing Down the Bones, by Natalie Goldberg
  • Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott
  • The Art of Fiction, by John Gardner
  • Zen in the Art of Writing, a book by Ray Bradbury
  • The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White
  • Into The Woods: How Stories Work and Why Well Tell Them, by John Yorke
  • The story, by Robert McKee
  • Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert
  • On Poetry, by Jonathan Davidson
  • The Elements of Eloquence, by Mark Forsyth
  • The Nighttime Novelist, by Joseph Bates

 

FAQs

Q. Who can learn creative writing?

There is no age bar to learn creative writing. All you need is an open mind, creative and buzzing with ideas, and a passion for writing. However, when you enroll with any institute for creative writing courses in Birmingham, you can check the website before applying for any prerequisites.

Q. What formal education is required to be a creative writer?

No education requirement bars you from being a creative writer. Although some are innately blessed with writing skills, creative writing can be honed through courses and degrees.

Q. Is an online creative writing course valued in the job market?

We have seen many reputed online platforms like Udemy, and Domestika offer creative writing courses in Birmingham. Also, reputed institutes like IIM SKILLS offer job assistance to their students on completion of creative writing courses. Ex-alumni of IIM are placed with reputed publishing houses and media moguls.

Q. Can I freelance as a creative writer?

You can work as a freelancer after completing creative writing courses in Birmingham. However, freelancing has its challenges. You have to be aggressive and consistent in building and upgrading your portfolio. Focus on diversification of your portfolio by specializing in 2 -3 niches to impress your client with your wide spectrum of work. Knowing how to market yourself online is something you ought to learn to get noticed and attract leads. Also, strong networking skills, good communication, and negotiation skills will help you to convert your potential leads into prospective clients.

Conclusion:

As shared, creative writing courses in Birmingham offer abundant job opportunities to unlock your creativity and enhance your writing skills. However, just doing a course online or classroom training will not suffice. Although it offers a structured learning environment, you as an aspiring writer will have to leverage your skills through extensive reading, writing, and self-discovery. Keeping the passion for story-telling and connecting with your readers through your writing is extremely important as this is what will make you a distinguished successful creative writer.

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