Creative Writing

If you are frankly a little jealous of the €1.3m advance received by Cecilia Ahern for her debut novel, then perhaps you should consider writing one for yourself. Find out the best way to put pen to paper with a course…

Many would-be writers end up watching Coronation Street instead because they can't think of what to write about. Or they can think of something to write about but the idea fizzles out after a few pages. And that bloke from Boyzone is having a ruck with Sunita. This is where your lecturer can step in with a whispered word and a nudging elbow.

One of the first things you will cover in your class is the development of a workable idea. The key to this is tied up in your plans for characterisation and plot. Have you thought of interesting, three-dimensional characters? What kind of plot have you planned - will the action move forward or will your characters be languishing in the kitchen eating Garibaldi biscuits and picking at themselves for thirty pages? You will also get advice on when to begin your story. Starting at the start is not always the best option.

Readers often get bored with a longwinded introduction that reviews the family tree of each character. The beginning of the story doesn't have to start with a land ranger exploding but it does have to engage the reader's attention. Once you have started, then your challenge is to keep the momentum going. This is achieved through learning how to set the scene and write dialogue. It sounds so simple, but this is the real test of a good writer. Describing situations and conversations that sound authentic are one of the hardest things that a writer can do. To make things easier, give your story a point of view by including a main character, and relate the majority of the action to them.

Your piece should also have dramatic conflict - not necessarily a murder or a divorce, but something that makes the reader want to keep going. As well as your course fee, you will need a thick skin to attend a creative writing course. There is a lot of emphasis on workshopping and students are often required to bring in their works in progress for a healthy bout of criticism. However, seeing your 'baby' being prodded and poked and generally attacked will not only improve your style but also prepare you for the brutal world of publishing. Getting work published, even if you are the next Stephen King, can be difficult, so your course will give you a handy little refresher in life's cruel tapestry.

We have all looked with envy at J.K. Rowling as she rolls around in her millions, laughing, laughing and eating chocolate frogs. If you want to try and join her on her bed of money, then get scribbling!