Creative writing is an art form that allows people to express their emotions and imagination through the use of imagery, narrative, and drama. Creative writing courses in Brighton include genres such as poetry, fiction (novels, short stories), scripts, screenplays, and creative non-fiction. The purpose of this is to make readers feel entertained but also have a deep sense of human connection, typically creative writers in the field write about themes such as love or loss which heightens the connection with the reader.
Brighton is known as a center of creativity. The natural artistic culture and a wide variety of courses are what make Brighton the perfect place to start your journey as a creative writer.
What is Creative Writing?
Creative writing is a form of writing that is often seen as the opposite of journalistic or academic writing. In simple terms, it is all about creativity and telling a story. The aim is to get the reader to use their imagination and enable them to visualize a situation with emotional impact.
Creative writing courses in Brighton teach all types of creative writing including poetry, short stories, and novels. There are a few elements that these types of creative writing must have to make it authentic, these include.
- A Unique Plot – A story gathered from unique ideas – without these amazing ideas, it’s really just facts on a page, which would make it a journalistic piece.
- Character Development – Character development is the process of explaining your main characters from the start to the end of your story. Uncover who they are, the life they live, the actions and decisions they make, and any relationships that blossom around them.
- Underlying Theme – To create a strong story, it must have an underlying theme. For it to make complete sense, the underlying theme must be continuous throughout the story.
- Visual Descriptions – In publications such as newspapers, you don’t often find descriptions of the areas where events take place. Visual descriptions are largely used in creative writing so that the reader understands what the surroundings of the characters look like.
- Point of View – The two most common points of view in creative writing is in the first and third person. When writing in first person, the narrator is the main character and will refer to themselves as “I”. When writing in the third person, you can use a few different variations. These include third-person limited, third-person multiple, and third-person omniscient.
Much like first person, third person limit narrator uses “he/she/they” when referring to the character. They discuss only the character’s thoughts and feelings. A narrator is the one telling the story, rather than the character. The only difference between the third person multiple and the limit is that the narrator knows the inner thoughts and feelings of multiple characters, rather than just one.
Finally, third-person omniscience is when the narrator has knowledge of everyone around them and refers to them as “he/she/they”. Third-person limits are the most common. There is also a second-person point of view, however, this is not commonly used in creative writing and is used more commonly in blog posts, the writer would refer to the reader as “you”, directly speaking to the reader.
- Imaginative Language – Imaginative Language is vital in creative writing to craft a vision in your reader’s mind. To keep the interest of your reader and create that human connection, at its most basic level, a creative writer should use anecdotes, metaphors, similes, figures of speech, and so on.
- Emotional Appeal – The main goal in creative writing is to make the reader feel emotion whilst reading your story.
Examples of Creative Writing
There are several examples of creative writing, all of which creative writing courses in Brighton fundamentally focus on, these include.
- Novels
- Short Stories
- Poetry
- Plays
- Memoirs
- Television Show Scripts
- Film Scripts
- Songs
- Speeches
Eligibility for a Creative Writing Course
Eligibility for Creative Writing Courses in Brighton varies depending on the type you choose to take. There are courses that range from beginner to advanced. If you are a beginner, you can ease yourself into creative writing by taking a one-off workshop or attending creative writing events.
You can take these types of courses in person and online. If you are serious about becoming a creative writer and intend for it to be a life-long career then you can opt for a degree in Creative Writing BA (Hons) at the University of Brighton.
Careers in Creative Writing
Although Creative Writing usually means writing novels, short stories, and poetry, there are actually many more career paths that a Creative Writing qualification can take you, participating in one of the creative writing courses in Brighton, such as this one will teach you everything you need to know to jump-start your career.
Jobs directly related to your degree include:
- Advertising copywriter
- Arts administrator
- Creative director
- Digital Copywriter
- Editorial Assistant
- Higher education lecturer
- Lexicographer
- Magazine journalist
- Newspaper journalist
- Publishing copy-editor/proofreader
- Talent agent
- Writer
Jobs where your degree would be most useful include:
- Academic librarian
- Digital marketer
- Film director
- Marketing Executive
- Primary school teacher
- Public librarian
- Public relations officer
- Social media manager
- Web content manager
These lists are not limited and employers will consider a degree in any topic with the knowledge that it takes a lot of hard work and commitment to complete a degree.
Work Experience
Employers will also consider any work experience that you participate in whether it’s alongside your qualification gained from taking one of the creative writing courses in Brighton, or independently. Building a portfolio of all of your published work will help support job applications and give you the opportunity to showcase your writing skills.
You can gain valuable experience by volunteering for your student newspaper or reaching out to a local broadcasting agency to shadow a journalist or spending the day with a creative writer in a publishing house. You could also enter online writing competitions to boost your confidence and become comfortable with writing regularly.
Creative Writing Courses in Brighton
1. IIM SKILLS
If you’d like to enhance your creative writing skills and want to understand how to make it into a profitable freelance business then the IIM SKILLS Content Writing course is a perfect choice. Sessions are live, online and you are taken through each module by a professional in the industry. The support network that IIM SKILLS offers ensures that each candidate has the knowledge and opportunity to get a job or go freelance upon course completion.
Entry Requirements
This course is suitable for beginners.
Content Writing Course Modules
Article: An article is information that is usually published either in print format or as digital media. It could be news, research results, or academic analysis. In this module, you learn what the elements and best practices are for creating an article.
Blog: Blogs are typically conversational, they are written by an individual or a group of individuals and are styled in an informal tone of voice. Bloggers publish their personal passions and interests, they capture audiences by sharing their experiences and expressing their unique personalities.
E-Book: In an ever-growing digital era, e-books are becoming more popular each year. An electronic book is literally a book that is available to be read on a digital device such as popular brands like Kindle, Kobo, and Nook.
Ads Copy: The aim of ad copy is to engage people through your words. It is vital for every business to have fantastic ad copy, catchy taglines are a must when convincing people to find out more.
Business Listing: Learn the ingredients to a recipe for success for putting your business online, a great professional business listing needs information that captures the eye of anyone who sees it.
Academic Writing: It is non-fiction writing with a formal tone and style. Academic writing should be clear, concise, structured, and evidence-based, this is the way it is taught.
Press Release: A press release, is an original format of writing which is used to announce new product launches, mergers, and acquisitions, new partnerships, or rebranding. Learn to write succinct and compelling press releases and use them as a branding tool.
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Business Writing: The goal of business writing is to retrieve a business response.
Video Script: Videos are stories, usually of a product or a person, and there is no great story without a great script.
Product Description: Excellent product descriptions are there to boost your sales. Learn the rules and power words that go into making fantastic product descriptions.
Web Pages: Learning to write SEO-optimised content will help create your brand identity. Your website is the face and personality of your business, learn to use your words well.
E-mails: E-mails are the most popular way to get through to your audience. This tool is used to inform, advertise and connect with your customers. Learn the perfect mix of structure and creativity to craft outstanding and professional e-mails.
Brochure: Brochures are old-school but not outdated marketing tools that show professionalism. Learn to make a balanced sales pitch with product information and a burst of excellence.
Social Media Post: Social media posts, similar to e-mails serve the purpose of brand awareness, lead generation, or customer retention. Short and sweet, social media posts differ because they need a click-worthy edge and communication to tell a story in just a few words.
Digital Infographics: Infographics create a colorful and fun difference from the standard plain text. Learn the benefits of design with information, text, and visuals, to create an integrated, immersive infographic.
Course Duration
20 hours of live lectures, 10+ hours of internship lectures, and 110 hours of practical assignments.
Cost
The cost of this course is £150.00.
2. Brighton Metropolitan College
If you want to get started or improve your writing skills, this beginner’s workshop-based course will advance your knowledge even further. Sessions are run by the tutor, Sue Walker who has over 20 years of experience in journalism and as a published novelist. The college is located in central Brighton with plenty of transport links and courses take place once every 3 months.
Entry Requirements
This course is suitable for beginners.
Syllabus
- Generating Ideas
- Characterization
- Plotting
- Structure
- Dialogue
- Research
- Creating Tension and Pace
- Location and Setting
- Themes
- Marketing Your Work
Course Duration
The duration of the course is 10 weeks, with 1 face-to-face workshop per week for 2 hours.
Topics Explored
This course covers everything you will need to know about creative writing, focusing on novel writing and short stories. Please note that this course does not cover poetry, scriptwriting, and screenwriting.
Cost
The cost of the course is £148.00.
3. Other Creative Writing Courses at Brighton MET College
Creative Writing Advanced
If you’re a serious novelist or want to be, then the advanced creative writing course will give you all the tools you need for that dream to become a reality. With even more focus on major aspects of fiction like plotting, characterization, structure, setting/location, and dialogue, you will have the opportunity to share your own project and have it assessed by the tutor within the class discussion. The duration of this course is 10 weeks with one 2-hour workshop a week and costs £148.00.
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- Creative Writing Courses in Canada
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4. The University of Brighton
Become a professional in your craft and gain a bachelor’s degree with Creative Writing courses in Brighton. Covering a variety of genres, you will study real-life scenarios to prepare you for a career as a writer, including publishing. You will be able to explore galleries, archives, museums, and Brighton itself all outside of the classroom for extracurricular learning.
You will also have the opportunity to meet with publishers and work alongside acclaimed writers, plus you have the option to attend various workshops and spoken word nights.
Entry Requirements
There are many different qualifications that can become a successful application for this course.
International Baccalaureate
26 points, with three subjects at a Higher level.
Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Humanities, history, or politics courses are preferred. At least 45 credits at level 3.
Syllabus
Year 1
Developing awareness of different genres and working with local writers.
- Stories and Storytelling
- Literature and Theory
- Textual Encounters: Reading, Writing, Thinking
- Storying The Self
- Drama in Society
- Brighton Writes
Year 2
Core modules
- The Art of Publishing
- Creative Writing: Process and Craft
Creative writing
- Literature in Practice
- Research and Practice
Creative writing with wellbeing
- Critical Analysis
- Mental Health and Distress
Options*
- Writing for Stage, Radio, and Screen
- Early Modern Literature
- Twentieth-Century Literary Experiments
- Literature and Art History
- Poetry and Process
- Introduction to Journalism
- Cinema and Society
- Photography
- Life Online: Digital Media and Culture
- Studying Travel Writing
- Queer Writing
- Video Documentary Project
- Power and Persuasion
- Reading the Graphic Novel
Final Year
Core modules
- Dissertation
- Final Year Conference
Options*
- Critical Community Psychology**
- Developing a Therapeutic Relationship**
- Critical Addiction Studies**
- Sexualities**
- Psychology of Poverty**
- Autoethnography
- Reading and Writing Landscape
- Creative Writing Project
- Images of War
- From Script to Screen
- Community Placement: Theory in Practice
- Russian Literature
- Women’s Writing and Feminist Theory
- Restoration Drama
- Gothic: Texts and Contexts
- Victorian Sexualities
- Brighton Rocks
- Writing the Contemporary
- Post-colonial Literatures
- Post-war American Literature
- Course Duration
- European Literature and Film
- Adaptations
- (Re)Viewing Shakespeare
- Literature and Philosophy
- Apocalypse, Utopia, and Dystopia
- Popular Culture: Europe and Beyond
- Conflict, Migration, Borders
- Culture Wars: Class, Race, Gender and the Politics of Taste
- Literature and the World Wars
- Analysing Big Data
- Public Journalism
- Autobiography and the Screen
Placement
In your final year, you can do 30 to 50 hours of voluntary work which contributes to your degree. Placement hosts include.
- Action Medical Research
- Action Tutoring
- Airstream Photo Booth
- Brighton Dome and Festival
- British Forces Broadcasting Services
- Epoque Press
- Factory Films
- The Old Market Theatre
- Little Green Pig
- Men’s Health Magazine
- Prsnt.
Cost
UK (full-time) £9,250 GBP (per year)
International (full-time) £14,300 GBP (per year)
5. The Creative Writing Programme UK
The Creative Writing Programme UK provides an extensive catalog of creative writing courses, something to suit everyone. You can opt for the creative writing course as an online option, blended (online and in person) and in-person only. These options accommodate the changing ways of the world and you can still receive the exact same type of training but to suit your personal needs.
Entry Requirements
No formal qualifications are required.
Syllabus
The resources and themes of your own writing will take place in your first year:
- Developing an understanding of your own creativity and the creative process
- Learn how to create dynamic fictional characters
- Discover ways of enhancing the dramatic impact of your fiction
The focus will shift from short scenes to longer narratives in your second year. You will:
- Develop your understanding of the plot, story structure, and the character placement
- Discover the importance of the theme, conflict, dramatic tension, emotion, and connection and gain further insights into language, technique, and style.
Course Duration
Creative Writing Programme (Blended)
Two years. 25 weeks per year, 12 weeks of in-person teaching, and 13 weeks online.
Creative Writing Programme (Online)
Two years. One morning or one evening per week for 25 weeks per year.
Creative Writing Programme (In-Person)
Two years. One morning a week for 25 weeks per year.
Cost
University Level Courses from £550 per year.
Other Similar Creative Writing Courses In Brighton with The Creative Writing Programme
- Creative Non-Fiction Programme (Online)
- Creative Nonfiction (Blended)
- Advanced Writing Workshops
- Online Advanced Writing Workshops
- Advanced Poetry Workshops (Online)
- Writing Poetry (Online)
Benefits of Creative Writing Courses
There are hundreds of reasons why you should become a creative writer. There are unlimited options for career paths and you can explore your true creative mind. Other benefits of taking one of the creative writing courses in Brighton are –
- You can develop your confidence and ability as a writer.
- You learn to organize and manage your workload.
- You have the opportunity to evolve and create a strong individual style.
- You have the ability to branch out into full creativity, choosing from an unlimited amount of career paths.
- You have a chance to work alongside other writing professionals, attend events and practice the art with the support of experts in the field.
- There are options to participate in online, blended, and classroom courses. This means that there is a course suitable for everyone, any schedule, at any time.
- Within these options of courses, they teach people at beginner and advanced levels.
- Affordable and reliable – with excellent reviews.
Companies That Hire Creative Writers
After you have successfully achieved the skills you need from one of the creative writing courses in Brighton, there are a plethora of companies that are keen to hire creative writers within their organizations. Since social media has become more popular across the world and technology advances continuously, the options for creative writers continue to grow. Popular companies that hire creative writers are:
- Buzzfeed
- Reader’s Digest
- Yahoo
- Fiverr
You can also search for freelance work using apps and websites, this includes using
- Medium
- Upwork
- Quora
Salary of a Creative Writer
The salary of a creative writer varies on experience and whether you work as a freelancer or for a company. The creative writing courses in Brighton will show you how to become the best version of a creative writer you can be, studying, gaining work experience, and practicing your art will gradually make you successful. However, the average salaries in the UK are broken down into these four categories.
Creative Writer Salaries by Experience
| Experience | UK Average |
| Combined | £36,083.77 |
| Junior | £23,426.52 |
| Intermediate | £36,386.39 |
| Senior | £48,939.50 |
| Freelancer | Varies depending on efforts and on a job-by-job basis |
FAQs About Creative Writing Courses in Brighton
Q1) What do Creative Writing graduates do?
Creative Writing graduates can progress forward in a career as a freelancer or working for an organization. The type of work varies depending on the writer’s interests, you could work in any industry including, marketing, PR, sales, arts, design, or media.
Q2) What’s the difference between a Creative Writing program and a University course?
The difference between a creative writing program and a university course is that you don’t have to have years of experience or go through school and college with the intention of joining a creative writing course to attend the program. Similar to University tutors, creative writing programs are still run by highly academic tutors who have either studied or worked in the field themselves. Creative writing programs are seen as an alternative for many good writers to focus on their writing, build confidence, and evolve their style.
Q3) If I have learning difficulties, will this stop me from being a writer?
No, there is absolutely no reason why anyone with learning difficulties can’t be a successful writer. In fact, there are many famous writers who have been diagnosed with learning difficulties such as dyslexia, and have written some of the most inspiring novels in the whole world. Some great authors such as F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby) and Agatha Christie (Miss Marple).
Q4) Do I have to live in the UK to take Creative Writing Courses?
No, there are plenty of online creative writing courses. However, if you would like to take one of the creative writing courses in Brighton, specifically the BA (Hons) degree then you must be able to commute to and from The University.
Q5) What can you do in creative writing courses in Brighton?
The content of the Creative Writing course varies depending on the tutor. However, generally, they focus on getting students to use their imagination to help boost their techniques, how to overcome writer’s block, helpful revisions, reading assignments, and working to deadlines.
Q6) Is Creative Writing a secure career choice?
Creative writing is a fantastic career choice if you want to explore a less technical job option. Freelancing can be scary when you read about pay being infrequent and work being unreliable, however, this is not your only choice, there are plenty of companies that hire creative writers in their organizations. It can also open other doors for you such as social media management, copywriting, and journalism.
Conclusion
Creative writing can be seen as an advanced skill. It’s perfect for you if you have a creative mind and dream of becoming a published author or poet. It is also a fantastic option if you want to dive into a career in journalism or screenwriting, the options are endless. It’s important to understand that once this journey is pursued, it will never die out and that the Creative Writing courses in Brighton are suitable for all individuals, no matter where they are in their careers. Although the list of creative writing courses is extensive, this is not exhaustive of all the options available.