Exploring creative writing with UAL Short Courses

Creative writing is one of the most accessible modes of storytelling. You don’t need to have any special equipment or previous experience - all you need is a pen and paper.

This form of artistic expression allows you to step into a new world, explore different perspectives and enhance your communication skills.

Developing your creative writing skills can be beneficial not only for personal growth but also for career development and professional opportunities. Communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are highly valued in the creative industries and can open doors in many areas including film, publishing and gaming.

Here at UAL Short Courses, we offer a wide range of creative writing courses for all interests, from fiction and poetry to life and nature writing. Our expert-led courses are designed to help you build confidence and learn how to connect with your audience in a meaningful way.

What is creative writing? Forms, genres and best practices

Creative writing is an expressive form of writing that encompasses a range of different genres and styles, from poetry and prose to journalistic and playwriting.

Ranging from fiction to non-fiction, creative writing can take many different forms. Examples include biographies, short stories, speeches, scripts and personal essays.

This type of writing is often considered to be a type of artistic expression. Writers are not bound to the rules of traditional writing and are free to experiment creatively and explore their imagination.

Key elements of effective creative writing

Character: the people in your creative writing. The creative choices you make here will inform how memorable or relatable your characters are for audiences. Think about their goals, strengths and weaknesses. What matters to them? Consider their backstory – how have their experiences shaped them? Think about the characters that have resonated with you, perhaps from your favourite film, TV show or book. What makes them interesting to you?

Setting: where and when your story takes place. Setting is an important element of any piece of creative writing. The sense of place you create can help draw readers into the story and inform how they experience the scene. Think about the landscape, buildings, colours, textures, sights and sounds you want to convey. What kind of atmosphere do you want to create?

Plot: the series of events that take place in a story. A strong, well-developed plot is essential if you want to engage an audience creatively. Create a basic framework for your story by plotting out the events that will take place and the obstacles your character will face. A plot should contain character, causation and conflict. Causation refers to the flow of the plot and chain of events, while the conflict is the challenge your character faces. Think about what the climax of your story will be (where the story’s tension peaks) and how you will keep your audience interested.

How to choose a creative writing short course