ADVANCED FREELANCE WRITING BWR201 (Applied Writing)

Make money online with freelance writing. Improve your writing skills with this distance learning course.

If you've already done a Writing course, and want to build on that foundation; or have had some minor work published, but are struggling to capitalise on this, then this could be an ideal course for you.

Study our Advanced Freelance Writing course will provide valuable skills and insights for students looking to
  • Improve their overall technique and develop a more efficient approach to their work.
  • Take their skills to the next level through the discipline of a structured study program.

This is a relatively flexible study program, which will offer students

  • A unique opportunity to be monitored and guided by writing professionals who have decades of experience in the industry.

Want to be a freelance writer? Improve your writing skills with this advanced qualification in freelance writing. Start at any time - study online, with full professional tutor support.

Freelance writing is a highly competitive field. Successful freelance writers not only have good writing skills, they have a 'nose' for a good story, a mastery of their chosen area of writing, the ability to write quickly and succinctly, good interpersonal skills, and a wide range of useful contacts.

Despite a set program of lessons, this course still offers a very uniquely personalised opportunity to interact with professional freelance writers who have decades of success behind them.

Our school provides unparalleled opportunities to communicate with people who can guide and mentor you throughout your studies, helping to develop your career and employment prospects as a freelance writer.

This course is suitable for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills, both professionally or for their own interest. For example -

  • Bloggers
  • Writers
  • Web development writers
  • Marketing writers
  • Article writers
  • Teachers

COURSE STRUCTURE

The course is divided into 8 lessons as follows:

1. Introduction.

Writing Themes, Sentence Structure, Summary Skills, Theme Development (e.g. Deductive, Inductive, Classic, Chronological, Descriptive, Analogy, Cause & Effect, Classification, Definition Analysis, Comparison & Contrast, Flashback etc.).

2. Writing a Regular Column

Newsletters, News Columns, Criticism Journalism (e.g. Theater Critics, Book Reviews, Film Reviews, etc.).

3. Educational Writing

Interviewing Skills, Illustrating an article, Putting it all together.

4. Scientific Writing

Technical Writing, Statistics.

5. Writing a Biographical Story

Developing a draft plan, Research, Writing the final manuscript.

6. Writing a News Article

Analysing a news article; writing and illustrating a sporting event.

7. Fiction Writing

Category Writing; Mainstream Writing; Characteristics of good fiction (i.e. A strong plot;. A hero or heroine; Obvious motivation; Plenty of action; A colourful background), Forming and developing an idea.

8. Other Writing

TV & Radio Scripts, Science Fiction, Conducting a Survey; Developing a Story.


Duration: 100 hours.


Number of Assignments: 8


Support Services: Online student room, Opportunity to publish in student magazine, Access to tutors who are widely published professional writers internationally, Free reviewing of your CV (on request).


Awards Available: On completion of all assignments we can provide a letter of completion on request. Beyond this, on passing an exam you receive a formal credit that can be applied to qualifications awarded through a number of colleges who are members of the ACS Global Network.

 
Tips to Write Creative Non-Fiction
Chris Anderson, a literary critic, claims that the non-fiction genre is best split into two subcategories – the journalistic essay and the personal essay, but the genre is still so new it is currently defined by its lack of established writing conventions. Barbara Lounsberry, described four distinct characteristics of the genre.

As Lounsberry suggested, the first and most important aspect of writing any creative non-fiction story is research. Effective and thorough research about your story should be the top priority of any non-fiction writer. Through research you can harness many facts about the subject and your research data can be used to illustrate the veracity of the facts should anyone question the authenticity of your work. 

The next step is to create a unique angle. With every headline news story there may be literally hundreds of people writing about it, so you need to find an angle that makes your story different from the rest.

The same applies to minor news stories and what may be regarded as trivial facts - these can still provide the essence of great creative writing. These might be used as the basis for essays on culture, or a society as a whole. A great writer will realise this, they will see a story in even the smallest, apparently insignificant things. 

Imagine, for instance, a town where all children under the age of 18 years are banned by the local council from having mobile phones. This information could be turned into a cultural criticism story on the influence and use of mobile phones and how they are distracting young people from education, or it could be a critique of modern parents on account of their need to remain in contact with their children in case of emergencies. It could be a debate about the legality or ethical dilemmas posed by the council's decision. Each writer will seek to find the angle that makes their story more compelling.

Another consideration in creative non-fiction is a technique referred to as show don’t tell. To 'tell' your reader involves describing or summarising events, whereas to 'show' utilises creative techniques and tactics in which the reader experiences the events through thoughts, feelings, senses, or actions. It can also serve to back up facts. For example, instead of just quoting a famous actor, why not also talk about their body language, if it is necessary. For example:

After the flop of his latest movie, John Actor said “This is my best role yet.”

Compared to what actually happened:
Sarcastically rolling his eyes, John Actor said “This is my best role yet.” The movie has flopped in the box office.

The description of his body language tells us more than just what he said. He clearly does not think it is his best role ever, but if the writer were to just quote his words that is what the reader will think.

Include sensory information in your story. Whilst no-one wishes to sensationalise a story, adding sensory information can add further depth and enable the reader to experience another dimension. For instance, read the following dour account:

Jones scored three times in the match, bringing the total score to four-nil at the end. Bastion scored the other goal.

Compare this to:
If the crowd roared with approval as Jones scored his second goal of the match, they were beside themselves when he scored a third time. With Bastion’s fantastic goal in the first five minutes, it brought the final score to four-nil.

Using an active voice rather than a passive voice can also add more layers to writing:

The fireman went to the second floor window and rescued the trapped toddler.

Compare this to:
The child’s hysterical mother ran to greet the fire engine. Jason Brightman, a courageous fire fighter, was able to climb up to the second floor window and rescue the toddler trapped who was trapped behind a smouldering fallen beam.

The second, whilst also a true reflection of the events creates more excitement and interest than the first. We know there is a mother, a fire fighter, and a trapped child, but we now also know that the beam was burning and that the fire fighter had to climb to the second floor. This additional information adds more interest for the reader.

Do, however, adhere to the facts - and do not exaggerate.

Examples of Creative Non-Fiction
We might write creative non-fiction in a variety of formats, including:
 
  • Social media
  • Magazines
  • E-zines
  • Blogs
  • Newspapers
  • Websites
  • Marketing
  • Biographies
  • Education

Whichever format you are writing in, in order for it to be considered creative non-fiction and not simply non-fiction it has to include factual information presented in a literary way.

 
Learn more about freelance writing working with our excellent writing tutors.

All writing tutors are experienced writers in their own right.  They are enthusiastic and happy to help YOU develop YOUR writing skills.

Enrol today and change your life - be the writer you have always dreamed you could be.

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