Creative Writing FAQs

What is a Freelance Writer?
A freelance writer is a writer who works on a self-employed basis. They can work for just one magazine or, more often, they write for several different publications at a time. The more diverse a writer can be, the more likely they are to be published and paid for their work. Read more>>>

What is a Creative Writing Course?
There are many definitions of what a creative writing course is depending on what the course is aiming to teach you. Some courses will include details on how you can become a freelance writer earning money for your work, either full or part-time. Read more>>>

Who Should Take a Creative Writing Course?
Anyone who wants to improve their writing craft should take a creative writing course. Maybe you’d like to write a bestseller or you fancy having a column in a national newspaper. Or, perhaps you want to write your childhood memories for your grandchildren to read. Read more>>>

Do I Have the Qualities Needed to be a Published Writer?
Being a published writer is much like any other job and you need to approach it as such. If you think being a published writer is all about sitting in front of a window gazing out until inspiration hits you, I’m afraid you’ve been mislead. You need to put in as much work as you would with any other job and being a freelance writer means you are wholly responsible for the success of your career. Read more>>>

What Qualifications do I Need to Become a Published Writer?
The short answer is none! Well, in the formal, traditional sense of qualifications. The only real pre-requisite needed is a love of writing – everything else can be learnt, even the ability to write well. Read more>>>

What Skills do I Need to Become a Published Writer?
There may not be any pre-requisite formal qualifications for being a writer, but there are a number of skills that it would be useful to have. All of these can be easily learnt so if you lack knowledge in any of them now, don’t worry! Read more>>>

What Equipment do I Need to Start Writing?
Luckily, you do not need thousands of pounds worth of equipment to start writing. However, there are some essentials you’ll need to make your life as a writer easier. Read more>>>

Can I Become a Published Writer?
Yes – the beauty of writing is that anyone can do it. All publishers are really interested in is how well you write. Read more>>>

How To Choose a Good Creative Writing Course!
Choosing a creative writing course may seem easy, but there are lots of important points to think about before making a final decision. Putting a little effort into research at this stage can save a lot of heartache, and wasted money, later. Follow the advice below and the outcome should be a course that delivers on both creative writing content and practical needs. Read more>>>

How to Study
Choosing to take a course that requires you to set your own hours of study is great – it’s so flexible! However, if you’ve never had to organise your own time before it can be tricky. And, having no deadlines can lead to procrastination. Read more>>>

Tips to Help you Study Effectively
When you are trying to fit your study into your everyday life it is essential that you make the most of the time you have. So, as well as making sure you have a quiet, warm, well lit and comfortable place to study you should also try the following tips to enhance the study process. Read more>>>

The Skills to Study
When you are trying to fit study in around your full or part-time job it’s essential that you find the most efficient way of learning. It may be that you are already aware of what works for you and, if that’s the case, great! Read more>>>

What Can Be Claimed Back From The Inland Revenue?
When working in a self-employed capacity in the UK certain items, directly related to the business, can be claimed back, in part, from the Inland Revenue. Read more>>>

Ten Steps to Planning a Novel
We all have a novel in us, or so they say. The problem is, most of us struggle to get it out! How do you get the ideas from your head onto paper and into some kind of useable format? Of course, there’s no magical formula that fits every single writer – what works for one is another’s nightmare. Read more>>>

Writing a Fantasy Novel
Writing a fantasy novel is great fun – you can, literally, let your imagination run wild. It’ a little different to writing a novel set in the real world as, unlike books set in reality where you can use real life as examples, you’ll have to invent everything in your new fantasy world. So how do you get started? Well, read the five tips below and you’ll be on your way to having a great fantasy novel. Read more>>>