Before you start…

At various points during this course you will take part in peer review exercises, submitting your own work and reviewing work posted by other learners. You may also post some of your writing in comments or discussions.

If your writing contains material that might offend, you must put a warning in brackets after your title (i.e. ‘explicit content’) so that other learners can choose whether or not they want to read it.

If you use graphic content of a sexual or violent nature in any of your work, make sure it is not gratuitous, i.e. that it is not there just for sensationalist reasons but as a legitimate part of the work.

At times in this course you are encouraged to make use of your memory and experience in transformative ways. It can be exhilarating to make use of personal observations and history in writing your fiction. But it is sensible not to share writings that are deeply personal during the course unless you are certain that you will not mind them being discussed impersonally and evaluated as artistic products rather than as slices of your life.

In your writing and online discussion it is important not to reveal personal details about yourself that might place you at risk.

By marking this step as complete and clicking ‘Next’, you are confirming you have read this information and are over 16 or have permission from a parent/guardian to take part in this course.