Dr Emma Claire Sweeney
Lecturer at the OU
Director of Ruppin Agency Writers' Studio, a literary mentorship scheme.
Books:
- OWL SONG AT DAWN
- A SECRET SISTERHOOD: THE HIDDEN FRIENDSHIPS OF AUSTEN, BRONTE, ELIOT & WOOLF
Location UK
Activity
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@PatriciaMabberley The OU creative writing courses build incrementally on the foundations here by reinforcing but not repeating, and then taking you further.
All the best,
Emma -
@AndreaTreeby I suggest you hit the 'Support' tab on the bottom right corner to seek advice.
All the best,
Emma
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@AnneScott I suggest you hit the 'Support' tab on the bottom right corner to seek advice.
All the best,
Emma -
@PatriciaMabberley Great to hear that you are interesting in the MA. All details about registration and fees for the MA can be found here: http://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/modules/a802#registration
All the very best,
Emma -
Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone,
It's the final week of Start Writing Fiction - week 8! It looks like some of you have already submitted your final story. But if you’ve fallen behind, please don’t worry, there’s still time to finish, and there will be other learners in the same boat. The course site will stay open for a while after the end of week 8.
There’s been some...
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@JulieG We'll keep the course open for a few weeks after the finish date so you migth as well start now and see how far you get. Then you can sign up to the next presentation in April too. Plenty of people do this course multiple times.
All the best,
Emma -
Hello everyone!
Many of you have already made a great start to this penultimate week, but don’t worry if you’ve fallen behind. There’s plenty of time to catch up, and the course stays open for a little while after the final week.
In week 7, we're looking at some crucial writing skills. You’ll develop your editing abilities, as you hone and shape those...
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Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone!
I see that some of you are already getting on with week six, which is great! But don’t worry if you’ve fallen behind – there’s plenty of time to catch up. This week, you’ll be looking at how to build and portray characters. Also – excitingly – you’ll be writing a first draft of your final story.
I hope that you enjoyed exchanging...
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@alistairkirkwood: You will! Thank you in advance for any feedback. And we're so glad that you are enjoying the course so far.
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Thanks for letting us know!
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Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone,
You’ve completed more than half the course, now – brilliant! This week, we’re looking at the importance of conflict, and learning how to turn stereotypes into more rounded characters.
You’ll also be exchanging feedback with your fellow writers. Remember: doing peer reviews helps you develop your critical and editorial skills. That kind of...
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I'm glad to hear it! Take the course at a pace that suits you. I do hope that the course offers you the opportunity to focus on your own writing, as well as perhaps informing your teaching.
All the best,
Emma -
Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hi everyone!
I hope you're all well.
In week 4, you’ll be looking at the how to research your fiction, and how your notebook can help with that process. It’s a really exciting area, and I hope you enjoy it.
If there's anything you're not sure about, take a look at the FAQs and guides to using FutureLearn at the bottom of each page. If you can’t find...
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Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone,
Welcome to week 3! This is the week when you give feedback on the work of your fellow writers. It's an important activity, which really helps develop your writing. It can also be a really interesting experience. Make sure you read the pdf guide on offering feedback (in 3.13 and also given in week 2).
As I said last week – check out the...
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Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hi everyone,
Welcome to week 2! It's great to see these discussions about writing spaces.
It's worth remembering that people will be working at different speeds (as well as in different places), so don’t worry if you get to a new activity and see a lot of discussion already there. You can be sure that there will be more people behind you.As I said last...
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Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone, and welcome to Start Writing Fiction!
It’s great to see so many of you posting comments already. Discussing your writing (and reading) is so important to developing as a writer.
I'm one of the educators on the course.
Here’s a quick tip – check out the FAQs and guides to using FutureLearn at the bottom of each page. I won’t be able to...
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Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hi everyone,
Welcome to week 2! It's great to see these discussions about writing spaces.
It's worth remembering that people will be working at different speeds (as well as in different places), so don’t worry if you get to a new activity and see a lot of discussion already there. You can be sure that there will be more people behind you.
As I said...
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Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone, and welcome to Start Writing Fiction!
It’s great to see so many of you posting comments already. Discussing your writing (and reading) is so important to developing as a writer.
I'm one of the educators on the course.
Here’s a quick tip – check out the FAQs and guides to using FutureLearn at the bottom of each page. I won’t be able to...
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I'm so glad the course helped you on your writing journey.
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I'm so glad that it has provided you with stimulation and succour during these strange times.
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@geraldinenoonan - Click on the 'Support' button at the bottom left of the screen if you are still experiencing problems with posting your work and critiques.
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It is common for our first drafts to be overly long. This is fine because we write to work out what we are trying to say. In a second draft, attempt to retrieve the 'diamonds from the dust heap' as Virginia Woolf put it. Clarify what you are trying to convey about character, theme and plot, and then cut anything that does not contribute to your driving ideas....
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Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone,
It's the final week of Start Writing Fiction - week 8! It looks like some of you have already submitted your final story. But if you’ve fallen behind, please don’t worry, there’s still time to finish, and there will be other learners in the same boat. The course site will stay open for a while after the end of week 8.
There’s been some...
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Great news!
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So glad that you have found it fruitful.
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Hello everyone!
Many of you have already made a great start to this penultimate week, but don’t worry if you’ve fallen behind. There’s plenty of time to catch up, and the course stays open for a little while after the final week.
In week 7, we're looking at some crucial writing skills. You’ll develop your editing abilities, as you hone and shape those...
-
Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone!
I see that some of you are already getting on with week six, which is great! But don’t worry if you’ve fallen behind – there’s plenty of time to catch up. This week, you’ll be looking at how to build and portray characters. Also – excitingly – you’ll be writing a first draft of your final story.
I hope that you enjoyed exchanging...
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@LucyOko Congratulations on the full draft. I do hope this course helps you further develop your skills ahead of the redraft.
All the best,
Emma -
Hi Sara,
Welcome to the course! I do hope you are enjoying it. All the best,
Emma -
Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone,
You’ve completed more than half the course, now – brilliant! This week, we’re looking at the importance of conflict, and learning how to turn stereotypes into more rounded characters.
You’ll also be exchanging feedback with your fellow writers. Remember: doing peer reviews helps you develop your critical and editorial skills. That kind of...
-
It is equally important for writers to learn both their strengths and how to improve. It takes intellectual and creative energy for a reviewer to identify what might need further work in a piece of writing, so thank you for having invested in that process. So long as we balance this with praise for the aspects of the writing that show promise, we should be...
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It's great to 'meet' you Cecille. I do hope you find the course useful and that you enjoy sharing what you learn with your own students.
All the best,
Emma -
Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hi everyone!
I hope you're all well.
In week 4, you’ll be looking at the how to research your fiction, and how your notebook can help with that process. It’s a really exciting area, and I hope you enjoy it.
If there's anything you're not sure about, take a look at the FAQs and guides to using FutureLearn at the bottom of each page. If you can’t find...
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@MuskanSurana You are right to identify the crossover between these approaches. Perhaps it would be helpful for you to identify aspects where the approach you took and the one identified by your reviewer overlap and where they differ. Then examine which aspects you and your reviewer consider strengths and which require further work. Through giving and...
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Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone,
Welcome to week 3! This is the week when you give feedback on the work of your fellow writers. It's an important activity, which really helps develop your writing. It can also be a really interesting experience. Make sure you read the pdf guide on offering feedback (in 3.13 and also given in week 2).
As I said last week – check out the...
-
Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hi everyone,
Welcome to week 2! It's great to see these discussions about writing spaces.
It's worth remembering that people will be working at different speeds (as well as in
different places), so don’t worry if you get to a new activity and see a lot of discussion already there. You can be sure that there will be more people behind you.As I said...
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Dear Barbara, I am so very sorry to hear this, but it is heartening to hear that reading and writing have offered some solace. You might like to re-enrol in this course. We're offering a new presentation of it, starting today.
All the very best,
Emma -
You might like to take a look at the OU's MA course: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/futurelearn/fiction
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You might like to look at one of the OU's follow-on courses: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/futurelearn/fiction
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You might like to take your work further with one of the OU's creative writing courses: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/futurelearn/fiction
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Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone, and welcome to Start Writing Fiction!
It’s great to see so many of you posting comments already. Discussing your writing (and reading) is so important to developing as a writer.
I'm one of the educators on the course.
Here’s a quick tip – check out the FAQs and guides to using FutureLearn at the bottom of each page. I won’t be able to...
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Glad you've been finding it so helpful. Do take a look at the OU’s taking it further page for possible future courses - http://www.open.edu/openlearn/futurelearn/fiction
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@AmyBennett Glad you've been finding it so helpful. Do take a look at the OU’s taking it further page for possible future courses - http://www.open.edu/openlearn/futurelearn/fiction
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@AmitaRaj Glad you've been finding it so helpful. Do take a look at the OU’s taking it further page for possible future courses - http://www.open.edu/openlearn/futurelearn/fiction
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The OU is working on this. Keep checking in with this course on Future Learn as it might be a bolt-on service that we might add to future courses. Fingers crossed!
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@jonathanpotter: This has been sorted now. If you refresh, you should have the opportunity to give and receive feedback appropriately.
All the best,
Emma -
Hi Paul, This is a separate issue, only relating to Jonathan. I suggest you hit the 'support' tab at the bottom left-hand corner to see if Futre Learn can assist on this.
All the best,
Emma -
Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone,
It's the final week of Start Writing Fiction - week 8! It looks like some of you have already submitted your final story. But if you’ve fallen behind, please don’t worry, there’s still time to finish, and there will be other learners in the same boat. The course site will stay open for a while after the end of week 8.
There’s been some...
-
Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
@jonathanpotter Apologies for subjecting you to critiquing my test post - although you did so with aplomb, I must say! I was investigating a potential glitch in the system (which actually proved to be working fine) and hadn't appreciated that it would have this knock-on effect. I'm currently seeking assistance to have the test post deleted and offering you a...
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Dr Emma Claire Sweeney replied to Stephen Taylor
You post your story in 3.12 (https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/start-writing-fiction/16/steps/756768/assignment/submissions/new) by copying and pasting it directly into the submission box beneath the instructions. There is no character count on this box so you should have no problems submitting the maximum of 500 words.
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@Patricia-AnneMoore You post your story in 3.12 (https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/start-writing-fiction/16/steps/756768/assignment/submissions/new) by copying and pasting it directly into the submission box beneath the instructions. There is no character count on this box so you should have no problems submitting the maximum of 500 words.
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@HelenBoyle You post your story in 3.12 (https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/start-writing-fiction/16/steps/756768/assignment/submissions/new) by copying and pasting it directly into the submission box beneath the instructions. There is no character count on this box so you should have no problems submitting the maximum of 500 words. Then you post your...
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@teresanewton The average novel is between 80,000-120,000 words. Chapters certainly help the reader to plan pauses in their process, and they allow you to modulate pacing, so I'd certainly encourage you to use chapters if they feel appropriate to your narrative.
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Hello everyone!
Many of you have already made a great start to this penultimate week, but don’t worry if you’ve fallen behind. There’s plenty of time to catch up, and the course stays open for a little while after the final week.
In week 7, we're looking at some crucial writing skills. You’ll develop your editing abilities, as you hone and shape those...
-
Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone!
I see that some of you are already getting on with week six, which is great! But don’t worry if you’ve fallen behind – there’s plenty of time to catch up. This week, you’ll be looking at how to build and portray characters. Also – excitingly – you’ll be writing a first draft of your final story.
I hope that you enjoyed exchanging...
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Welcome to the party! You're definitely not too late. Just work through the assignments at your own pace. You'll find that people are at various different stages in the course, so there's no need to worry.
I do hope you find it rewarding.
All the best,
Emma -
Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone,
You’ve completed more than half the course, now – brilliant! This week, we’re looking at the importance of conflict, and learning how to turn stereotypes into more rounded characters.
You’ll also be exchanging feedback with your fellow writers. Remember: doing peer reviews helps you develop your critical and editorial skills. That kind of...
-
@AnnaBellisKennedy If you are still having problems with this, please use the ‘support’ tab in the bottom right corner of the page.
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@ErinRothwell Thanks for this helpful suggestion.
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Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hi everyone!
I hope you're all well.
In week 4, you’ll be looking at the how to research your fiction, and how your notebook can help with that process. It’s a really exciting area, and I hope you enjoy it.
If there's anything you're not sure about, take a look at the FAQs and guides to using FutureLearn at the bottom of each page. If you can’t find...
-
Dr Emma Claire Sweeney replied to Pilar M
If you're still struggling with this @PilarM, try using the 'Support' button at the bottom right of the screen.
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Good idea to use these prompts to write in your native language.
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Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone,
Welcome to week 3! This is the week when you give feedback on the work of your fellow writers. It's an important activity, which really helps develop your writing. It can also be a really interesting experience. Make sure you read the pdf guide on offering feedback (in 3.13 and also given in week 2).
As I said last week – check out the...
-
@HughHuggett Glad to see the FutureLearn team got you on track and great to see you engaging so well with the activities.
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Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hi everyone,
Welcome to week 2! It's great to see these discussions about writing spaces.
It's worth remembering that people will be working at different speeds (as well as in different places), so don’t worry if you get to a new activity and see a lot of discussion already there. You can be sure that there will be more people behind you.As I said last...
-
Dr Emma Claire Sweeney made a comment
Hello everyone, and welcome to Start Writing Fiction!
It’s great to see so many of you posting comments already. Discussing your writing (and reading) is so important to developing as a writer.
I'm one of the educators on the course.
Here’s a quick tip – check out the FAQs and guides to using FutureLearn at the bottom of each page. I won’t be able to...
