Ed Hogan

EH

Edward Hogan is a writer and teacher from Derby. He has written several novels, including Blackmoor, which won the Desmond Elliott Prize.

Activity

  • Dear @JohnMannix
    I'm really sorry to hear that you feel disappointed with the course, particularly as you've contributed with such energy and curiosity.

    In posts elsewhere, I see that you found the word length for the final piece restrictive. 1000 words may seem short (although there are many writers, particularly of ‘flash fiction’, who do wonders at...

  • 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...

  • Hello everyone!

    Some 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...

  • 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...

  • @NasheyaPeracha Hi Nasheya, great to have you on the course - I hope you're keeping well. Unfortunately, I'm not able to read work on this FL course, mainly because there are several thousand students! If you're interested in courses where you receive tutor feedback, do take a look at the OU's Creative Writing modules:...

  • 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...

  • @JohnMannix Hi John, thank you! It's fantastic to have you on the course - good luck with the rest of it.

  • @JohnMannix Hi John, thanks for this message. I'd like to reassure you, first, about timing. This course stays open for a month after the final week, and many people join partway through. So, there's plenty of time. Some people take the course multiple times, too.

    Due to the numbers on the course (often several thousand!), I can't give feedback on...

  • 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...

  • Ed Hogan 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 very 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 FAQs...

  • Hi everyone,

    Welcome to week 2! It's great to see these discussions about writing routines.

    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...

  • Ed Hogan 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.

    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 attend to every question because there are...

  • @RobMcClellan Hi Rob. It's no problem to finish the course later - it stays open for a while. I hope you and your family are well. Unfortunately, due to the nature of this course, I can't provide a personal reference. But many CW course applicants cite this course in their applications - it's a really useful thing to have on the CV. I wish you the very best of...

  • Hello everyone,

    It's the final week of Start Writing Fiction! 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 great writing and reviewing, so far. You may be coming to the end of the course,...

  • @BillyTaylor Hi Billy - it's great to hear that you're finding the course useful. The good thing about writing is that - no matter how experienced you are - there's always something new to learn. I will pass on your kind comments to my colleagues who designed the course.

  • Week 7

    Hello everyone!
    It’s now the 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 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 final stories. We’ll also focus on the...

  • Hello everyone!

    I see that some of you are already getting 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...

  • @MICKS. Thanks Mick, glad to hear it!

  • @TrevorJenkins Hi Trevor - sorry to hear about your trip to A&E. I hope everything is well, now. The online events went very well, thank you! Some excellent speakers. All best.

  • Ed Hogan 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...

  • Week 4

    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...

  • Week 3

    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...

  • @BrianMack Thanks for those kind wishes, Brian - and the same to you. You're right, there are all sorts of ways to begin a story. So much of writing is learned through actually practicing, and then reflecting on that practice, as you've done here.

  • @TrevorJenkins Hi Trevor - I hope you're well, and apologies for the delayed reply. 'How to Get Published' will be broadcast via Microsoft Live Events, which is slightly different from Teams. It doesn't require a download. You'll just be sent a link and a password. I don't think it will be recorded for re-watching. I hope that helps. All best, Ed.

  • @BrianMack hi Brian. So, the course was designed by Dr Derek Neale, who you'll have seen in the videos. My colleague Dr Emma Sweeney is another educator (but not on this presentation of the course). I hope you're enjoying it so far, and getting some writing done. All best, Ed.

  • 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.

    As I said last week – check out the FAQs and guides to using...

  • Ed Hogan made a comment

    Also, I just wanted to let you know about a programme of online creative writing events produced by the Open University in collaboration with The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook (Bloomsbury Publishing). The programme is called How to Get Published, and offers advice and guidance on writing and publishing.

    This year, How to Get Published will be held...

  • Ed Hogan made a comment

    Hello everyone, and welcome to Start Writing Fiction!

    It’s great to see 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 attend to...

  • 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...

  • Hi Bill - typically, students submit their short paragraph responses to the exercises in the comments, here, or - when they are completing the longer pieces for sharing, they paste them in the box provided on the relevant pages, such as here:

    https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/start-writing-fiction/15/steps/560059/assignment/submissions/new

    and,...

  • 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...

  • @WilliamScott Hi, William. Thanks very much for this. I'm not quite sure I know what you mean when you say you're using Tumblr (I know what Tumblr is, but not sure how you're using it, here). Did you submit your work in the usual place, here on the FutureLearn site? I'll try to help if I can.

  • Hello everyone!

    I see that some of you are already getting 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...

  • Ed Hogan 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...

  • @DeniseBaskind Hi Denise - thanks for this question. Beyond the teaching materials, which are written by creative writing teachers, this free course relies on peer feedback. With thousands of learners on each presentation, it isn't possible for educators to feedback on individual work. If you enjoy the course, and feel that you want feedback from a qualified...

  • @LenaWalton Hi Lena - thanks for this. Glad you're enjoying the course!

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • @LynnErasmus Hi Lynn. Thanks for your question - a very sensible one. Firstly, don't worry if nobody has commented, yet. Everyone works through the course at different speeds. Developing conversations with other students, and commenting on the work of others, will make it more likely that you receive comments in return.
    People usually hit 'reply' when they...

  • Ed Hogan made a comment

    Hello everyone, and welcome to Start Writing Fiction!

    It’s great to see that you've been posting so many comments. 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...

  • 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...

  • @RuthHarvey Hi Ruth, thanks so much for posting that useful link. It's true that the educational model of a course like this - free, open, and with a very large cohort - focuses mainly on peer-to-peer interaction. The Open University team provides the teaching content. I try to respond to all direct questions, if I can, and I was grateful to you for pointing...

  • @seanwebster Hi Sean, sorry to miss your question. I only get a notification if you press 'reply', unfortunately. You have probably submitted by now (the word length for the submitted story is 1000 words) - I hope you received some good feedback. The idea of this course, which requires you to work quite quickly, is that you'll continue editing and drafting...

  • @diannel @ShilpaV Hi Dianne - thanks for the questions, and thanks to others for the comments, too. Start Writing Fiction is meant as a 'first step' on the writing road, and so doesn't really deal with publication. But everyone here is at a different stage of the process. My advice is to consult the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook - a great source of knowledge...

  • @KazD. Hi Karen. I'm sorry to hear that the feedback you received wasn't quite what you wanted. I sometimes find putting the feedback away, and then returning to it, later, makes a difference.

    Unfortunately, the feedback system here is automated, so I can't resubmit it for you. I'm not able to provide feedback myself (partly because of the number of...

  • It's the last 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 great writing and...

  • Hi Colin - you could have a look at our undergraduate creative writing modules. We've got the extremely popular 'Creative Writing' http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/modules/a215
    ...and 'Advanced Creative Writing' http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/modules/a215

    Hope this helps - look forward to seeing you at the OU!

  • Hello everyone!

    Many of you have already made a good start to this penultimate week, but don’t worry if you’ve fallen behind a bit. 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 are looking at some crucial writing skills. You’ll develop your editing abilities, as you hone and shape...

  • @MarijaB Hi Marija - thanks for this question. Open University study is extremely flexible - and you can do it on a 'module-by-module' basis. If you need information, visit this page, and scroll to the bottom, which gives you some options for contacting an advisor: http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/apply

    This page also breaks down the different ways to...

  • @ChidimmaNwosu Hi Chidimma - thanks for this. Scrolling down the page, I see that many people (including you!) produced really good descriptions of 'best' and 'worst' places to write, as suggested by the exercise.

    There's also plenty of good feedback, here - giving feedback was the second part of the exercise. Naturally, some of the conversations veered...

  • Hello everyone!

    I see that some of you are already getting stuck into 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...

  • @KateW Hi Kate! Thanks for this. I'm not an expert blogger, but if I was starting out, I'd ask myself these questions:

    - What do I want to write about? What do I care about so passionately that I'd be motivated to write about it frequently?
    - Whose blogs do I read? What draws me to them? Is it the freshness of their ideas? Is it the below-the-line...

  • @DonnaBennett Hi Donna - thanks for this. In fiction, I think of conflict as what arises when a desire meets an obstruction. It could be as simple as 'I want to go to the shops, but the road is flooded'.

    Conflict also arises when one desire meets an opposing desire, such as 'I want to be queen, but so does my sister'. In this example, it's fairly easy to...

  • Ed Hogan made a comment

    Hello everyone,

    You’ve completed more than half the course, now – amazing! 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...

  • 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...

  • @KazD. Hi Karen. It's a difficult thing to master, and you get better over time. Take a look at the PDF guide on giving feedback (3.13). Writers are often very grateful if you help them to improve their work, especially if you can also find a couple of positive things to say, too! Using forward-looking language can be helpful. For example, 'I was really...

  • 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 FAQs and guides to...

  • Hi everyone,

    It's been a lively start 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...

  • Ed Hogan 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...

  • Hi Liz - sorry not to reply sooner. The course is available for 14 days after the end of week 8. All best, Ed.

  • @NotitaElzayat Hi Notita - yes, do have a look at the Open University's MA in Creative Writing, here: http://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/modules/a802

  • Hi Dava - yes, do send another inquiry. I think the person who replies may be on leave, but if you don't hear back, soon, let me know, and I'll look into it. Very glad to hear you're interested!

  • Week 8 – the last week of Start Writing Fiction! 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 great writing and...

  • Many of you have already made a good start to this penultimate week, but don’t worry if you’ve fallen behind a bit. 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 are looking at some crucial writing skills. You’ll develop your editing abilities, as you hone and shape those final...

  • Dava - I'm sorry to hear that you've been having problems. It's frustrating for you to lose work like that! I'm sure the support team will provide some guidance on how to resubmit your review. Good luck with the rest of the course.

  • Hello everyone!

    I see that some of you are already getting stuck into 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...

  • Ed Hogan made a comment

    Hello everyone,

    You’ve completed more than half the course, now – well done! 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...

  • Great! Glad you're all enjoying the course. Your contributions make it what it is. Brilliant to see so much lively work, here.

  • Hello everyone!

    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.

    As I’ve said before – take a look at the FAQs and guides to using FutureLearn at the bottom of each page. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, you can use...

  • Welcome to week 3! You will see that this is the week when you give feedback on the work of your fellow writers. This is an important activity which really helps develop your writing. It can also be very enjoyable and enlivening. 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...

  • Hello everyone!

    Many of you have made a great start to Week 2. It’s fascinating to see your discussion on writing spaces.

    Remember that people on this course work at different speeds (and across different time zones!) Please don’t worry if you get to a new activity and see lots of comments already posted. There will be others working at your...

  • @LauraMcK Hi Laura. Thanks - to you and other contributors to this thread - for your feedback on the video. This is an important discussion. The teaching materials on this course are always open to review, and I will be sure to pass your comments on. Thanks again.

  • Ed Hogan 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.

    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 attend to every question because there...