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Science Fiction WritingDiploma Course

What does the future look like? How will innovations in science and technology impact Earth and the universe? What is the fate of humanity? You decide.

The Science Fiction Writing Diploma Course is designed to get you writing. No fear of the blank page, partially developed ideas, half-built worlds or two-dimensional characters. You’ll be provided with the knowledge you need to really understand the genre, practice the theories and techniques you need to write compelling, believable science fiction, and undertake exercises that’ll get you working. Most importantly, you will come away with your own novel — or, at the very least, be well on the way to having written one.

Course overview:

Certified

Accredited

10 Modules

Study Group Access

Earn reward points

What Will You Learn?

The Science Fiction Writing Diploma Course introduces the genre of science fiction and the wider genre of speculative fiction, the history and future of science fiction, and its tropes, niches and subgenres.

Throughout the course, you’ll develop a piece of science fiction writing – learning how to organise, develop and refine your ideas as you go along. The course blends theory and practical exercises, giving you plenty of opportunities to write, and develop and play with ideas until you have a working story.

Worldbuilding is a huge part of any science fiction project, and the Science Fiction Writing Diploma Course will guide you step-by-step through the process of creating a novum, a world for it to exist in, and the characters to explore it. You’ll build a story using one of several structures popular within science fiction and begin to write scenes set in the world you have created.

You’ll also look at techniques that will help you to improve your writing. As you develop your story, you will learn to master pace, structure, and different writing skills to help your novel succeed. You’ll also learn how to shape and edit your story.

By studying this course, you will:

Gain a deeper knowledge of science fiction
Work on your own novel – building skills as you progress through the course
Complete exercises that will get you writing and deepen your comprehension of key writing theories
Explore techniques designed to improve writing
Be able to create believable worlds and characters
Learn to master pace, structure, and different writing skills

Who Would Benefit from This Course?

Designed for the beginner, the Science Fiction Writing Diploma Course can be undertaken whether you are completely new to writing or new to the genre and wishing to understand the key features of science fiction that set it apart.

Whether you have a story in mind that you’re struggling to finish or don’t know where to start, this course will provide the information, techniques and practice opportunities you need to produce your first piece of science fiction and, hopefully, start a new hobby or career.

Modules

Module 1: What is Science Fiction?7 Parts

Introduction
Part 1: Imagination and Speculation
Part 2: Exploring What’s Possible
Part 3: Technology, Travel and Time
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points
Module 1 Assessment

Module 2: Subgenres of Science Fiction5 Parts

Part 1: Subgenres of Science Fiction
Part 2: Popular Subgenres of Science Fiction
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points
Module 2 Assessment

Module 3: Elements of Science Fiction6 Parts

Part 1: Knowing the Tropes
Part 2: Character Tropes
Part 3: Setting Tropes
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points
Module 3 Assessment

Module 4: Worldbuilding I — The Novum6 Parts

Part 1: Constructing Possibilities
Part 2: A Whole New World
Part 3: Worldbuilding Exercise: The Novum
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points
Module 4 Assessment

Module 5: Worldbuilding II — Who, What, When, Where?6 Parts

Part 1: Worldbuilding for Beginners
Part 2: Let’s Build a World
Part 3: Writing Worldbuilding into Your Novel
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points
Module 5 Assessment

Module 6: Creating Characters6 Parts

Part 1: Creating Science Fiction Characters
Part 2: Creating Characters
Part 3: Character Work
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points
Module 6 Assessment

Module 7: Story Structure6 Parts

Part 1: Building the Structure of Your Story
Part 2: Freytag’s Pyramid
Part 3: Shaping Your Story
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points
Module 7 Assessment

Module 8: Beginnings5 Parts

Part 1: Writing Act One
Part 2: Writing a Strong Beginning
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points
Module 8 Assessment

Module 9: The Middle5 Parts

Part 1: Writing Act Two
Part 2: Scenes in Science Fiction
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points
Module 9 Assessment

Module 10: The End6 Parts

Part 1: Writing Act Three
Part 2: Writing a First Draft
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points
Conclusion
Module 10 Assessment

Accreditations

The Science Fiction Writing Diploma Course will take up to 150 hours to complete, working from home. There is no time limit for completing this course; it can be studied in your own time at your own pace.

This is a Level 3 course and will give you 150 CPD (Continued Professional Development) points.

Upon completion of your course assessments, you receive 2 certificates. A certificate from the Centre of Excellence and a CPD certificate displaying the number of CPD points earned from the course.

This course is endorsed by the Quality Licence Scheme. Therefore, upon successful completion of this course, learners can also receive a certificate of achievement from Quality Licence Scheme and a Learner Unit Summary, which lists the details of all the units the learner has completed as part of the course. (This certificate is optional and costs an additional £25).

The Quality Licence Scheme is part of the Skills and Education Group, a charitable organisation that unites education and skills-orientated organisations that share similar values and objectives. With more than 100 years of collective experience, the Skills and Education Group’s strategic partnerships create opportunities to inform, influence and represent the wider education and skills sector.

The Skills and Education Group also includes two nationally recognised awarding organisations; Skills and Education Group Awards and Skills and Education Group Access. Through their awarding organisations they have developed a reputation for providing high-quality qualifications and assessments for the education and skills sector. They are committed to helping employers, organisations and learners cultivate the relevant skills for learning, skills for employment, and skills for life.

Their knowledge and experience of working within the awarding sector enables them to work with training providers, through the Quality Licence Scheme, to help them develop high-quality courses and/or training programmes for the non-regulated market.

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FAQs

How much time do I have to complete my course?

There is no time limit for completing your course it can be studied in your own time at your own pace.

How long will the course take me to complete?

All of our courses vary in length but most of our courses will take you between 50 - 250 hours to complete. The length of this course can be found in the Accreditations section above.

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