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Horror WritingDiploma Course

Horror fiction is an enduringly popular genre. We just can’t seem to get enough of the thrills and chills that only a good scary story can deliver. But how is it done? How do writers take nothing but words and turn them into fear – after all, words can’t hurt you… right?

Horror writers are experts in the things that frighten us, and the good ones can dig deeper into the things that keep us awake in the darkness. If you want to write horror fiction that will have your readers sleeping with the lights on for days afterwards, you need to understand not only where our fears come from, but how to play each note of a scary story so that your reader will want to run away (and yet, keep turning the pages).

Course overview:

Certified

Accredited

10 Modules

Study Group Access

Earn reward points

What Will You Learn?

In the Horror Writing Diploma Course, we will define horror and look at its history and development as a genre. We’ll look at how scary stories are told, and the nuts and bolts of a horror narrative. We’ll discover different types of fear, and how to evoke these emotions in your readers. We’ll explore established tropes and conventions, and look at ways to flip these and keep your writing fresh and your readers guessing. We’ll look at different types of form and fiction, and explore the main subgenres in the horror market today.

The Horror Writing Diploma Course is packed with creative writing exercises and advice on how to put your knowledge into action. We will explore flash fiction, short stories, novel-length work and series, as well as modern forms and online publication opportunities, including SMS fiction and creepypasta. You’ll produce your own horror fiction (including up to a novel-length first draft, if that’s what you’re aiming for) and look at ways to seek traditional publication and explore the self-publication market.

All you need to bring is your imagination (at least the darkest corners of it!) and some way to write your story down. You will find access to the internet and a library useful (for research and reading) but they are not essential. Previous writing experience is not necessary, although it will really help if you have read a few horror novels or seen horror films, and are familiar with the genre. Otherwise, just bring yourself, your imagination, and your desire to write, and by the end of the course, you won’t be scared of scary stories anymore!

By studying this course, you will:

Understand the horror genre
Explore fear and how to evoke it
Become familiar with established tropes and conventions
Follow creative writing exercises
Produce your own horror fiction
Learn about traditional publication and self-publication

Who Would Benefit from This Course?

The Horror Writing Diploma Course is a great introduction to horror writing for those who are new to writing in the genre, or those who are new to the genre but have written in others, for example, science fiction or mystery.

The course assumes you have read some horror literature and are familiar with basic writing terms. You can use the course to work on notes, scenes and sketches or you can create a full-length novel. The course exercises will help prepare you and the writing modules will guide you through producing the first draft of a piece of work of any length.

Learn to build your storytelling, writing and editing skills and work towards creating a piece of writing that you can proudly show off. This may lead you to pursue writing further, as a hobby or potential career.

Modules

Module 1: What is Horror?7 Parts

Introduction
Part 1: What is Horror Fiction?
Part 2: Introduction to Types of Horror
Part 3: The History of The Horror Story
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 1 Assessment

Module 2: Genre and Subgenre6 Parts

Part 1: Genre & Subgenre
Part 2: Subgenres of Horror
Part 3: Subgenres in Detail
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 2 Assessment

Module 3: Fear and Tragedy5 Parts

Part 1: How To Scare Your Readers
Part 2: Characters are Flawed and Make Mistakes
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 3 Assessment

Module 4: Knowing the Tropes10 Parts

Part 1: Tropes and Cliché
Part 2: Common Horror Tropes
Part 3: Characters
Part 4: Monsters
Part 5: Objects & Items
Part 6: Situations
Part 7: A Word on Representation and Diversity
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 4 Assessment

Module 5: Monsters and Men7 Parts

Part 1: Things That Go Bump In The Night
Part 2: Metaphor
Part 3: Writing Monster Horror
Part 4: Writing Human Horror
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 5 Assessment

Module 6: Atmosphere and Setting6 Parts

Part 1: When & Where
Part 2: Climate and Nature
Part 3: Uncanny Architecture
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 6 Assessment

Module 7: Creating Characters5 Parts

Part 1: Who and Why
Part 2: The Shadow: Shame, Trauma and Mortal Fears
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 7 Assessment

Module 8: Writing Scary8 Parts

Part 1: Planning Your Story
Part 2: Creepypasta
Part 3: Writing Scary
Part 4: Writing Action Scenes
Part 5: Writing Gore
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 8 Assessment

Module 9: Writing Your Horror Story8 Parts

Part 1: Sharpen Your Pencil
Part 2: Story Structure
Part 3: Writing the Beginning
Part 4: Writing The Middle
Part 5: Writing the Ending
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 9 Assessment

Module 10: Editing and Publication6 Parts

Part 1: Editing Your Work
Part 2: Publishing Your Work
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Conclusion
Module 10 Assessment

Accreditations

The Horror Writing Diploma Course will take you 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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