Start writing fiction - Audio

The Open University

This album provides the budding author with everything they need to know about approaching the art of fiction writing. Each track contains discussions and interviews with best-selling novelists from a variety of backgrounds including Alex Garland, Louis de Bernières, Abdulrazak Gurnah and Monique Roffey. This enlightening and engaging series tackles the practicalities and pitfalls of writing fiction. It contains invaluable advice on the creation of characters, the structure of narratives and how to turn an idea into the book you’ve always wanted to write. This material forms part of The Open University course A174 Start writing fiction. (New and updated content added July 2009)

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14 episodes
Updated Jul 7, 2009

Episodes14

Newest first

Jul 7, 2009 · 54 sec
Start writing fiction
An introduction to this album.
Jul 7, 2009
Transcript -- Start writing fiction
Transcript -- An introduction to this album.
Jul 7, 2009 · 10 min
Starting the writing process
Here, the novelists on the panel discuss what first attracted them to writing prose and what writing means to them.
Jul 7, 2009
Transcript -- Starting the writing process
Transcript -- Here, the novelists on the panel discuss what first attracted them to writing prose and what writing means to them.
Jul 7, 2009 · 7 min
Researching and influencing your fiction
In order to write, every novelist must read. The importance of reading and how this can influence your own style.
Jul 7, 2009
Transcript -- Researching and influencing your fiction
Transcript -- In order to write, every novelist must read. The importance of reading and how this can influence your own style.
Jul 7, 2009 · 10 min
Characters and genre
How do you create a believable character, and how can genre hinder or help a writer?
Jul 7, 2009
Transcript -- Characters and genre
Transcript -- How do you create a believable character, and how can genre hinder or help a writer?
Jul 7, 2009 · 11 min
Narrative and structural techniques
Technical methods of storytelling and how to structure a book.
Jul 7, 2009
Transcript -- Narrative and structural techniques
Transcript -- Technical methods of storytelling and how to structure a book.
Jul 7, 2009 · 6 min
Redrafting and editing
Good writing isn’t really about writing – it’s about rewriting. The crucial aspects to consider in the editing process, including the pace and precision of your prose.
Jul 7, 2009
Transcript -- Redrafting and editing
Transcript -- Good writing isn’t really about writing – it’s about rewriting. The crucial aspects to consider in the editing process, including the pace and precision of your prose.
Jul 7, 2009 · 7 min
How to keep going
Examining the importance of a writer’s own experience and how this feeds into prose. The value of self-criticism and how to keep writing when the going gets tough.
Jul 7, 2009
Transcript -- How to keep going
Transcript -- Examining the importance of a writer’s own experience and how this feeds into prose. The value of self-criticism and how to keep writing when the going gets tough.