Write Fiction Like a Pro

Now Only

$389

AUD

35% off

$599 AUD

Quick Facts

Delivery Method Online
Professional Certificate
24hrs Suggested Study Time
3 Months Access
Tutor Support
Study On Any Device
6825 Students

A Hollywood writer and author teaches you how professional writers use story outlines to structure any type of story.

What's the single biggest difference between professional authors and novices? Professionals know how to structure novels and stories for maximum dramatic effect. This course helps you develop the same story structuring skills the pros use. You'll understand how your passion, theme, premise, and characters help you create the structure of your story, and you'll discover how viewpoint, dialogue, pacing, and many other techniques are used to build scenes and move your story from beginning to end.

Each assignment in this course helps you develop your own original novel or story. As you apply each technique, your story will take shape, with a clear path from beginning to end. And whenever you have questions or insights to share, you can join your instructor and classmates in the Discussion Area for some interactive brainstorming! Before you know it, you'll be prepared to ...write fiction like a pro.

Courses are delivered to you through expertly executed lessons, online instruction and interaction with like-minded students. Our courses are designed to deliver all of the benefits of studying in a classroom whilst giving you the flexibility to study at a time and place to suit your needs. You can access your classroom 24/7 from any device with an internet connection.

This course has a 3 month duration. You'll complete comprehensive lessons, quizzes and assignments before submitting your final exam at the end of the course to achieve your certificate. Courses must be completed within the 3 month access period.

The name of this course really says it all! For the next six weeks, we'll focus on techniques that professional authors use to write effectively and efficiently and that guarantee a story structure that delivers maximum emotional impact. After all, connecting with your audience is what great writing is all about, right? In this first lesson, we'll explore the idea of story structure, and you'll discover that nearly every piece of fiction that works follows the same fundamental rules. We'll also look at the often misunderstood difference between story and plot, a concept that will be vital throughout the rest of this course.

At the heart of every story are the dramatic elements of passion, theme, character, and premise. Your passion is what drives you to tell your story, and the theme is the underlying message it carries. To convey your theme, you'll create characters who represent that theme—either positively or negatively. Put all of these together and you've got your premise. We'll talk about all of these elements in today's lesson.

Character is what story is all about. Without a character, and a change in that character, there can be no story. In this lesson, you'll discover why the best characters are flawed. We'll explore your main character—the protagonist—and the opposition forces of the antagonist. And finally, we'll take a look at the other characters who round out your story.

Today's is the first of three lessons in which you'll see how to construct a story outline, act by act. In Act 1, you'll learn how to hook your readers. Then you'll fill them in with some character history called backstory. And finally, you'll exit Act 1 with a bang by triggering a traumatic event in the life of your protagonist.

If Act 1 ends with a bang, Act 2 starts with a whimper. Your protagonist begins in crisis, an emotional state brought on by his or her flaw. And because of that flaw, your protagonist will struggle throughout Act 2, as the antagonist delivers setback after setback. Fortunately, at the conclusion of Act 2 your protagonist finally figures out the source of all this emotional distress and how to overcome it.

The epiphany that ended Act 2 has prepared your protagonist for triumph in Act 3. Now it's time to devise a plan. The result will be a final confrontation with the antagonist. In this lesson, we'll discuss the best way to arrange the defeat of your antagonist—it's not what you might guess. Then, with that climax behind you, you're ready to tie up loose ends in the ending.

We've accomplished a lot in the last few lessons. By now you should be pretty comfortable with story structure. In the next three lessons, we'll take the concepts you've learned so far and apply them to the development of a real novel. Today we'll begin by using the dramatic elements to create a character, his or her flaw, and then put it all together into a formal story idea.

In this lesson, we'll expand the story idea for a novel into the nine checkpoints of our three-act outline. This is quite a challenge for just one lesson, but we've become pretty expert at this story structuring stuff by now, so let's go!

Now that you have your outline—and a beautiful one it is!—it's time for that magical moment when you begin expanding it into the long form. Yikes! The actual novel is about to materialize. We'll begin by inserting markers for the scenes that support and develop the outline. Then you'll start expanding those scenes and threading your theme throughout. This is really writing like a pro!

One of the most important choices an author makes is viewpoint. It affects every aspect of the story—from theme, to pacing, to suspense. In this lesson, we'll explore the three most common viewpoints—omniscient, third-person limited, and first person—and discover their advantages and disadvantages. Then we'll dig into techniques for developing characters and establishing a convincing story logic.

In this lesson, we'll look at techniques for refining your plot and controlling its pace. Then we'll unravel the internal structure of every piece of fiction you've ever read, discovering a structure that I bet you never knew existed. After today, you'll never forget it. It's called scene and sequel.

Now that your novel, play, or screenplay is well underway, it's time to think about polishing the final product. In this lesson, we'll look at some techniques for making your writing sparkle, including tips on dialogue and imagery and how to use them to show, not tell. We'll also see how to establish your own unique voice, paying special attention to the aspects of cadence and musicality. Finally, we'll talk a little about the creative process and your role now that you know how to . . . write like a pro.

Steve Alcorn

Steve Alcorn is the published author of a wide range of fiction and nonfiction works including the mystery A Matter of Justice, the historical novel Everything in Its Path, the romance Ring of Diamonds (under the pseudonym Sha... Read more

Read Steve Alcorn's Profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you've made the payment, we'll send you a confirmation email with a link to start your course. Feel free to get started whenever you're ready!

You'll have 3 months access to your course. In that time you are free to study at your own pace. The course duration is 24 hours.

Online learning is a flexible way to study that fits around your schedule, giving you the freedom to learn at your own pace from anywhere in the world. You'll have 3 months to complete the course and can take the multiple-choice questions and final exam whenever it suits you.

If you need help, you can contact us anytime. You can also join the discussion area where you can interact with other students. The discussion area for each lesson is open for the entire duration of the course.

Of course! We offer a 7-day money back guarantee. As long as you haven't completed the course, you can get a full refund within 7 days of enrolling.

We do not offer extensions or transfers for this self-paced course. However, you will have 3 months to complete the course, and if you need to cancel within the first 10 days of enrolment, we offer a money back guarantee.

What people are saying about our courses

If you have an idea for a book, but just can't get it together, this is the class for you. Steve Alcorn gives you the tools and the confidence to pull your ideas together and give them structure. Before you know it, you are inspired and writing. What a class! Steve Alcorn is a gifted instructor.

Verified Student

I have taken both Write Like a Pro and Steve's Mystery Writing course. I have now published three of the stories I worked on in Write Fiction Like a Pro, as a result of the course. Thank you, Steve, for offering it.

Verified Student

Can you see me? I'm giving you a standing ovation! Haven't done this much thinking, rethinking, breaking pencils, and eventually cheering since I graduated from college. Thank you for an inspiring and brilliant class!

Verified Student

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The Learning Environment

From the moment that you enrol in the Write Fiction Like a Pro you will become an integral part of our learning community. You'll find yourself with the freedom to learn at a speed that suits you, on any device, from anywhere in the world. Achieving your career goals no longer has to mean compromising family and work commitments.

Ready to get started?

Enrol Now

Our Values

Learn At Your Own Pace

We believe in personalised learning. That's why we provide all the tools and support you need to succeed at your own pace. With flexible learning, you'll stay motivated and retain more information. Plus, you can balance your studies with work and family commitments to make your dreams a reality.

We Won't Break The Bank

Education should be accessible to anyone who wants to learn. That's why we offer some of the most competitive prices in the industry with payments plans for just $25 per week. Investing in your future is a smart choice and doesn’t have to break the bank.

Industry-Led Courses

There's no better way to learn than from experts with years of experience in your field. That's why each of our 200+ industry-led courses are designed to give you a real-life perspective on your industry. With our expert mentors, you'll learn from people who have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and who are passionate about sharing it with you.

Get The Personal Support You Deserve

At Vibe Learning, we're real people who are dedicated to providing you with personal support every step of the way. Our industry experts are not only professional and knowledgeable but also incredibly passionate about sharing their expertise with you. With their guidance, you'll gain invaluable insights and practical knowledge to help you succeed.

Still looking?

Check out the following courses related to Write Fiction Like a Pro:

Fiction Writing Advanced

Writing Young Adult Fiction

Mystery Writing

Research Methods for Writers

Creativity Training for Writers

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Write Fiction Like a Pro

$599

$389AUD

Save 35%

Learn to converse in Italian

Now Only

$389

AUD

35% off

$599 AUD

Quick Facts

Delivery Method Online
Professional Certificate
24hrs Suggested Study Time
3 Months Access
Tutor Support
Study On Any Device
4725 Students

Learn Italian from the comfort of your home in this fun and enjoyable online course.

This dynamic course will teach you how to express yourself comfortably in Italian. You'll learn practical, everyday words and phrases that will make your stay in Italy more enjoyable. You'll read, hear, and practice dialogues based on typical situations that you're likely to encounter while staying in Italy. The dialogues and follow-up exercises of each lesson will teach you to communicate in Italian in a wide variety of settings. You'll be surprised by how quickly and easily you can learn many useful expressions in Italian!

This course also makes it simple to master your pronunciation of Italian. Essential words and phrases are written phonetically by using sounds that are familiar to you from English words. The course audio feature lets you hear the words and phrases spoken aloud with just a click of your mouse. Short exercises are included with each lesson to help you reinforce what you've learned and gauge your progress, making it easy to pinpoint areas that you still need to review. The exercises also give you immediate feedback—you'll know whether you answered correctly as soon as you finish.

By the end of the second lesson, you'll have learned about the Italian language's impact on the world, the Italian alphabet, phonetics, and pronunciation, proper forms of address, expressions of courtesy, and how to make introductions. When you reach your final lesson, you'll know how to ask for help, ask directions, navigate Italian shops, book a hotel room, order a meal, and much more! Cultural notes are included throughout the course to help you better understand Italians and their way of life. You'll also learn what various gestures mean to Italians, which ones to use, and those you should avoid.

This course will convince you that learning a language is both fun and rewarding. You'll be pleased at how quickly this course helps you build your skills, and prepares you for your next adventure in Italia.

In this first lesson, you'll discover that, despite the Italian peninsula's long and rich history, Italy is actually a relatively young nation—much younger than the United States, for example. You'll also learn that many Italian words have been adopted into English, including many that you might say or hear on a regular basis—and not just spaghetti, pizza, and biscotti. You'll also be pleased to learn that there are many cognates in Italian. Cognates are words that share the same origin with English words, which makes them very easy for you to recognize and master. By the time you finish this lesson, you'll also know how to greet others properly and introduce yourself in Italian.

In our second lesson, we'll explore the Italian alphabet and phonetics. You'll learn all 21 letters of the Italian alphabet, along with the various sounds they make, whether alone or in combination with one or more other letters. In addition, you'll learn five letters that Italian borrows for writing and speaking words that originated in other languages. With the tools you'll gain in this lesson (and some practice), you'll be able to read and correctly pronounce virtually all words and phrases in Italian.

Today, we'll discuss why, unlike in English, the names of places and things have gender in Italian. That's right, all nouns—even inanimate objects—are either masculine or feminine. You'll also learn that to pluralize nouns in Italian, you don't add "s" or "es" at the end of the word. Instead, you'll simply change the final vowel. For example, "one spaghetti noodle" is "spaghetti-o," while "spaghetti noodles" is "spaghetti-i." You'll also discover eight ways to say the word "the" in Italian. By the end of this lesson, you'll have a good grasp on some fundamental parts of speech, making it that much easier to put them together and use them.

In this lesson, you'll continue exploring some basic elements of the Italian language.

While visiting Italy's many spectacular sites, you'll want to be able to ask for assistance. In this lesson, you'll learn to ask and give directions to places, making it easier for you to navigate the country's many historic cities and towns. By the time you reach the end of this lesson, you'll know how to say "to the right," "to the left," and "straight ahead." You will also know how to ask whether a location is nearby or far away. In addition to all the practical navigating skills you'll gain in this lesson, you'll also increase your understanding of Italian culture by learning several ways Italians greet one another.

Numbers are handy in many daily situations, and in this lesson, you'll learn the numbers 1 through 100. You'll explore ways you can put these numbers to practical use by asking and stating phone numbers, addresses, and bill totals. You'll even visit an Italian bar or caffè and learn to order breakfast. At the end of this lesson, you'll be able to discuss telephone numbers and addresses, ask and say how much things cost at the bar, and how and where to pay for them.

In this lesson, you'll explore the calendar, learning to ask about and express days and dates. You'll learn some helpful techniques that make remembering the days of the week and the months of the year much easier. We'll also go over two key verbs—"avere" and "fare." Both verbs are especially helpful when discussing the weather. By the end of Lesson 7, you'll be able to talk about days and dates, and to ask about and describe the weather.

Today, you'll apply the numbers knowledge you gained in Lesson 6 and 7 to the clock and schedules. You'll learn to ask and tell the time, and to ask and express key time-relate terms, such as "when," "early," and "late." You'll continue learning about Italian culture, and find out how important labor strikes are in Italy. Because strikes often impact travel, you'll learn how to ask when they'll begin and when they'll end. All of these things should help put you more at ease while traveling. By the end of the lesson, you'll know how to tell time and read business schedules in Italian.

Do you plan to make some purchases while in Italy, or take a train, boat, or bus? We'll go over how to handle these situations in today's lesson. You'll learn the vocabulary and phrases you need to discuss items such as transportation tickets and their prices. You'll learn to use the always-handy expression "vorrei"¬¬—which means "I would like..."—to request information or items. By the end of this lesson, you'll know how ask about and purchase train, boat, or bus tickets, ask about prices and make purchases, and even rent a vehicle while in Italy.

Even before you arrive in Italy, you'll probably need to discuss and book your accommodations, and we'll explore how to do just that in today's lesson. You'll learn to describe the kind of room you're looking for, and ask about availability. By combining new vocabulary with elements you've learned in previous lessons, you'll be able to ask very specific questions about your lodging. You'll know how to confirm whether your room has air conditioning and Internet service, and if the price includes breakfast. You'll practice making a phone call to a hotel to ensure you can book your accommodations long before you arrive at your destination.

In this lesson, we'll go over something really important: How to ask for help—"aiuto" [ah-YOO-toh]—in any situation. More specifically, you'll learn to describe health and medical concerns to a pharmacist or doctor. You'll practice an authentic dialogue with each to help put you at ease while you're in Italy. You'll also learn to ask others to help you by calling the police or an ambulance. By the time you finish this lesson, you'll be able to handle virtually any emergency situation in Italian.

Italy's world-renowned cuisine is as important as its many historical monuments (some might say it's even more important!). In our final lesson, you'll become well-versed in the various types of eateries in Italy, the types of meals you can expect to find in them, and how meals are typically served. You'll practice using all the vocabulary you'll need to order food, whether it's a snack in un bar or an entire four-course meal in una trattoria. You'll learn how to ask about typical regional or local specialties, and how to say that you'd like to try a particular wine or dish. When you reach the end of this lesson, you'll be fully prepared to order a meal at any Italian eatery.

Robert Bertoldi

Robert Bertoldi has been mastering Italian for the past 25 years, and teaching college-level Italian in the classroom since 1987. He holds a Master of Arts in Italian literature, and has taught the language at several universities, colleges, and p... Read more

Read Robert Bertoldi's Profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you've made the payment, we'll send you a confirmation email with a link to start your course. Feel free to get started whenever you're ready!

You'll have 3 months access to your course. In that time you are free to study at your own pace. The course duration is 24 hours.

Of course! We offer a 7-day money back guarantee. As long as you haven't completed the course, you can get a full refund within 7 days of enrolling.

What people are saying about our courses

At the beginning, I would not have believed I could learn so much in just six weeks. The instructor chose the subjects for each lesson very well. This has been a valuable course.

Verified Student

Excellent! Much more than I expected. This is the best Italian course I have ever taken. Bravo, Signor Bertoldi! I plan more online courses. What a successful way to learn.

Verified Student

I enjoyed this class very much. I feel that I learned a great deal and plan to review the material several times prior to going to Italy in September. Thank you very much for helping me to increase my skills in being able to use Italian in conversation! Your course is excellent!

Verified Student

See More Reviews

The Learning Environment

From the moment that you enrol in the Learn to converse in Italian you will become an integral part of our learning community. You'll find yourself with the freedom to learn at a speed that suits you, on any device, from anywhere in the world. Achieving your career goals no longer has to mean compromising family and work commitments.

Ready to get started?

Enrol Now