New Zealand Diploma in Writing for Creative Industries (Level 5)

Summary

Overview

*Subject to NZQA approval.

Learn the craft of writing through exercises, workshops, course reading, regular feedback, but most of all through writing itself.

Develop skills in genres including short fiction, non-fiction, script writing and poetry. This programme is run entirely online offering the flexibility to study around other commitments. It can be undertaken full-time, part-time or even paper-by-paper to suit your needs and lifestyle.

This diploma has a team of specialist tutors who cover a range of genres. The team includes: children’s writer Justine Baddeley; award-winning scriptwriter Lisette de Jong; IML graduate and short story writer Gerard O’Brien; prose writer, artist and poet Ruby Porter (2017 winner of the Wallace Foundation Short Fiction Award, and inaugural winner of the 2018 Michael Gifkins Prize); and leading freelance editor Lesley Marshall.

NorthTec offers qualifications up to level 7 in applied writing:

• New Zealand Diploma in Writing for Creative Industries (Level 5)
• New Zealand Diploma in Creative Writing (Level 6)
• Diploma in Advanced Applied Writing (Level 7)

Our programmes are ideal for people who wish to work independently as writers, for those already working in the creative industries who wish to enhance their skills, and for those working in other industries who wish to improve their writing skills to allow higher-level employment.

What you will learn

In this programme you will gain knowledge and learn skills to create fiction and nonfiction works. Our courses cover writing for traditional and online publishing, digital platforms, performance and business.

In this programme you will learn to:

• Apply writing processes (analysis, research, planning, drafting, editing and rewriting) to produce original works for specific audiences (in print, digital platforms, radio, screen or stage) in the creative industries.
• Use practical writing and analytical tools that can be applied to a variety of professions and writing-related fields.
• Apply professional, legal and ethical principles in a socially responsible manner to writing practice.
• Work independently as well as contribute to group discussions.
• Work to a brief and solve problems in order to develop and complete writing projects and meet deadlines.

Courses in the programme

Semester One:

• Poetry I
• Writing in New Zealand
• Long Texts
• Project Management

Semester Two:

• Script Writing (Stage)
• Non-Fiction
• Short Fiction
• Storytelling