Frequently Asked Questions for the Writing Courses

No – instead we show you how to do this for yourself. It is not difficult to learn, and once you know the techniques these will last you all your writing life. Once you can write to a publishable standard you should have no difficulty in selling your work.

This really depends on how quickly your writing ability develops. It is quite possible to have some work published very soon after you start – though we cannot promise you this. From assignment two you are asked to do some writing which, if good enough, you could submit for publication. Your tutor will advise you about this. As soon as we think your writing is suitable for submission you will be given every encouragement to submit it.

No – you have done the writing and the marketing so you deserve the rewards!

Yes – many former students are now earning good, spare-time incomes for themselves. If they can do it, so can you.

There is a huge potential market for your writing. This includes the daily, Sunday and weekly newspapers, thousands of magazines, non-fiction books, radio and TV drama, stage plays, short stories and novels of all kinds.

Then there are the overseas markets that expand the opportunities even more – and we will show you how to sell to these.

In all these markets editors and publishers are on the look-out for fresh ideas and will pay good money for the right material.

Writing is a skill that anyone, regardless of background or education, can develop. We will show you what to do and how to do it. After that, it is a matter of using your imagination to cash-in on your talents and abilities.

The opportunities are there and with our help you can develop the expertise and know-how to take full advantage of them.

This is impossible to say. It all depends on a combination of how good you become, the amount of writing you do, the type of writing you do and so on. At the top end, the most successful writers become millionaires. On a more modest scale, very good incomes can be earned by part-time, freelance writers. It really does depend on your ability, application and ambition. However, the combination of our expertise and your enthusiasm gives you your best chance of maximising your potential.

If you have never written before we recommend that you take the Certificate in Creative Writing Course as it gives you the chance to try a wide variety of different types of writing and gain a broad writing experience. You can then discover the type of writing that suits you best.

If you are already an experienced writer and want instruction on a particular type of writing, we have a whole range of courses to choose from. Alternatively, just let us know what you want and we will then work out a special study programme and quotation for you.

As we have already said, early specialisation is not wise for new writers. You could be missing out on some interesting opportunities. So, unless your circumstances are special, take our advice and enrol on the Certificate in Creative Writing Course.

On the details page for each course you’ll find an estimate of how long the course should take you. This will give you a good guide to the commitment that will be required if you want to get the most out of your studies.

How much time you’ll eventually spend on your writing depends entirely on your writing ambitions. If you want to earn a regular income from your writing then you must put in sufficient time and effort to bring you the rewards you want. If, on the other hand, you want to write for fun and creative satisfaction, then you can proceed at whatever pace suits you. This is one of the great attractions of being a freelance writer.

Distance learning is a very effective way to study. You work one-to-one with your tutor so it’s just like having private lessons all to yourself. You study at your own pace so you are not held back by others or ever feel like you’re being left behind. You can study when and where it suits you and fit your course around other commitments you may have. More about distance learning

Your course comes on a 15 day trial so you can make sure it is suitable for your requirements. However, if you are not completely satisfied with it then just return it to us, in good condition, within 15 days of receipt and your fees will be refunded in full.

Enrolment is easy. Simply click the ‘enrol online now’ button on the course details page, agree to the terms of enrolment, select your payment plan, key in your details and credit card number and you’re enrolled. You’ll then be taken to the welcome area in the Online Student Community.

You can start to study immediately as the first sections and your first assignment are available for you to look at.

Your course material is then despatched by post and will arrive within seven working days in the UK and 28 days if you are overseas.

If you prefer you can enrol by telephone and we will send you your login details by email. Or you can complete and send the enrolment form (see prospectus for details), together with your fees, by post.

If you’d like further advice on enrolment please contact our Student Services department: studentservices@sttcourses.com

We do not give out personal details of students. However, you can communicate with other STT students through the Online Student Community Area.

Can I take a break from the course?

Yes, at any time you like. There is no pressure to meet any examination dates. You can take the time you need and you can study the course where and when it is most convenient for you.

However, please be mindful of time limit on you studies. This varies depending on the length of the course and details can be found on the details page for your chosen course. We have taken into consideration that students study as different rates and a break from the course may be necessary. This is reflected in time allocated for your studies. This flexibility is one of the many benefits of distance learning. More about distance learning

They are very varied, but the general principle is to give you at least one piece of writing (and usually more) appropriate to the modules you have just studied. Most of this writing is the sort that can be submitted for publication if it is good enough. We are very careful to make sure that your assignments involve ‘real life’ writing, and then we back this up with detailed comment on how to improve it – if improvement is necessary.

No – your communication with your tutor is through the messaging centre in the Online Student Community Area. However, you are welcome to visit our offices at any time to discuss your progress with our Director of Studies. Please make an appointment first.

Your assignments are submitted through the Online Student Community Area. How to use this will be fully explained once you are enrolled.

Your assignments are organised so that you always have something to work on. We do our best to make sure there are no gaps in your studies. This gives you the opportunity to study without interruption if you so wish, while at the same time you can progress at a pace that suits you.

The course fees cover the study modules and all the tuition and advisory services described on this site. Additional expenses include: pens, paper, envelopes, printer cartridges, postage for sending work to editors plus the stamped addressed envelopes for the return of your work from editors. Reference books such as The Writers’ and Artists’ Year Book, The Writer’s Handbook, dictionary, thesaurus etc. and magazines and newspapers for market research are also a necessary extra.