Fantasy Writing Certification
Fantasy Writing Certification
If you have always been eager to write your own fantasy novel, maybe you already have a brilliant plot in mind, but are not sure where to start or how to go about it, then our Fantasy Writing Course may be just what you are looking for.
Introduction to Fantasy Writing Certification
The fantasy writing course can help you jump start your writing career and help you write your own book. You will learn so much from this course to help you in your writing career, from developing characters to the backstory to developing the perfect plot and more.
This informative course is made up of thirteen modules, which take around eight hours to complete. You study online, at your own pace and, on completion, you can download and print your certificate.
Online support is offered throughout your study to ensure that you always have someone to give you guidance and support when you need it most.
What Will You Learn?
- What is fantasy writing? – This module will teach you all you need to know about fantasy writing, what it is, different types and opportunities for fantasy writers.
- What you need to write fantasy content – you will learn how to become more creative and a better writer. This module will also cover the importance of grammar and punctuation.
- Taking advantage of other writers' strengths and weaknesses – in this module you will learn how to use other writers' strengths and weaknesses to your benefit.
- The fundamentals – here you will learn how to choose an audience and age group. You will learn the benefits and negatives of the first and third person writing and how to switch between the two effectively.
- Getting started – you will learn why your first page is so important and what information you should include in your first page.
- Building great characters – this module covers the importance of characters and where to get inspiration for your characters. It will also teach you how to create personalities and profiles for your characters and how to add supernatural powers.
- Planning the perfect plot – structuring your novel, making a plan from the start before writing and common pitfalls and tips to avoid them.
- Using a backstory without being boring – understanding what a backstory is and how it can help you write your first fantasy novel, how to include a backstory in a number of different ways and the do's and don'ts of a backstory.
- Dialogue that flows – this module is going to cover a very important aspect of any novel, writing dialogue that flows. Improve your dialogue skills, writing dialogue that suits a character and common mistakes you need to avoid.
- Sense of purpose – in this module you will learn how to assess your reasons for writing a fantasy novel to reduce the risk of losing your confidence and sense of purpose during this journey. This module will help you get your motivation back and help you determine when to take a break to cure writer's block.
- Practical writing exercises – fun and rewarding writing exercises, advice on sharing your work to get genuine feedback and whether you should consider joining a writing group.
- Illustrations – some writers choose to include illustrations in their stories. This module will help you decide whether to include illustrations, the kinds of illustrations you should consider and how to work with illustrators to get the best end result.
- Dealing with publishers – once your book is completed, you are going to want to have it published. This module will provide you with the information you need on dealing with publishers, preparing your manuscript and valuable insight into e-books and self-publishing.
Benefits of taking the Fantasy Writing Course
There are numerous benefits to taking the fantasy writing course to help you start a career as a fantasy writer and get your first book published.
- This course will boost your creative thinking.
- It will help you jump start your writing career.
- You will feel more focused on your writing after completing this course.
- The course will help you become committed to writing your first book.
- You will feel motivated.
- The course offers you valuable guidance that you can use to help you every step of the way.
This course includes
24/7 Student Support
End of course certification
Lifetime access to your course
Compatible with modern devices
- A definition of what fantasy writing entails
- About different types of fantasy subgenres
- The difference between fantasy and sci-fi
- Opportunities as a fantasy author
- The main personal skills and qualities a fantasy writer should exhibit
- Things to consider when world building and creating magical systems
- How to hone and improve creativity and writing skills
- Preparing to become a fantasy writer and the importance of impeccable spelling and grammar
- How to get the most from reading other fantasy books as a prospective fantasy writer
- Some good resources for discovering new books to read and finding out about fantasy authors
- About George MacDonald, J.R.R Tolkien, William Morris and C.S. Lewis – The grandfathers of modern fantasy literature
- About George R.R. Martin, Philip Pullman, Patrick Rothfuss and Daniel Abraham – Fantasy authors from recent years
- About choosing a suitable audience for your story and how it will affect the end result
- The main different age ranges fantasy books are aimed at
- The advantages and disadvantages of first person and third person viewpoints
- How to make transitions between viewpoints
- Why the first page of a book is so important for fantasy writers
- Ideas for writing a great first page starting with an amazing first line
- What information you should include in your first page
- Why rules and consistency are important when creating both new worlds and magic systems
- Why characters are so important when writing your fantasy novel
- Where to find inspiration for your characters
- About building believable characters by creating profiles and personalities for them
- How to add supernatural qualities and a background story
- What a story needs in regards to conflict, tension and plot
- Whether you need to make a plan before starting to write and what this plan should include
- How to give your story structure and what the beginning, middle and end should contain
- Some common plot pitfalls and how to avoid them
- What backstory is and why it is necessary to have it as part of your fantasy novel
- Why it’s important to limit the amount of backstory you use and keep it relevant
- When you should include backstory and when you shouldn’t
- How to include backstory in different ways in your fantasy book
- Why dialogue is important to include in your fantasy novel
- Honing and improving your dialogue skills
- Writing dialogue to suit your characters
- Mistakes that fantasy writers should avoid
- Why fantasy writers can lose confidence and sense of purpose
- How to assess your reasons for writing a fantasy novel
- About getting your motivation back
- Why taking a break from writing can cure writer’s block
- About using writing prompts to get you writing and give you inspiration
- Why some practical writing exercises are fun and rewarding
- About offering up your work for criticism and feedback
- How to find a workshop to join that suits you
- Whether to have illustrations or not
- What kind of illustration to choose
- How to choose and commission a good illustrator
- How to work with an illustrator
- How to know if you are ready to start going to publishers
- How to prepare your manuscript professionally
- About copyright and plagiarism
- The lowdown on self-publishing and e-books

of achievement
This certificate is presented to
Your Name

For completing the
Fantasy Writing Certification
on 21st November 2025
Selena Hurford
Selena Hurford
Course Tutor

Daniel Morgan
Daniel Morgan
Head of Academy

Anyone who has an interest in learning more about this subject matter is encouraged to take the course. There are no entry requirements to take the course.
The course is broken down into 13 individual modules. Each module takes between 20 and 90 minutes on average to study. Although you are free to spend as much or as little time as you feel necessary on each module, simply log in and out of the course at your convenience.
You can study the course any time you like. Simply log in and out of the web based course as often as you require. The course is compatible with all computers, tablet devices and smart phones so you can even study while on the move!
Once you have completed all 13 modules there is a multiple choice test. The questions will be on a range of topics found within the 13 modules. The test, like the course, is online and can be taken a time and location of your choosing.
The pass mark for the test is 70%.
If you don’t pass the test first time you will get further opportunities to take the test again after extra study. There are no limits to the number of times you can take the test. All test retakes are included within the price of the course.
Once you have completed your test you can log in to your account and download/print your certificate any time you need it. If you would prefer us to post you a certificate to a UK address, there will be an admin charge of £10 (certificates sent internationally may cost more).
You can either use your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Solo cards or PayPal account to pay for the online course. Our site uses the latest SSL encryption to ensure your safety. All payments are handled securely by PayPal.
You can begin the course immediately after your payment has been received. You will create your login details during the checkout process. We will also send you an email confirming your login details.
We estimate that the course will take about 6 hours to complete in total, plus an additional 30 minutes for the end of course test.
Once you have been awarded your certificate it is valid for life. The certificate does not expire or need renewing.
Great Course! Arrived very quickly on the same day I ordered it - Amazing Service! I can’t wait to get the certificate at the end so I can show my customers that I have under pinned my knowledge and experience by gaining a qualification that is fully accredited. It is so important to keep fully up to date with skill and learning since everything is constantly changing i.e. the law, people’s requirements and to refresh ones’ knowledge is paramount in today’s challenging job market. We need to be one step in front and a head of our competitors if we are to succeed. Thanks You for helping me achieve this.

Yvonne Watkins
Having just completed the Admin & PA diploma I feel far more equipped to start a new career. From covering the basics, to recapping on things forgotten to introducing new concepts this course has something for everyone.

Shelley Tomkins
I found the course very professional and the contact with my course tutor was easy and rewarding. He responded very quickly to my emails.
I found the feedback from the questions I submitted very good and very useful. It helped me complete further questions and has given me direction in my job. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and I would definitely recommend it to colleagues and friends.
I would like to thank my tutor for all his help and valuable suggestions. I found his feedback very helpful and speedy; his remarks were always positive and constructive. The course material is excellent, varied, relevant and up-to-date. I have enjoyed the course and am very glad.

Muhammad Usman Akhtar
This course is absolutely brilliant for someone like me that has a busy working life – the modules are chunked into bite sized pieces and are really simple and straightforward to use.
It is easy to dip in and out of and pick up from where you left off – I was certainly glad I chose to pick all 3 levels – I am quite competent with Excel but I have also picked up new pieces of information from the beginners’ modules as well as really developing my skills with the more advanced information.
It has also meant I have had a really good refresh with parts of Excel that I haven’t used for a long time. I advise anyone who is considering skipping straight to the Intermediate or Advanced courses to go for this option – it really has proved excellent value for money!

Ryan Knight
I was extremely worried at first that it wouldn’t be what I want in a course but the course is honestly absolutely amazing! It’s made to be really enjoyable, fun and easy to complete and best of all in your own time.
I could not recommend New Skills Academy any more! It’s now gave me something more to put on to my CV and get my career started in the area I’d love to be in for the rest of my life. Thank you so much for helping me reach my goals and achieve my dreams!
I’ve recommended to all of my friends and would also recommend to anyone looking into doing a course. Go for it you won’t regret it!

Helen Buckwell
This course was great! Was so interesting and enlightening to what a day in the wedding planning business will be like! It was so easy to do and easy to fit it around my work schedule. Taught me so much and has really given me an amazing feeling about starting my new career! I would highly recommend! Better than paying thousands to go back to college when you can do this in your own time at your own pace and still learn just as much, if not more! When completing this course, I felt proud and excited for my next steps so thank you so much New Skills Academy for helping me accomplish my big leap into starting a new adventure and finally doing something I love!

Shannon McGillicuddy
Fantasy Writing Certification
If you have always been eager to write your own fantasy novel, maybe you already have a brilliant plot in mind, but are not sure where to start or how to go about it, then our Fantasy Writing Course may be just what you are looking for.
Introduction to Fantasy Writing Certification
The fantasy writing course can help you jump start your writing career and help you write your own book. You will learn so much from this course to help you in your writing career, from developing characters to the backstory to developing the perfect plot and more.
This informative course is made up of thirteen modules, which take around eight hours to complete. You study online, at your own pace and, on completion, you can download and print your certificate.
Online support is offered throughout your study to ensure that you always have someone to give you guidance and support when you need it most.
What Will You Learn?
- What is fantasy writing? – This module will teach you all you need to know about fantasy writing, what it is, different types and opportunities for fantasy writers.
- What you need to write fantasy content – you will learn how to become more creative and a better writer. This module will also cover the importance of grammar and punctuation.
- Taking advantage of other writers' strengths and weaknesses – in this module you will learn how to use other writers' strengths and weaknesses to your benefit.
- The fundamentals – here you will learn how to choose an audience and age group. You will learn the benefits and negatives of the first and third person writing and how to switch between the two effectively.
- Getting started – you will learn why your first page is so important and what information you should include in your first page.
- Building great characters – this module covers the importance of characters and where to get inspiration for your characters. It will also teach you how to create personalities and profiles for your characters and how to add supernatural powers.
- Planning the perfect plot – structuring your novel, making a plan from the start before writing and common pitfalls and tips to avoid them.
- Using a backstory without being boring – understanding what a backstory is and how it can help you write your first fantasy novel, how to include a backstory in a number of different ways and the do's and don'ts of a backstory.
- Dialogue that flows – this module is going to cover a very important aspect of any novel, writing dialogue that flows. Improve your dialogue skills, writing dialogue that suits a character and common mistakes you need to avoid.
- Sense of purpose – in this module you will learn how to assess your reasons for writing a fantasy novel to reduce the risk of losing your confidence and sense of purpose during this journey. This module will help you get your motivation back and help you determine when to take a break to cure writer's block.
- Practical writing exercises – fun and rewarding writing exercises, advice on sharing your work to get genuine feedback and whether you should consider joining a writing group.
- Illustrations – some writers choose to include illustrations in their stories. This module will help you decide whether to include illustrations, the kinds of illustrations you should consider and how to work with illustrators to get the best end result.
- Dealing with publishers – once your book is completed, you are going to want to have it published. This module will provide you with the information you need on dealing with publishers, preparing your manuscript and valuable insight into e-books and self-publishing.
Benefits of taking the Fantasy Writing Course
There are numerous benefits to taking the fantasy writing course to help you start a career as a fantasy writer and get your first book published.
- This course will boost your creative thinking.
- It will help you jump start your writing career.
- You will feel more focused on your writing after completing this course.
- The course will help you become committed to writing your first book.
- You will feel motivated.
- The course offers you valuable guidance that you can use to help you every step of the way.
This course includes
24/7 Student Support
End of course certification
Lifetime access to your course
Compatible with modern devices
- A definition of what fantasy writing entails
- About different types of fantasy subgenres
- The difference between fantasy and sci-fi
- Opportunities as a fantasy author
- The main personal skills and qualities a fantasy writer should exhibit
- Things to consider when world building and creating magical systems
- How to hone and improve creativity and writing skills
- Preparing to become a fantasy writer and the importance of impeccable spelling and grammar
- How to get the most from reading other fantasy books as a prospective fantasy writer
- Some good resources for discovering new books to read and finding out about fantasy authors
- About George MacDonald, J.R.R Tolkien, William Morris and C.S. Lewis – The grandfathers of modern fantasy literature
- About George R.R. Martin, Philip Pullman, Patrick Rothfuss and Daniel Abraham – Fantasy authors from recent years
- About choosing a suitable audience for your story and how it will affect the end result
- The main different age ranges fantasy books are aimed at
- The advantages and disadvantages of first person and third person viewpoints
- How to make transitions between viewpoints
- Why the first page of a book is so important for fantasy writers
- Ideas for writing a great first page starting with an amazing first line
- What information you should include in your first page
- Why rules and consistency are important when creating both new worlds and magic systems
- Why characters are so important when writing your fantasy novel
- Where to find inspiration for your characters
- About building believable characters by creating profiles and personalities for them
- How to add supernatural qualities and a background story
- What a story needs in regards to conflict, tension and plot
- Whether you need to make a plan before starting to write and what this plan should include
- How to give your story structure and what the beginning, middle and end should contain
- Some common plot pitfalls and how to avoid them
- What backstory is and why it is necessary to have it as part of your fantasy novel
- Why it’s important to limit the amount of backstory you use and keep it relevant
- When you should include backstory and when you shouldn’t
- How to include backstory in different ways in your fantasy book
- Why dialogue is important to include in your fantasy novel
- Honing and improving your dialogue skills
- Writing dialogue to suit your characters
- Mistakes that fantasy writers should avoid
- Why fantasy writers can lose confidence and sense of purpose
- How to assess your reasons for writing a fantasy novel
- About getting your motivation back
- Why taking a break from writing can cure writer’s block
- About using writing prompts to get you writing and give you inspiration
- Why some practical writing exercises are fun and rewarding
- About offering up your work for criticism and feedback
- How to find a workshop to join that suits you
- Whether to have illustrations or not
- What kind of illustration to choose
- How to choose and commission a good illustrator
- How to work with an illustrator
- How to know if you are ready to start going to publishers
- How to prepare your manuscript professionally
- About copyright and plagiarism
- The lowdown on self-publishing and e-books

of achievement
This certificate is presented to
Your Name

For completing the
Fantasy Writing Certification
on 21st November 2025
Selena Hurford
Selena Hurford
Course Tutor

Daniel Morgan
Daniel Morgan
Head of Academy

Anyone who has an interest in learning more about this subject matter is encouraged to take the course. There are no entry requirements to take the course.
The course is broken down into 13 individual modules. Each module takes between 20 and 90 minutes on average to study. Although you are free to spend as much or as little time as you feel necessary on each module, simply log in and out of the course at your convenience.
You can study the course any time you like. Simply log in and out of the web based course as often as you require. The course is compatible with all computers, tablet devices and smart phones so you can even study while on the move!
Once you have completed all 13 modules there is a multiple choice test. The questions will be on a range of topics found within the 13 modules. The test, like the course, is online and can be taken a time and location of your choosing.
The pass mark for the test is 70%.
If you don’t pass the test first time you will get further opportunities to take the test again after extra study. There are no limits to the number of times you can take the test. All test retakes are included within the price of the course.
Once you have completed your test you can log in to your account and download/print your certificate any time you need it. If you would prefer us to post you a certificate to a UK address, there will be an admin charge of £10 (certificates sent internationally may cost more).
You can either use your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Solo cards or PayPal account to pay for the online course. Our site uses the latest SSL encryption to ensure your safety. All payments are handled securely by PayPal.
You can begin the course immediately after your payment has been received. You will create your login details during the checkout process. We will also send you an email confirming your login details.
We estimate that the course will take about 6 hours to complete in total, plus an additional 30 minutes for the end of course test.
Once you have been awarded your certificate it is valid for life. The certificate does not expire or need renewing.
Great Course! Arrived very quickly on the same day I ordered it - Amazing Service! I can’t wait to get the certificate at the end so I can show my customers that I have under pinned my knowledge and experience by gaining a qualification that is fully accredited. It is so important to keep fully up to date with skill and learning since everything is constantly changing i.e. the law, people’s requirements and to refresh ones’ knowledge is paramount in today’s challenging job market. We need to be one step in front and a head of our competitors if we are to succeed. Thanks You for helping me achieve this.

Yvonne Watkins
Having just completed the Admin & PA diploma I feel far more equipped to start a new career. From covering the basics, to recapping on things forgotten to introducing new concepts this course has something for everyone.

Shelley Tomkins
I found the course very professional and the contact with my course tutor was easy and rewarding. He responded very quickly to my emails.
I found the feedback from the questions I submitted very good and very useful. It helped me complete further questions and has given me direction in my job. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and I would definitely recommend it to colleagues and friends.
I would like to thank my tutor for all his help and valuable suggestions. I found his feedback very helpful and speedy; his remarks were always positive and constructive. The course material is excellent, varied, relevant and up-to-date. I have enjoyed the course and am very glad.

Muhammad Usman Akhtar
This course is absolutely brilliant for someone like me that has a busy working life – the modules are chunked into bite sized pieces and are really simple and straightforward to use.
It is easy to dip in and out of and pick up from where you left off – I was certainly glad I chose to pick all 3 levels – I am quite competent with Excel but I have also picked up new pieces of information from the beginners’ modules as well as really developing my skills with the more advanced information.
It has also meant I have had a really good refresh with parts of Excel that I haven’t used for a long time. I advise anyone who is considering skipping straight to the Intermediate or Advanced courses to go for this option – it really has proved excellent value for money!

Ryan Knight
I was extremely worried at first that it wouldn’t be what I want in a course but the course is honestly absolutely amazing! It’s made to be really enjoyable, fun and easy to complete and best of all in your own time.
I could not recommend New Skills Academy any more! It’s now gave me something more to put on to my CV and get my career started in the area I’d love to be in for the rest of my life. Thank you so much for helping me reach my goals and achieve my dreams!
I’ve recommended to all of my friends and would also recommend to anyone looking into doing a course. Go for it you won’t regret it!

Helen Buckwell
This course was great! Was so interesting and enlightening to what a day in the wedding planning business will be like! It was so easy to do and easy to fit it around my work schedule. Taught me so much and has really given me an amazing feeling about starting my new career! I would highly recommend! Better than paying thousands to go back to college when you can do this in your own time at your own pace and still learn just as much, if not more! When completing this course, I felt proud and excited for my next steps so thank you so much New Skills Academy for helping me accomplish my big leap into starting a new adventure and finally doing something I love!

Shannon McGillicuddy
Why you should study with us
Learn with confidence...




Get a FREE Course
Sign up to our newsletter and get access to the Interview Skills and CV Writing Certificate course for free!
Simply enter your details below and we will email you access to your free course!
What our students say about us...

Excellent course, well explained and easy to understand. The course can be done at my own pace and is available on various devices. The layout of the course was excellent and the notes options is very good. The content is perfect and well structured, making it easy to understand and follow. I will definitely be taking more courses in the future.
Luis Costa

Fantastic course! Well-presented and challenging with frequent assessments. I feel a serious sense of accomplishment having not studied for over 30 years! Videos that accompany each module are carefully thought out and informative. Am so impressed with this course, have now signed up for 3 other courses and recommending New Skills Academy to everyone!
Marva Hudson

It was an eye opening course that was flexible and easy to access. I was able to complete it from the comfort of my own home whilst also having the tasks to complete which enabled me to check my knowledge. I know feel much more confident in my field of work and really enjoyed doing it.
Ellie Clarke

I took up this course initially to help me with my own dog, but found that as I worked through the material I actually started thinking that this could be something that I could use to make a second income. From start to finish I found the course engaging and interesting. I am now doing another dog related course and am experiencing the same level of enjoyment. I would recommend New Skills Academy without hesitation.
Keith Smith

Very interesting and helpful course. I ve learned a lot of interesting things about make up and the tutorials were very helpful and easy to understand. I really reccomend this course for everyone who is passionate about make up and wish to develop their skills and make a career from their hobby.
Nicoleta Lucaci

Wow what an incredible insight for the start of anyone's journey in property. This course gives you so much information and there are tests and questions on each of the modules. The course is very easy to follow and well laid out. You can actually make notes on the pages of each module using the notes tab! I am very excited to say that I passed and I only spent one week on this course. I will print all the PDF information and keep it in a file with my certificate. I feel very confident for my future plans now I have completed this course.
Nichola Anderson

This is a great course for any level of knowledge. Very easy to navigate, great practical tasks and explanations are very clear. You can revise any module with no problem. The test wasn’t too hard if you completed every module. It may be handy to make some notes before you start. Overall I'm very happy with my choice. Thank you New skills for my New skills :)
Julia Bobkova

Yet another well laid out course. This is my 3rd course so far with New Skills Academy.
More than likely will be back for another one soon. This course was enjoyable to do, and I learnt a lot and passed first try. My certificate will be up on the wall soon.
Rob Coops