Where to begin?

[Patbutcherismyhero]

I've always loved to write. I have written blogs that have done quite well and also have about ten years worth of copywriting experience albeit for a range of two bit content mills.

I really want to further this hobby but am so unsure about how to do it. I feel like a course might help. Does anyone know of any reputable online courses or companies?

How did you get into creative writing? Sometimes it's not as easy as just picking up a pen. I prefer to write shorter pieces but once I'm done I don't know what to do with them!

I'm utterly clueless

A CW course might not be helpful for you now. Most great writers until recently didn't study CW formally at all. If you've little experience in longer form prose (presuming you want to write novels( then you might get more from a course if you break some ground first to learn about your strengths and weaknesses as well as developing the habit of writing creative prose.

I don't want to sound patronising but have you really tried 'just writing'? Actually sitting at a desk with the initial idea, whether a scene or a character or a problem or working backwards from an ending?

If you are a planner then write a synopsis then chapter plan.
If you are a seat of the pants writer then just write forwards or backwards.

You can edit later, discard a beginning or start further back.

Good luck.

@Zilla1 i do struggle to 'get going' and I feel like I don't have a lot of direction. I thought a course might help inspire me and get me to focus. Left to my own devices I just procrastinate but if I had some accountability it might help kick start me.
I don't know if I have a novel in me but I do want to make more from my writing whether it be more copywriting, blogging or whatever. I just have very little direction at the minute.

I can see the logic in joining a course and having to meet deadlines for group review of work if you can't find a writing buddy or group you chime with or can't make yourself write now.

Let's hope the CW course is a step on the journey to being able to work on an idea and drive it to completion yourself and the novel you start on the course gets picked up.

Good luck.

I would recommend this free course via Future Learning in collaboration with OU:

www.futurelearn.com/courses/start-writing-fiction

You could also start with a book - Dorothea Brande's book Becoming a Writer is very good. Natalie Goldberg's book Writing down the bones also, and there are sure to be hundreds of others.
The trouble with writing - also the beauty of it - is that there is no set route. If you have done years of copywriting you have already got some experience.
When I first studied creative writing we read a lot and tried to write in the same style. Read a lot, write, try things out. Mslexia is a great magazine for writers with lots of ideas - if you read through their digital back issues you will get a much better picture of the whole publishing industry, which helps, and they run some great competitions.

Thanks, CupcakeEater, that course looks really good.
@Patbutcherismyhero, I've signed up for the October run. See you there?
I've actually already written a novel, but since having kids I'm struggling to get back to it, and also would like to learn more to hopefully improve the next one.