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Students who approach their studies in a systematic and organized manner are more likely to complete the course successfully than are those who do not plan a course of action for themselves. You are advised, therefore, to follow a study schedule to assist you in budgeting your time and scheduling your progress.

Be sure to call your tutor if you have difficulty with the material or if you are unable to follow the schedule as suggested. If you find yourself falling behind in your course work, contact your tutor immediately. He or she will be able to advise you as to what options are available to you. You may, of course, proceed more quickly than is suggested by this schedule.

Readings assigned in the Study Guide come from the textbooks Writing Fiction or On Becoming a Novelist, or in the Reading File. Take special note of the weeks when writing assignments are due and note that Assignment 2 includes two critiques, to be submitted on different weeks.

Week 1 Begin Unit 1: The Writing Process.
Week 2 Complete Unit 1.
Week 3 Write your first draft of Assignment 1: A first chapter or story. Familiarize yourself with the course discussion board.
  Begin Unit 2: Reading Critically.
Weeks 4–6 Complete Unit 2: Reading Critically.
Week 7 Complete Assignment 1 and send it to your tutor with a Tutor-marked Exercise form.
  Post Assignment 1 to the course discussion board.
Week 8 Begin Unit 3: Creating Character.
Week 9 Complete Unit 3: Creating Character.
  Complete Assignment 2, Part I: Critique of posting by a fellow student, and send it to your tutor with a Tutor-marked Exercise form.
  Post Assignment 2, Part I to the course discussion board.
Week 10 Complete Assignment 3: A chapter or story, and send it to your tutor with a Tutor-marked Exercise form.
Week 11 Begin Unit 4: Creating a Structure.
Week 12 Complete Assignment 2, Part II: Second critique or outline for a novel, and send it to your tutor with a Tutor-marked Exercise form.
  Post Assignment 2, Part II (critique, if applicable) to the course discussion board.
  Complete Unit 4: Creating a Structure.
Week 13 Begin Unit 5: Style.
Week 14 Complete Assignment 4: A chapter or story, and send it to your tutor with a Tutor-marked Exercise form.
  Continue working on Unit 5: Style.
Week 15 Complete Unit 5: Style.
  Begin Assignment 5: A revision of Assignment 1, 3, or 4.
  Begin Unit 6: Revision
Week 16 Complete Unit 6: Revision.
Week 17 Complete Assignment 5: Revision of assignment 1, 3, or 4, and send it to your tutor with a Tutor-marked Exercise form.

Congratulations on completing the course!

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