Not really creative writing as such, more along the lines of “today write 500 words of non fiction about a historical event”, “tomorrow write a two way conversation, in the third person, about food.” Etc etc.

After failing to accept my place on an English literature course a decade ago, I’m long overdue some practice. Hopefully I will be doing some Open University education next year to rectify that error in judgment.

sorry, can’t help, was just wondering how long you spent checking your grammar and spellen before posting

(please reply in the manner of a well-to-do lady in the deep southern USA, circa 1850)

Not a guidebook exactly but is related. war of art steven pressfield is very good if your struggling to get it started. According to the writers i have known reading short stories are the best training, With Raymond Carver being a favourite.

Have you considered doing a creative writing MOOC to get you started?

tumblr has quite a community of amateur/fan fiction and writers, quite supportive as internet things go.

http://www.reddit.com/r/writingprompts

Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’? I found it insightful, entertaining and inspiring

Bird by Bird is a good inspiration

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bird-Instructions-Writing-Life/dp/0385480016