Creative Writing: Conventions and Techniques

Code

ENGL4147

School

English

Level

4

Credits

20

Semesters

Autumn UK

Summary

This module enables students to develop their creative writing skills through a range of activities that includes group discussions, exercises, and workshops led by the tutor. Students are encouraged to develop their own creative practice through an examination of a range of ideas and techniques. These sessions may be accompanied by individual meetings with the tutor for contextualization of feedback and commentary as well as further guidance required for the development and revision of selected work. Matters such as reviews, publication, public readings, and the teaching of creative writing may be included as ways of examining the context of creative practice. As a result of these activities, students learn how to incorporate the responses of others into their revisions, develop a more productive writing process, and become better editors of their own work.

Target Students

Only available to on-site postgraduate students in the School of English.

Classes

• One 2-hour workshop each week for 11 weeks

Assessment

• 30% Coursework 1: Essay of 1,500 words
• 70% Coursework 2: Portfolio of original writing, taking into account considerations specific to literary form, as agreed with the tutors. This could include, for example, a) 3500 words fiction, b) up to 6 poems, c) up to 3 poems & 1500 words fiction

Assessed by end of autumn semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

(a) Knowledge and understanding of:

• the process of editorial feedback and revision as it relates to creative work
• critical perspectives on works in progress
• constructive responses to works in progress
• elements of fiction, including narrative voice and technique, point of view, character development, dialogue, plot, and setting
• elements of poetry, including form, metre, prosody

(b) Knowledge and understanding of:

• the process of editorial feedback and revision as it relates to creative work
• critical perspectives on works in progress
• constructive responses to works in progress
• elements of fiction, including narrative voice and technique, point of view, character development, dialogue, plot, and setting
• elements of poetry, including form, metre, prosody

(c) Professional practical skills

• the ability to develop a work in progress in accordance with the responses of others
• the ability to operate within a peer-supported environment
• the ability to represent one’s work in a professional context

(d) Transferable (key) skills

• the ability to reflect upon and assess progress of oneself and others
• the ability to represent oneself in a professional setting

Conveners

• Dr Thomas Legendre