Learning to Publish: Contemporary Forms & Practices
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ENGL4271 | English | 4 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- ENGL4271
- School
- English
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module is designed to introduce students to the broad publishing landscape, including: journals, small presses, online writing and social media. Students will explore the landscape of contemporary literary journals both offline and online, and study the practical skills needed to research, write, edit and publish writing across a range of forms and platforms. The module will be structured around practical work in support of The Letters Page literary journal, and will be a mixture of lecture-style content on relevant topics and practical writing workshops.
Target Students
Only available to on-site postgraduate students in the School of English.
Classes
- One 2-hour workshop each week for 11 weeks
Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only in specified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takes place in some weeks of a Semester
Assessment
- 70% Coursework 1: A creative publication in a format agreed with the module convenor (2000 words). A short report that contextualises your publication and records the practical and creative stages of its production (500 words). A critical-creative response to a draft version of a publication of a colleague (500 words).
- 30% Coursework 2: Critical Essay - 1,500 words
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
This module aims to provide students with:an introduction to shorter forms of creative writing outside the traditions of fiction, poetry, and the essay.an introduction to literary journal culture and practicesengagement with literary communities and networkspractical skills of professional writing and editing practicespractical experience of publishing practicesthe ability to reflect on and analyse their own writing practicesLearning Outcomes
a) Knowledge and Understanding:
- of the culture and practice of literary journals and online writing
- of the role of informal writing within literary production
b) Intellectual Skills:
- ability to research a topic and write concisely on that research
- ability to tailor writing technique and style according to requirements
- ability to contextualise a student's own writing techniques and standards within a wider creative writing and publishing landscape
c) Professional Practical Skills:
- writing and presenting work to professional standards - clear, concise, grammatically correct, accurate - to requirement and deadline
- use of professional techniques; interviewing, copy-editing, use of online publishing platforms, adherence to print publishing conventions
d) Transferable (Key) Skills:
- communicating effectively in written and oral work
- working to professional industry standards
- collaborating with peers and industry professionals