Creative and Professional Writing, BA - 2016/17

If someone loves words and thinks they could make a living from them, this course could be just what they are after. While we are keen to help people develop their own creativity and distinctive ‘voice’, there is also a strong emphasis on commercial writing − for newspapers and magazines, and scripting for TV and radio, for example. And a key part of this programme is marketing − so students learn how to sell their own work and make themselves as employable as possible. Sessions are largely workshop-based, with presentations and discussions stemming directly from students’ own work. Writing in a variety of styles, voices, and genres, they hone their craft while developing their own distinctive style and technique. All this time, they are inspired by a rich heritage of literary talent both from around the world and on their doorstep: professional writers with a national and international reputation who live and work in our community will be teaching on the course, and students will also study some of the most inspiring literature published in English over the last five hundred years. We want students to be able to make a good living out of this exciting world, so we help them prepare for it. They cover marketing and editing their work and develop some further commercial skills in TV and screen-writing. They also get to grips with the sharp end of the profession, as they edit our own University newspaper and learn all about the marketing and publicity that they will need to get noticed. Students on this programme are also eligible to apply to study for a year in North America as part of their degree.