Writing for Creative and Professional Practice MA/PGDip

Course content

What will you study on the MA/PG Dip Writing for Creative and Professional Practice?

Taught by a diverse range of academics, writers, publishers and media practitioners, this course is divided into five modules taken over three terms (if studied full time). Each module is designed to be flexible, allowing you to bring your own writing interests and projects to the assignments while extending the boundaries of your current practice through self-reflection, research, analysis, and creative exploration.

There are two core modules on this course and additional module options covering more specialist areas of Writing for Creative and Professional Practice. The first two core modules in Term 1 are compulsory and you are required to take two further optional modules in Term 2 for a PG Diploma, plus a 60 credit Dissertation for the full MA.

This module explores how the increasing variety of communication tools in the 21st century impact on creative writing. Delivered through weekly workshops to allow platforms, writers, genres, themes and ideas to be introduced in an interactive environment, you will develop the skills and knowledge to become an effective cross-genre writer. By identifying and targeting specific markets, you'll explore different types of text outputs, individually and collaboratively, while maintaining your own professional objectives.

This module explores how stories function in both fiction and non-fiction forms with particular focus on how they involve readers and communicate compelling messages about the world. Delivered through weekly workshops and critical analysis of your writing, you will develop key storytelling skills as well as valuable skills in research and theoretical understanding of the contemporary and historical devices used in writing.

This module explores the contemporary publishing scene for both fiction and non-fiction, equipping you with valuable insights into how the industry works and the issues it faces. Delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and guided independent research, you will develop professional skills in researching markets and the needs of creative writers and how to apply this knowledge practically.

This module focuses on how to plot a sustained, multi-layered narrative while exploring how to structure a story for maximum impact in relation to both subject and your chosen medium. Delivered primarily through workshopping of your writing, you will develop a crucial understanding of the ways in which subject choice and medium affect structure, with the opportunity to focus as the module progresses on building a sustained narrative.

Your final dissertation is an opportunity for you to take all the knowledge and skills you have acquired in the preceding modules and apply them to an independent research project that includes a sustained original narrative with accompanying critical commentary that targets an identified market. This project could take many forms, such as short stories, novella, novel, drama, creative non-fiction and more. Whichever medium you choose for you final dissertation, it should demonstrate a substantial benefit to your professional career and/or provide a foundation for further academic research to MPhil/PhD.

You can find more information about this course in the programme specification. Module and programme information is indicative and may be subject to change.