Module Information

This is the introductory module for students beginning their studies of Creative Writing and will provide core Creative Writing skills/knowledge and teach important techniques of creativity which novice writers will benefit from understanding. Students will be introduced to elements of good practice and common errors, as well as to a broad range of issues and skills including the use of self-reflexive commentaries and bibliographies. Assessment for this module is varied and designed to provide regular opportunities for formative feedback as well as traditional summative tasks

It will be delivered through a range of learning environments, with lectures used for the introduction of key material, seminars used for small-group discussion of lecture content, and writing labs used to hone skills, conduct exercises, and to gain feedback from tutors and peers on writing intended for the assignments. The module will provide students with the basic knowledge needed for the successful writing of fiction and poetry. In all cases there will be an emphasis on technical skills and on providing a foundation of knowledge and technique that students can build on in the rest of their degree course.

Semester 1
Week 1 Lecture 1 Welcome to Your Imagination 1
Seminar 1 What Is Creative Practice? {Produce a short reflective paragraph on own creative goals for the year}

Week 2 Lecture 2 Academic Creative Practice 1
Writing Lab 1 The Basics: Structuring Sentences and Paragraphs

Week 3 Lecture 3 Welcome to Your Imagination 2
Seminar 2 Creative Practice in University {Produce a short commentary on the scene written for the Lab.}

Week 4 Lecture 4 Academic Creative Practice 2
Writing Lab 2 Problem-based learning task (variations on a scene)

Week 5 Lecture 5 What We Talk about When We Talk About Language 1
Seminar 3 Problem-based learning task (elegant variation) {Write a short but image-rich scene or poem}

Week 6 Lecture 6 What We Talk about When We Talk About Language 2
Writing Lab 3 Enriching our work with images

Week 7 Lecture 7 Character Produce a biography of a character you are working
Seminar 4 Problem-based learning task (create a character)

Week 8 Lecture 8 Character 2
Writing Lab 4 Characters in action

Week 9 Lecture 9 Narrative time 1
Seminar 5 Semester 1 Round-Up: Putting it all Together {Produce a draft bibliography for a piece currently in progress}

Week 10 Lecture 10 Other Ways 1
Writing Lab 5 Assignment surgery 1

Semester 2
Week 1 Lecture 11 Seven Basic Plots 1
Seminar 6 Problem-based learning task (outlining a plot) {Write a short outline of a story which corresponds to one of the basic plots}

Week 2 Lecture 12 Seven Basic Plots 2
Writing Lab 6 The plot thickens…

Week 3 Lecture 13 Better Writing Through Reading 1
Seminar 7 Problem-based learning task (critical reading for creatives) {Write a short analytical review of a story/novel}

Week 4 Lecture 14 Better Writing Through Reading 2
Writing Lab 7 Methods of integrating secondary material in commentaries

Week 5 Lecture 15 Originality
Seminar 8 Strategies for creating original writing {Provide a plot outline for a well-known story reworked as a different genre}

Week 6 Lecture 16 Narrative time 2
Writing Lab 8 A taste of transpositions

Week 7 Lecture 17 Narrative Modes and Style
Seminar 9 Problem-based learning task (approaches to poetry) {Copy editing task/grammar test}

Week 8 Lecture 18 Something Beginning with ‘P’: The Power and Possibilities of Poetry
Writing Lab 9 Editing for Creative Writers

Week 9 Lecture 19 Literature and Technology
Seminar 10 Semester 2 Round-Up: Putting it all together

Week 10 Lecture 20 Other Ways 2
Writing Lab 10 Assignment surgery 2 {Write a short reflective paragraph on your own creative development during the year}