Module Information
Module Identifier
WR11020
Module Title
Beginning Creative Writing Part 1
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Reading List
Other Staff
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Portfolio 1 x 2000 word short story 1 x 1,000 word commentary 3000 Words | 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Portfolio 1 x 2000 word short story 1 x 1,000 word commentary 3000 Words | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge of narrative techniques used across a range of short prose, and the ability to apply these skills in their own creative writing.
Demonstrate an ability to work independently, developing critical and self-reflexive awareness of their own writing practice
Produce work that demonstrates focused reading and a sound understanding of critical context.
Demonstrate, by the revision of work previously developed in exercises, an ability to improve their critical and creative writing in response to feedback from peers and tutors.
Brief description
This module is Part One of Creative Writing: Developing Skills for Writing and Reflection. Part One introduces the students to the basic structures of a range of short prose narratives and the techniques used in their construction. It explores ways in which writers engage with research for their writing, and the literary contexts in which they can place their work. Part One focusses on honing plots, character and structure, specifically for producing short stories; and developing research and reflective skills for writing critical commentaries.
The students will participate in weekly seminar/workshops and engage with 10 podcasts. They will participate in close reading (of short stories, critical work and their own and peers work; group work (discussion, exercises and workshopping); and independent study (reading, writing, and research). The module is designed to provide regular opportunities for formative feedback as well as summative feedback.
The students will participate in weekly seminar/workshops and engage with 10 podcasts. They will participate in close reading (of short stories, critical work and their own and peers work; group work (discussion, exercises and workshopping); and independent study (reading, writing, and research). The module is designed to provide regular opportunities for formative feedback as well as summative feedback.
Aims
To introduce students to the concept of creative and critical practice, enabling them to develop research, reflection and writing skills that they will use on all modules.
To Introduce them to effective ways of studying and working within an undergraduate setting through: group work; close reading; and effective independent study.
To Introduce them to effective ways of studying and working within an undergraduate setting through: group work; close reading; and effective independent study.
Content
1. Introduction to module. What work will you be producing for assessment? How will you be developing your skills as a writer.
2. Brevity. The very short story. Plots and characters for the shortest of stories. (Reading, discussion and exercise).
3. Developing character/s for a short story. What do you need to know? What does the reader need to know? (Workshop, discussion and reflection).
4. Research & the Critical Commentary – What do you need to know? Students are invited to think about possible research that relates to their writing in terms of research to inform their creative writing, and after, their critical commentary (reading, discussion and exercise).
5. Research & the Critical Commentary - Literary Context What do you write and what literature do read? Is your interest in a genre? Is it a theme, plot type, setting? Students are invited to consider these questions, and research other authors’ works in a similar area of interest. (Workshop and discussion)
6. Structure: Beginning, Middle and Endings. Structuring the short story. Focus on different approaches to openings and endings. (Reading, discussion and exercise)
7. Structure: Time frames for short work and playing with time and pace: How does time work in a short piece. Flashbacks and moves forward. (Exercise and workshop)
8. Descriptive Writing. Balance: The art of showing and telling. Different approaches to exposition and descriptive writing. (Discussion and exercises).
9. Descriptive writing. Making every word count. The skills of editing and succinct writing. Writing to word counts. (Workshop and Exercises)
10. Outro: reflection on what you have learned. Developing and refining work for the assignment. (Discussion and workshop)
2. Brevity. The very short story. Plots and characters for the shortest of stories. (Reading, discussion and exercise).
3. Developing character/s for a short story. What do you need to know? What does the reader need to know? (Workshop, discussion and reflection).
4. Research & the Critical Commentary – What do you need to know? Students are invited to think about possible research that relates to their writing in terms of research to inform their creative writing, and after, their critical commentary (reading, discussion and exercise).
5. Research & the Critical Commentary - Literary Context What do you write and what literature do read? Is your interest in a genre? Is it a theme, plot type, setting? Students are invited to consider these questions, and research other authors’ works in a similar area of interest. (Workshop and discussion)
6. Structure: Beginning, Middle and Endings. Structuring the short story. Focus on different approaches to openings and endings. (Reading, discussion and exercise)
7. Structure: Time frames for short work and playing with time and pace: How does time work in a short piece. Flashbacks and moves forward. (Exercise and workshop)
8. Descriptive Writing. Balance: The art of showing and telling. Different approaches to exposition and descriptive writing. (Discussion and exercises).
9. Descriptive writing. Making every word count. The skills of editing and succinct writing. Writing to word counts. (Workshop and Exercises)
10. Outro: reflection on what you have learned. Developing and refining work for the assignment. (Discussion and workshop)
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Co-ordinating with others | Participation and collaboration in workshops and seminars |
| Creative Problem Solving | Dealing with the technical problems of writing fiction and critical reflection, including the correct use of conventions and English usage. |
| Digital capability | Use of word-processing skills to prepare and submit portfolios, accessing material on Blackboard, use of digital resources for research. |
| Professional communication | Written communication in assessed work, oral communication in seminars and workshops. |
| Real world sense | Developing writing for wide audience |
| Reflection | Reflecting on responses to feedback from peers and tutors. Reflecting upon their own work to improve and develop skills, applying this to assessment. |
| Subject Specific Skills | developing and improving narrative and structuring techniques in producing short pieces of prose. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4