MA Creative Writing

This is a practical module that aims to give you a chance to adapt. It will examine the field of adaptation studies to see how issues like staying faithful to the original, or the different affordances that different media provide, impact upon the actual act of adapting one type of text into another e.g., novels into screenplays and vice versa; novels into interactive media experiences; the written word into the spoken word (novels into radio); the spoken word into audio-visual media and so on. But this theory will be used to underpin creative practice, which is what this module is about.

The syllabus will typically include some of the following topics (or similar):
• Trans/Interdisciplinary definitions of adaptation
• Meanings of adaptation: translation, transfer, transformation, appropriation, assimilation, intervention
• Adaptation as an intertextual, intercultural, inter-medial operation
• Adaptation across media: literature, theatre, film, TV, comics, video games, interactive storytelling, fine arts
• The underpinnings of the practice of adaptation
• The practice of adaptation across media: Legal and ethical considerations

Further information

The purpose of this trimester is to examine the changing role of the author over the years, as well as the realities of authorship in the 21st century. Throughout the trimester, you will develop your understanding of yourself as an author and of your place within the industry as a whole. You will do this by undertaking original research within a specific area of the publishing industry, and by defining how you might disrupt or invigorate it. You will begin by exploring the areas of professional practice that many authors pursue alongside their writing in order to build sustainable careers. These include teaching creative writing, self-publishing, digital platforms, community engagement, and live events. After selecting an area of professional practice to investigate further, you will decide upon a research question; carry out practical research; investigate relevant theory texts; and submit your findings in the form of a research essay. You will then be required to present concept documents for use within your chosen professional practice areas, describing problems you have identified and proposing potential solutions or demonstrating best practice. Overall, this will enable you to become a responsible, literary citizen as your progress through your career as an author and creative professional.

Further information

This module focuses on concepts, skills and techniques for the pre-writing development of a full-length narrative project. Each session examines a particular element of pre-writing, building into a complete process you can use to hone and shape a potential novel, graphic novel, or screenplay or other narrative project. The first few sessions interrogate the initial stages of your creative process, such as defining the purpose of your work, and examining ways to develop ideas into stories. Next you will explore thematic architecture and linguistic development to enrich your world-building and create a purposeful network of themes and ideas underpinning your narrative. The following weeks are devoted to characterisation and structure, helping you build unique characters and define the most appropriate choice of tone and narrative position(s) for your project. Plot and synopsis writing sessions give you the tools to shape a compelling journey for your project and its characters while embracing the challenges of perfect pacing and elegant exposition.

Further information

Major Project is the culmination of all your learning on the MA. Depending on your chosen specialism it’s an opportunity to begin your novel in earnest and plan its path to publication, or to produce a high quality showcase of work in another medium, which can be used to approach agents, publishers, producers or developers. The module begins with a detailed induction session, to help you focus on the challenges ahead. After which, you’ll embark on intensive individual work, supported by three one-to-one supervision sessions of one hour and 20 minutes. A week before each session you’ll send up to 5,000 words of work-in-progress to your supervisor for feedback, problem-solving and discussion. You can also use supervision sessions to discuss your reading, research, critical reflection and personal development planning. Following Major Project marking, you’ll have a final one-to-one tutorial to discuss your Professional Development Plan, where the programme’s tutors will offer detailed advice on the next steps in your career.

Further information

Over the course of a series of seminars, workshops and tutorials you will develop a portfolio of creative work, including one polished draft of a 30' screenplay together with accompanying pitch and presentational documents. Following the model of a professional script development process, you will deliver a range of written work - outlines, treatments and various drafts of the script - with formative feedback on work in progress from the module leader, an individual tutor and fellow students. There is a focus on television drama and comedy in this module looking at TV series and the growing demand for returnable, long-running shows. While the module will study this fast-changing landscape, you are also encouraged to find your own voice and to write your own 'calling card script' which can serve as an entry point into the industry. Over 12 weeks, you will develop a thirty-minute script from idea to a polished final draft. Students are encouraged to read and feedback on each others work in weekly workshops. Tutors will also give feedback with individual tutorials scheduled throughout the trimester. The focus of this module is on the craft of screenwriting. It aims to develop your technical skills and a critical awareness of the various possibilities and demands of the form. The trimester ends with a chance for you to present your ideas to a panel of industry guests for feedback and advice.

Further information

This module introduces you to and enhances your understanding of writing for the genres and sub-genres of fantasy, crime, horror and science fiction. It begins by investigating the core techniques and current trends in these areas. You will augment writing practice skills developed in the first trimester by undertaking frequent writing challenges and honing your critical self-reflexivity, aided by formative masterclass feedback. Addressing, challenging and subverting audience expectations is the focus for the final weeks, alongside writing for particular markets. This module has an all fiction reading list from the cutting edge of current genre writing.

Further information

In this module, you will focus on the practical application of a range of professional writingtechniques, and on building the vital skills of pre-writing decision making, critical self-reflection and engaging with editorial feedback. The module is a development journey,beginning with an overview of narrative positions and key terminology. Next, you willexplore the foundational principles of various narrative positions, including condition ofnarration, device and register. You will then begin to practise more complex techniques,such as subtext and counter narrative, the unreliable narrator and positioning an activereader. Through writing challenges and masterclass discussions, you will learn how tomake fast, purposeful decisions about a story before writing, how to craft short pieces tobriefs and deadlines, and how to critically analyse and improve upon early drafts. As wellas gaining a detailed understanding of the opportunities and demands of differentnarrative positions, you will develop the core professional practices you will need to makethe most of your Creative Development and Editorial Development module, succeed inyour Major Project, and advance the rest of your writing career.

Further information

This module introduces you to and enhances your understanding of writing for the medium of graphic fiction. You will begin by developing core skills and techniques for creating graphic fiction narratives. Frequent writing challenges will help hone your critical self-reflexivity, aided by formative masterclass feedback. Visiting speakers will discuss their processes and career paths, illustrating the range of opportunities and individual approaches that flourish in this medium. You will be encouraged to forge creative partnerships enhancing your collaborative skills. Writing graphic fiction for particular markets and building challenging audience expectations is the focus during the final weeks of this module.

Further information