MA Creative Writing

Summary 2012/13

• Join a programme that combines intensive workshops concentrating on your writing with the detailed study of the literary field you have chosen;
• Develop your creative work and aim towards producing a final manuscript for possible publication;
• Keep a professional development log to assess the way you are entering the literary world in terms of publishing and/or other activities.

This is a programme for practising writers who wish to improve their craft, learn about contemporary forms of writing and continue to reflect on their progress. This is in both terms of a distinctive philosophy of writing (to answer the question, ‘What kind of writer am I?’), and in terms of the practicalities of making creative work public.

2012 Entry Requirements

To join this MA, candidates should normally possess a good honours degree (2:2 or above) or a degree with additional academic support, such as a diploma or comparable qualification, in a professional field.

Academic training in an arts subject is an advantage but a commitment to writing as a practice (at whatever stage in a writing career) is more important. A general willingness to participate and be self-critical and analytical is also important. A key part of the entry process is the presentation of a portfolio of your creative work (5,000 words of fiction, a group of 10-15 poems or a script of 30 minutes or longer).

Details

Who is this course for?

This Masters degree is for writers who have some experience of writing fiction, poetry or prose, but who are not necessarily published and who wish to further this writing within the academic context of creative writing as an academic discipline.

What will I gain from this programme?

You will work with a core team of three professional writers and other professionals to develop your creative work and nurture an understanding about the nature of your continuing creativity, aiming towards producing a final manuscript for possible publication.

How we will support you

You will work with the programme leader who acts as a personal tutor. Your final manuscript will involve working in one-to-one tutorial situations with a chosen tutor with expertise in your area.

What will I study?

You will begin straight away to experience the benefits of the regular workshops that form an integral part of the programme. You will discuss the work of others on the MA as well as learning from their discussion of your work. You will also receive tutor feedback.

You will study a variety of contemporary literature which will feed into your writing where needed, along with a study of the poetics of contemporary writers (that is, the things writers have written about their own writing philosophies and practices). The aim is to influence your practical development, allowing you to develop your own poetics and philosophy of composition.

In the first weeks of your course you will also work on an individual project about an aspect of the literary world of your choice (whether that be a submission of a play or film script, running a magazine or acquiring a literary agent). You will also compile a professional development audit of your activities so far (which may not be extensive, of course). You will be asked to keep a log throughout the programme to enable you to track your development.

The ethos of this programme is expressed in terms of activities, experiences and types of assessment:

The activity of writing is primary and it follows that:

Workshop participation is central to the experience of the programme;

Reading as a Writer is recognised as a necessary correlative to writing as a practice;

Poetics is central to the philosophy of the programme, as a speculative writerly discourse about how writing is to be made.

How will I study?

The writing workshops are always taught in small groups, but the discussion groups involve seminars with a lecture component.

During the manuscript module (a dissertation) you will work one-to-one with your manuscript supervisor, bringing your months of study to a final creative fruition. All the modules you will take have been designed specifically for writers.

This is not the kind of ‘creative writing’ course that requires you to pick from already existing English Literature modules.

Who will be teaching me?

A core team of three teach on the programme. These are novelist and short story writer Dr Ailsa Cox, poet-critic Professor Robert Sheppard and poet and translator Daniele Pantano. The team will be complemented by expert colleagues in the Department of English and History and also by visiting speakers.

How will I be assessed?

You will present your creative writing with a short example of poetics relating to the piece. You will write about works of contemporary literature and about the poetics of these writers, though you will approach these tasks from the perspective of a fellow-writer. All this work will help you develop towards the final piece of work, The Manuscript. The professional development audit and logs will be marked on a pass / fail basis.

What are my career prospects?

The thinking behind the professional development strand is that writers seldom exclusively work as writers, but need to learn to combine their principal involvement and passion for literary composition with other activities (whether they are of a literary nature or not).

Of course, as a Masters in a humanities subject you will find this qualification useful in a variety of professional contexts, such as in school teaching, which encourages staff to work at Masters level. It provides a sound basis for further study (e.g. PhD work in Creative Writing).

Further study at Edge Hill University

We have a growing number of students undertaking MPhil and Phd work in Creative Writing at Edge Hill University and particularly invite proposals in the area of poetry and fiction.

Related Programmes

• MA English
• MA History and Culture
• MA Popular Culture
• MA Women’s Narrative

A Great Study Environment

Based in 160 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Ormskirk Campus is a unique and inspirational place to study. Industry standard resources and cutting edge technology combine to make an interactive and highly advanced teaching and learning environment. Everything you could want is on one site with 25 acres of sport and leisure facilities, more than 1,000 rooms in halls of residence and fantastic modern spaces in which you can study and socialise.

The University library gives you access to thousands of books, journals, online resources and extensive PC and media provision. You'll get all the support you need to succeed, reflected in Edge Hill University being ranked in the top two in England for students' personal development, and the top three in the country for assessment and feedback, in the 2011 National Student Survey. The University is also featured in the top four in England for graduate employment.

How do I apply?

Apply online at www.ukpass.ac.uk.

Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/applyukpass for more information on the application process.

Fees and Finance

Tuition fees for the MA Creative Writing are £3,500pa for full-time study in academic year 2012/13. Part-time students on this programme in academic year 2012/13 will pay £1,750pa. Information for UK and EU students only.

Edge Hill graduates joining an eligible postgraduate programme at the University in academic year 2012/13 could benefit from a 20% reduction in tuition fees. If you're a UK or EU student and will be paying the fees yourself, you might be eligible to receive this discount. See www.edgehill.ac.uk/reducedfees for more information.

Not got the entry requirements?

You can still apply if your degree seems to be in an unrelated area, particularly if you have a strong portfolio of work demonstrating your ability and also a commitment to the ethos of the programme.

Where can I find out more?

If you would like to receive a copy of our prospectus or be kept updated about forthcoming events, contact the Course Information, Advice and Guidance Team by emailing study@edgehill.ac.uk or calling 01695 657000.

If you want to attend one of our open events held throughout the year, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/postgradopendays to book your place.

You will also find Edge Hill University staff at many postgraduate study fairs taking place across the UK and Ireland.

Still want more?

If you have any questions you would like to ask the programme leader about this course, please contact:

• Professor Robert Sheppard, Department of English and History, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire L39 4QP
• Tel: 01695 584252
• Email: shepparr@edgehill.ac.uk

Overseas students should visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/international or email international@edgehill.ac.uk for further information.

Modules

• MCW 4001 Research Methods in Creative Writing and Introduction to Poetics (20 credits)
• MCW 4002 Towards Submission (20 credits)
• MCW 4003 Word and Technique (Practice) (20 credits)
• MCW 4004 Word and Technique (Poetics) (20 credits)
• MCW 4005 World and Technique (Practice) (20 credits)
• MCW 4006 World and Technique (Poetics) (20 credits)
• MCW 4007 The Manuscript (60 credits)

You can exit the programme with a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or complete all the above modules for the MA.