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BA (Hons) Creative Writing course preparation

To help you feel prepared for your university studies, we’ve gathered together a range of course related activities including suggested reading, useful websites and some great things to do right now. Open the links below to find out more:

Pre-entry playlist

To help you prepare for your studies, we have put together a ‘Pre-Entry Playlist: Creative Writing‘. Watching this set of videos will give you the chance to:

  • Meet your course tutors and find out more about the programme.
  • Discover how your tutors will communicate with you.
  • Find out more about how you will learn and be assessed.
Watch your pre-entry playlist

Suggested reading

You’ll be given lots of information about which textbooks to read and introduced to the University Library, as well as the many ebooks we have for you to access, when you begin your studies in September.

In the meantime, there are a few suggested books you might like to read before starting your degree if you can. We don’t recommend rushing out to buy texts before you arrive but if you can pick some up second hand, borrow from a library or access online to read over the summer, we suggest:

General texts for Creative Writing:
WRI1018: Introduction to Poetry
WRI1019: Introduction to Fiction
WRI1020: Introduction to Scriptwriting
Additional texts for your chosen option

Useful websites

  • If you’re looking for something to read, have a look at the Poetry Foundation website.
  • Make sure to visit the Prospects website if you’re thinking about a future career in English.
  • You can also create an online To Do List here.

Things to try over the summer

 Here are a couple of ideas for you to try over the summer

  • Buy a notebook and use it to record ideas, snippets of overheard conversations, poems, short stories, etc.
  • Write in it everyday
  • Describe one incident in clear prose as though it were a passage from a novel you’d like to read
  • Write a haiku
  • Start your own blog
  • Read the first three issues of The Black Market Review
  • Join our Facebook group

Meet your programme leader:

Dr Kim Wiltshire
[email protected]

Additional ways to prepare

Preparing to start

This session examines how to make a successful transition to university. From planning your results day, accommodation and commuting tips, extra support available to you and general advice on uni life.

Watch the session

Find out more about who you are

The following information provides an insight into what to expect when coming to university along with some good advice on how to navigate some of the potential challenges you may face.

Start preparing yourself