Course description

• This programme offers you a range of opportunities to learn, research and workshop different approaches to creative writing and critically reflect on your practice.

• 100% of students said that they were overall satisfied with this course, according to the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, 2021.

• The course will develop your creative writing; be that in prose, poetry, life writing, creative non-fiction, script-writing for films, plays or video games or any combination of the above and more! In addition, we offer industry-focused pathways:
  
  • Creative Writing for Gaming focuses on script and narrative design in a variety of games (such as role playing games and video games)
  • Creative Writing with Publishing enables students to work on book production by taking modules from our MA in Publishing.
• The degree has a strong focus on employability. Students get the opportunity to pitch their work to a literary agent. Plus they receive advice from experienced writers including guidance on contracts and tax, the business of publishing and how to run a workshop.

• The course gives all students the opportunity to undertake arranged work experience in the arts or in communication. In 2022/2023, students were given the opportunity to work on the prestigious Writer’s Conference with the organisation Writing East Midlands. Graduates leave this MA with a portfolio of their own writing, prepared for a career as arts professionals or for progression to doctoral level study and teaching.

• In 2019/20, we had talks from twenty guest speakers and students took part in writing retreats, each with a guest lecture on writing and publishing. Our students have learnt from poets and novelists, literary agents and established screenwriters. In recent years we have had guest lectures by Dan Abnett, Meg Clothier, Sarah Dunnakey, Tom James, Momtaza Mehri, Natalie Olah, JT Welsch and James Wills.

How you will learn

The teaching takes a variety of forms, preparing you for the creative, intellectual and practical challenges of working as a writer You are taught by lectures, tutor-led seminars and workshops, where students reflect on critical approaches to literature or create and share work in response to briefs and exercises. Guest speakers enrich student experience by adding their knowledge and insights to industry-focused modules.

Who will teach you

Adrian Buckner is a poet. He is particularly interested in the exemplary power of poetry to inspire students. His most recent collection, Downshifting, was published by Five Leaves Press in April 2107. Adrian is also an extremely enthusiastic amateur cricketer of long experience and notably limited ability.

Dr Christos Callow Jr is a scriptwriter, theatre maker and researcher, and the artistic director of the contemporary Greek and science-fiction theatre company Cyborphic. The focus of his own writing practice is science fiction, utopian/dystopian literature and science fiction theatre.

Dr Matthew Cheeseman is a novelist. He works across fiction and non-fiction, drawing on critical theory and cultural studies, often collaborating with others to create books and pamphlets. He runs the small press Spirit Duplicator and loves making things.

Matthew Clegg is a narrative and lyric poet and performer. His creative practice touches on edge-land landscapes, human predicaments (especially the marginalised or disenfranchised), and the relationship between voice, personae, and place. His influences are catholic, including the classics in translation, Romantic, Modernist and contemporary poetry, New Nature Writing, and Psychogeography.

Dr Simon Heywood is a novelist and storyteller. He holds a PhD on contemporary storytelling from Sheffield University’s National Centre for English Cultural Tradition. He is the author of 'The Legend of Vortigern' (History Press, 2012) and 'South Yorkshire Folktales' (with Damien Barker, History Press 2014). He has toured nationally and internationally in live and contemporary storytelling, and is currently engaged in original research on modern and historical Jewish storytelling and oral tradition.

Dr Moy McCrory is a short story writer and creative writing researcher. She is interested in Irish writing with special attention to the role of women within the Irish diaspora. She has also collaborated on a number of graphic novels.

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