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Write here, write now! New centre for creative and professional writing opens at UEL

Monday 25 September 2006

The University of East London (UEL) has opened a new Writing Centre to enable students to develop their skills in creative, professional and academic writing.

The new Centre opened in fine style on Thursday 20 September with a launch party including a reading from new UEL writer-in-residence, Millie Murray.

Millie Murray, whose appointment at UEL is sponsored by the Royal Literary Fund, has been a professional author for almost twenty years. She has published several novels and short stories, as well as writing for TV and radio comedy shows, including BBC 2’s The Real McCoy.

Millie will be among the lecturers and writers offering tutorial guidance at the UEL Writing Centre. Students will also be able to take part in writing workshops, attend literary events and contribute to a new UEL creative writing publication.   

The Centre’s opening party was also marked with a poetry reading from Tim Atkins, recently appointed Senior Lecturer in Creative and Professional Writing at UEL. Tim has taught creative writing in Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, London, San Francisco and New York, and is currently translating and updating the poems of Petrarch.

Tessa McWatt, Director of the new Writing Centre and Co-Programme Leader for UEL’s BA (Hons) degree in Creative and Professional Writing, said: “The new UEL Writing Centre has been established to allow our students to gain more personal advice and guidance towards their own academic, professional and creative writing.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for all of our students to develop and improve their writing, especially as they'll be able to work closely with such talented and experienced writers as Millie and Tim.”

UEL offers a range of programmes in Journalism and Creative and Professional Writing. A short evening course in Creative Writing is set to begin on Tuesday 26 September, while a new MA in Writing: Imaginative Practice will be launched in the new year.

For further details, contact Tessa McWatt on 020 8223 7237 or t.a.mcwatt@uel.ac.uk, or visit www.uel.ac.uk/ssmcs.

Ends/.

For details and pictures contact Patrick Wilson: 020 8223 2061 or 07951 797 975

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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