This MA offers an exciting, mixed-genre approach to writing, allowing students to hone their writing through critical creative practice. The MA combines the strengths of many programmes (Theatre Studies, Film, Creative Writing), allowing students fertile ground for experimentation and the possibility to break out of old forms and traditional restrictions. The programme is delivered by distance learning, using a virtual classroom environment and virtual learning environment that facilitates live and pre-recorded presentations, discussions, collaborative chat sessions, as well as facilities for reflective writing. There is also a large repository of online resources and formative exercises.

The MA in Writing: Imaginative Practice develops creativity, creative writing skills and creative experience in a supportive and challenging environment.

• Taught online, via distance learning methods by a team of renowned writers with international experience.
• Focus on new writing: expand personal frontiers; create hybrid forms.
• Practice as research approach.
• Emphasis on producing work for publication/performance/production that expresses contemporary writing and the cosmopolitan and international flavour of our university.
• Interdisciplinary workshops in drama, music, new media, film, fiction, and new poetic forms.
• Students are encouraged to explore the areas of Realisms, Genre, and Adaptation, leading to preparation for a practice-based dissertation.
• Instruction on dissemination of outputs, including an examination of the issues surrounding access to distribution channels, agents, publishing, performance contexts, and alternatives to traditional avenues, including the Internet and the future of publishing.

We require a first degree (2.1 or above), in addition to an interview and submission of a portfolio of creative writing. Applicants with a degree or equivalent experience, who may not meet the entrance criteria above, but who can demonstrate their potential as writers and a strong desire to participate in the programme, are encouraged to apply.

The programme comprises of four 30-credit modules entitled ‘Experience’, ‘Adaption’, ‘Genre’ and ‘Research Methods in Creative Practice’, and a 60-credit module entitled ‘Practiced Based Dissertation’.
We expect distance learning students to study the programme over two years or more on a part-time basis. To complete the programme over two years students would study as follows:

Year 1:

Semester A : Experience: Encounters with the Real

Semester B: Adaptation: Transformation and Form

Year 2:

Semester A: Genre: Explorations of Expression

Semester B: Research Methods in Creative Practice

Semester C (Summer): Practice-based Dissertation

Subject to student numbers we may offer the programme for study over one year on a full time basis as follows:

Semester A: Experience; Genre

Semester B: Adaptation; Research Methods in Creative Practice

Semester C (Summer): Practice-based Dissertation

The core of the programme is the development of students’ writing through online workshops, webinars, contribution to reflective blogs, and supervision towards a practice‑based dissertation. Each module is divided into a writing segment where students present and discuss their writing in a virtual classroom, and a critical segment in which essential works are given close textural readings, and elements of craft are explored through exercises and online presentations. As a result, students engage in both writing and literature – the creative and critical aspects of the MA.

Both formative and summative assessment takes place as part of each module as follows:

• through contributions to online discussions and a reflective blog
• the portfolio – the place where the critical and creative thinking is developed and demonstrated. This is shown through a variety of tasks and outputs, ranging from, for example, weekly writing assignments responding to specific briefs, to peer feedback and reflection on feedback, and to critical engagement with readings
• students are required to submit drafts of their creative writing and to receive feedback on this writing. This constitutes formative assessment in the sense that they must submit these drafts in order to demonstrate progress towards their final pieces. Such final pieces are then summatively assessed on the basis of evidence of the development from initial drafts
• it is likely that multiple drafts of creative pieces will be produced by students, and may be read and given feedback by both students and tutors
• emphasis on self-editing – evidence of several levels of revision
• demonstration of engagement with research, observation, structuring, development of voice and refinement of style
• critical analysis should contextualise students’ work within the genre as well as in relation to contemporary authors and published work, including theory
• evidence of collaboration or interaction in research or development of dissertation project with supervisor and other sources of feedback, including students/sectors in the school (performance art, media, journalism, music)
• evidence of use forms and structures in different contexts
• critical reading and analysis of published work
• self-reflective critique: evaluation should discuss formative elements over the course of the degree.

Final pieces completed for summative assessment may be in forms other than the traditional written form (e.g. reflective blog or performance of a poem).

Many of the skills students will acquire during their degree course will be highly valued in the workplace: clarity of expression and accuracy in written work, for example, and the ability to critically examine, analyse and reflect. In addition, during the course of the degree students will develop skills that are essential to any profession: self management, organisation and planning, the ability to work collaboratively, and to attend to both the smaller details and the larger picture.

The dissertation is an opportunity for the student to develop and produce a substantial piece of work that has probably, but not necessarily, arisen from writing produced in the core modules. The dissertation may focus on one style/form of writing or allow for differing creative forms to be integrated into the final body of work. For example, the student might mix poetic forms and fiction, or visual treatments and another form. Research as practice methodology will provide students with a deeper understanding of writing as well as their own creative process. A critical reflection on practice, theory, and the context of the student’s final work, which may be in the form of a reflective blog or traditional written piece will also be an important part of the dissertation.

By offering a multi-disciplinary, thematic approach, and by focussing student attention on new forms, new technologies and ‘Writing for the 21st Century’, the MA in Writing will not only appeal to students from a wide background of interests, it will provide them with the diverse expertise of the participating faculty, allowing potentially unique creative output.

While the programme will provide the groundwork for future novelists and writers working in poetic forms (whether that be in the printed word, music, or art installation), there will also be, among the graduates, emerging dramaturges, with skills in script development and an engagement in critical approaches to performance writing. These skills can lead to careers in both the performing arts and the film and television industry as script readers and editors, as well as providing a firm foundation for those interested in becoming future theatre directors, playwrights, and screenwriters.

• Support from a personal tutor, dissertation supervisor and specialist distance learning
  student advisor
• Individual feedback on your writing, through email and online chat
• Individual online tutorials from module leaders and tutors
• Research as practice training, skills support, including IT and learning resources
• University-wide support network, student finance advice, careers advice, and help from the student support office
• Access to Royal Literary Fund Fellow in Writing Centre.

• Guest webinars from professional writers, agents, producers, directors, publishers
• Annual Literary Festival
• Writing Centre for activities, support and international exchanges
• E-zine of Students’ Writing
• Performance space for workshopping writing
• Tutors are practising professionals in their field
• Small student cohort; individual attention
• Innovative use of multimedia and elearning in an online platform.