EL35YB: CREATIVE WRITING: CREATIVITY AND CRAFT

EL35YB: CREATIVE WRITING: CREATIVITY AND CRAFT (2014-2015)

Last modified: 28 Jun 2018 10:27

Course Overview

This course offers students the opportunity, through lectures and interractive workshops, to develop their understanding of, and practical skills in, the writing of prose fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction. Taught by widely published, award-winning writers, it provides a thorough, practice-based understanding of creative process and of the technical challenges involved in developing an original idea into a completed literary artefact, presented to a professional standard. It also contributes to students' future career potential, whether as ‘creative’ or other kinds of professional writers/communicators.

Course Details

Study Type	Undergraduate	Level	3
Term	Second Term	Credit Points	30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus	None.	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Dr Wayne Price

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

None.

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

The course offers students the opportunity to develop both their theoretical understanding and practical application of creative processes and literary craft. Examples of writing by recognised authors and class members will be used to stimulate and illustrate key principles in the successful creation of fiction and poetry. The course will also introduce students to the challenges involved in editing their creative work to a professional standard and submitting it for publication. Teaching consists of practical advice and guidance from class tutors in a workshop environment alongside theoretical introductions to topics such as the uses of form, the role of voice in fiction and poetry, and effective editing. By enabling students to develop their understanding of, and practical skills in, the writing and publishing of prose fiction and poetry, the course also contributes to their future career potential (whether as creative or other kinds of professional writers), providing them with a better understanding of how literary works are constructed and how they contribute to the broader culture.

Further Information & Notes

This course will not be available to students outwith the English Hons Programme.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers

Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 21st September 2026 for Term 1 and Full Year courses and 8th January 2027 for Term 2 courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt: One completed portfolio of fiction of 2500-3500 words total, or one short portfolio of poetry comprising 60 to 120 lines (60%); one 1500 word piece analysing, in practical, writerly terms, the expressive, stylistic and formal effectiveness of a chosen poem or short story (30%); Seminar Assessment Mark (10%) For honours students only: candidates achieving a CAS mark of 6-8 may be awarded compensatory level 1 credit. Candidates achieving a CAS mark of less than 6 will be required to submit a new folio.

Formative Assessment

Throughout the course, students will receive regular oral feedback from both class tutor and class members in focussed workshop sessions. The re-drafting of coursework will also be subject to detailed, constructive feedback in both written and verbal form. Students will also keep a course journal.

Feedback

Weekly feedback on journal work and class contributions. Detailed written feedback on summative assessment.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

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