ObjectivesThe programme is designed around the core activity of producing a major prose fiction project, which can be a novel fragment with synopsis, a novella or a collection of short stories, of publishable quality and produced in a marketable form. In addition, the Internship Programme offers a unique opportunity in a Creative Writing Master's programme for you not only to understand the role that the creative industries play in shaping a writing career but actually to participate in these fields.
Entry requirementsEntry Requirements You should have a good honours degree or relevant professional experience accompanied in either case by examples of written work demonstrating appropriate ability and commitment. Applications from international students and individuals with extensive relevant experience are also welcomed.
Academic titleCreative Writing - The Novel MA
Course descriptionWe designed this MA quite simply to teach everything we think a new novelist ought to know. It combines a focus on the skills of writing full-length fiction with a clear-eyed exploration of the publishing process and related creative fields. New in 2006, this MA has attracted considerable interest among publishers and literary agents, many of whom participate actively in the programme.
You will first be encouraged to widen your ambitions, stretch your abilities, discover contemporary theories of literature and explore the core techniques of writing fiction. In the second term, we move on to advanced study of contemporary genres and the challenges of writing a full-length novel. Our unique industry module will not only analyse the creative industries and their future development but actually place you as an intern within a company in this field to learn at first hand how and why a novel is published. The dissertation is designed to allow you to work with your tutor to create the optimum submission package for a literary agent.
Course Details
Core Modules
Elements of Fiction
A general study of fiction writing techniques.
Theories of Practice
An advanced study of contemporary literary theory.
Planning A Novel
Focuses on narrative structure and on current literary genres. Students learn to create a novel outline and prepare a submission package.
The Novel In Society: Internship Programme
The taught course studies the publishing industry and authors’ strageties within it. This is followed by a two-week work placement, negotiated by our staff.
STUDENTS SHOULD BUDGET FOR A 2-WEEK INTERNSHIP WITHIN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES IN CENTRAL LONDON.
Dissertation
You will be able to work one-to-one with your Dissertation Tutor to write a novel extract of up to 40,000 words and a related a critical commentary.
Special Features
* Taught by leading writers
* Career oriented and focused on current professional practice
* Each module is designed to produce marketable work
* Our West London campus allows maximum contact with the arts in the capital