Overview

This module offers a grounding in approaches to writing narrative prose, by exploring a broad scope of interesting and challenging contemporary approaches.

Through seminars and individual tutorials and/or workshops you will learn how to develop an idea, carry out the necessary research, select an appropriate form and style, and construct a piece of writing. You will learn how your own generative process can be supported, beyond the module, by understanding how your approach to writing relates to that of others, and by gaining skill in composition, drafting, giving and receiving feedback, and editing. You will also be introduced to the work of other writers, and will gain a sense of the importance of a contextual understanding of creative process. By the end of the module you will have written and edited a piece or several pieces of prose and will have a sense of their cultural and literary context. The portfolio and commentary together (see below) will demonstrate that Learning Outcomes from Aims 1-4 have been met.

Seminar topics:

Weekly topics are subject to change, but could include:

1. Creativity: Freedom, Constraint and Rebellion
2. What's Reality Anyway? Explorations in Surreal Prose.
3. Magic Realism & Postcolonial Approaches.
4. Professional Practice and Publication 1
5. Disrupting Point of View:
6. Memory, Time and Narrative.
7. Professional Practice and Publication 2
8. Writing the Everyday,
9. Intertextual Explorations and Rewriting Texts
10. Alternative Structures and the Testing of Tension
11. Individual Meetings

Assessment Strategy

Assessment criteria:

70% and above

Typically, the work of a candidate reaching Distinction will show many of the following qualities:

Excellent levels of originality, vision and depth; striking and thorough engagement with ideas. Excellent understanding and control of form and technique. Impressive linguistic control and/or innovation. Sophisticated critical understanding of the creative process and confident ability to conceptualise approaches to writing. Dynamic work.

60-69%

A candidate’s work reaching Merit will show many of the following qualities:

Demonstration of vitality and originality; sustained engagement with ideas. Very good understanding of generic conventions; sound use of structures, forms and technique. Resourceful and imaginative use of language. Clear critical understanding of the creative process and ability to think conceptually about decisions made in writing. Very good work.

50-59%

A Pass candidate’s work will show many of the following qualities:

Original and interesting work with an attempt at serious exploration of ideas. Clear link between themes and form. Technically proficient and well-focused use of language. Sound critical understanding of the creative process and of decisions made in writing. Generally good work.

40-49%

The candidate’s work will show many of the following features:

Some originality and engagement with ideas. Some sense of formal conventions and structures. Occasionally inconsistent with regard to linguistic technicalities. Some awareness of the creative process and of decisions made in writing. Sound work, but its strengths need to be more fully sustained.

Learning Outcomes

• A developing awareness of the relationship of theory to their creative practice.

• Ability to generate, execute and conceptualize a creative project, drawing on knowledge of the processes and techniques of prose.

• An ability to contextualise own and others narrative work in literary, social, and cultural terms.

• Confidence in engaging critically and creatively with others, whether peers or established practitioners of writing.