LT911-7-AU-CO:
Creative Writing Workshop
2024/25
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
20
28 August 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MA W80012 Creative Writing
This is a participatory module, which very much depends on what the students bring with them, in terms of both work and attitude. The aim is to see work as improvable and to help students advance and try out different techniques for editing and rewriting.
There is an essential reading list but no set weekly reading for this module; handouts and guidance will be offered along the themes and conversations of the workshop. Any books on workshops and group work might be useful, as will books like David Michael Kaplan's, Rewriting.
The assignment will be a piece, or pieces of creative work of any genre, or genres, with a commentary which reflects upon working in a workshop environment and how the work has, directly or indirectly, been created in process and/ or in workshopping - total word count 5,000.
The aims of this module are:
- To give useful feedback
- To receive useful feedback
- To work on editing and redrafting
- To try different approaches to editing, drafting and writing
- To work with a group of peers on creative best practice
- To encourage a mutually supportive atmosphere to emerge among creative writers
- To see writing as a process, and as improvable
- To see the innate qualities of writing as well as the aspects which need attention
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Use feedback as a constructive tool to further and refine their own and/or other students' writings.
- Re-draft and edit their work effectively, using a range of approaches.
- Work as a creative team and to deadlines.
There is no set reading list for this module.
Because the emphasis of the module lies on redrafting and rewriting then David Michael Kaplan’s Rewriting (1998, available second-hand from Amazon and elsewhere) may be useful. Another text which participants may find useful is Linda Anderson and Derek Neale (2009) Writing Fiction (London: Routledge): there are some good exercises in this textbook. Other textual exercises may be set from week-to-week depending on the needs of the workshop.
This module will be delivered via:
- Weekly 2-hour seminars centred on the presentation, discussion and criticism of participants' original work.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Piece or pieces of creative work of any genre(s) (or the equivalent of a portfolio of original poems) plus commentary (5,000 words) |
06/01/2025 |
100% |
Additional coursework information
The assignment comprises a piece or pieces of creative work of any genre, or genres, with a commentary which reflects upon working in a workshop environment and how the work has, directly or indirectly, been created in process and/ or in workshopping: total word count 5,000 (the word count excludes any footnotes, bibliography and appendices) or the equivalent weighted in a portfolio of original poems together with a reflective commentary.
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Holly Pester, email: hpester@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Holly Pester
LiFTS General Office - email liftstt@essex.ac.uk.
Telephone 01206 872626
No
No
Yes
Dr Tim Atkins
University of Roehampton
Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing
Available via Moodle
Of 24 hours, 24 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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