PgDip/MA Creative Writing On-Line
The Virtual Writing School
Online Programme Coordinator: Michael Symmons Roberts
Academic Director: Dr Andrew Biswell
Creative Director: Professor Carol Ann Duffy
A graduate programme in the practice of fiction and poetry for anyone interested in writing and the transmission of text. The on-line programme is specifically tailored for distance learning and designed to exploit the possibilities of virtual learning environments.
Duration
The online version of this programme runs for three years, with two years of taught units and a third year to complete the creative portfolio.
Introduction to the Course
Creative Writing is now an established discipline at tertiary and graduate level and has been part of the English programme at MMU for many years. Taught by established writers, this master’s programme is designed to familiarise would-be writers with the literary industries and their place within them. This uniquely rounded course combines a strong practical element with a substantial academic component.
Course Content
Follow the same course elements as you would in Manchester if you were attending in person:
The Workshop
Weekly online workshops are led by established practitioners in the literary field give writers a committed ‘editorial’ readership of professionals and peers.
Literature Course
Formal and stylistic options and solutions are considered in dedicated courses that accompany each route. Outstanding modern writing is considered in terms of composition, process and presentation in weekly online discussions.
The Text
All students participate in online question and answer sessions with a variety of literary practitioners, which are intended to give a broad overview of the state of the publishing industry.
The Transmission Project
An independent research project tailored to the student’s specific interests and supervised individually. The project can involve research into publishing, magazine editing, broadcasting, adaptation; it can consist of the establishment of a print or electronic magazine, a recording or audio-visual ‘library', or it can consider performance or alternative modes of transmission.
Portfolio
The portfolio will be a substantial literary project in your chosen genre: e.g. a completed novel, collection of poems, biography or children’s book. It is expected to be a development of writing discussed during the Workshop, and is individually supervised by a course tutor.
Special Features
- Live chat room-based seminars and workshops; discuss your work with an international cohort of tutors and peers.
- Virtual question and answer sessions with professionals in the field (eg, agents, editors, publishers, booksellers).
- Special virtual seminars with novelists, poets, biographers/autobiographers and writers for children who will discuss their work and its context.
- Downloadable podcasts of campus-based events (e.g. author readings).
- The online programme is taught by a team of distinguished practising writers including Sherry Ashworth, Andrew Biswell, Paul Magrs, Livi Michael, Michael Symmons Roberts, Nicholas Royle and Jean Sprackland.
- The programme normally includes an optional annual residential week run by Writing School tutors.
Assessment
Online students participate in up to three hours of online classes per week. Normally classes take place between 6 and 9pm (UK time). The online programme is delivered through a combination of live chat room sessions, email and discussion board correspondence and downloadable podcasts. Teaching and correspondence takes place in the University’s secure, user-friendly WebCT (“Web Course Tools”) area.
Assessment takes various forms:
Workshop: Regular online participation and a full ‘editorial’ commitment week by week.
Literature Course: Two 3,000 word essays.
The Text: One 3,000 word essay plus course exercises.
The Transmission Project: 7,500 word project, or a project in another medium (DVD, video, website, etc.) on a subject agreed with the programme leader.
Portfolio: A completed novel (60,000 words or more); or a volume of poetry of at least 1,250 lines; or a completed biography or autobiography (60,000 words or more); or a children's novel (20 – 40,000 words - negotiable).
Career Opportunities
Graduates can proceed to MPhil or PhD study or find work in bookselling, agenting, publishing, editing, the media; they may become teachers of creative writing at secondary and tertiary level; they may become published writers in their chosen medium or critics/journalists.
How to Apply
For further details and an application form please contact:
MA Creative Writing Course Enquiries
Manchester Metropolitan University
All Saints (GMS)
Manchester
M15 6BH, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)161 247 6969
Fax: +44 (0) 161 247 6355
E-mail: courses@mmu.ac.uk
Enquiries
If you would like to discuss the course in further detail please contact the Writing School’s Project Manager, James Draper, on +44 (0) 161 247 1787 or j.draper@mmu.ac.uk.