Creative Writing MA

Program Overview

The Creative Writing MA at De Montfort University is designed to develop writing practice and specialize in a chosen research project. It emphasizes independent study, research, and reading, culminating in an independently developed dissertation. The program is ranked first in Creative Writing Graduate Prospects by Complete University Guide 2023 and offers a diverse community, experienced tutors, and a focus on individual research exploration and professional skills development.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Objective: Develop writing practice and specialize in a chosen research project.
• Learning Outcomes:
• Advanced understanding of own writing practice in relation to the professional landscape.
• Articulate how writing skills equip graduates for various careers and contexts.
• Confidently present work and articulate processes for diverse audiences and industries.
• Utilize skills gained to forge a career in various writing-related fields.
• Structure:
• Taught modules delivered in seven-week blocks.
• Emphasis on independent study for writing, research, and reading.
• Culminating in an independently developed dissertation.
• Key Features:
• Exit points for Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, or Institutional Credit award.
• Ranked first in Creative Writing Graduate Prospects by Complete University Guide 2023.
• Diverse community within Leicester Centre for Creative Writing.
• Taught by published writers and experienced tutors.
• Blends traditional and innovative writing approaches.
• Fosters research culture and public engagement opportunities.
• Individualized research exploration and professional skills development.
• Ideal preparation for PhD progression.

Outline:

• Module 1: Articulating Practice
• Explores creative writing as a research discipline.
• Develops innovative ways to articulate individual practice.
• Utilizes creative writing to explore research issues and thematic concerns.
• Situates writing in contemporary issues and ideas.
• Considers creativity, play, knowledge, identity, and aesthetics.
• Explores alternative traditions of articulating practice.
• Culminating portfolio showcasing individual practice.
• May include poetics pieces, dream essays, manifestoes, or becoming animal exercises.
• Module 2: Icebergs and Audience
• Understanding and conducting research for creative writing.
• Applies Hemingway's "iceberg model" to writing.
• Explore the unseen research and creative labor behind writing.
• Learn how writers build worlds, characters, and stories.
• Research settings, time periods, and ideas.
• Utilize diverse resources like archives, mood boards, images, and texts.
• Develop plans for individual long projects (potential dissertation basis).
• Culminating research portfolio including a research poster, commentary, and project summary.
• Module 3: Developing Your Project
• Develop individual research projects from Module 2.
• Understand "weird fiction" as a critique of contemporary life.
• Transmute abstract ideas into concrete elements.
• Explore individual project development through creative writing exercises.
• Culminating portfolio with excerpts from long projects, "weird fiction" tales, or exploratory writing exercises.
All submissions require reflective commentary.
• Module 4: Writing Ecosystems
• Focus on the professional landscape for writers.
• Develop skills for industry publishing, pedagogy, self-publishing, public engagement, and more.
• Learn to navigate the diverse world of writing markets and opportunities.
• Explore self-publishing avenues.
• Develop skills for presenting oneself and work effectively.
• Prepare for formal interviews, Q&As, workshops, and author talks.
• Design a professional dossier tailored to individual practice and career goals.
• Portfolio may include community arts project plans, workshop tasks, author talks, performance recordings, indie business plans, project pitches, or writing submissions.
• Module 5-6: Creative Writing Dissertation
• Extended creative project serving as the dissertation.
• Formats include poetry collections, short stories, novel extracts, creative non-fiction pieces, scripts, digital projects, or experimental cross-platform works.
• Accompanied by critical or reflective commentary or poetics piece.
• Includes synopsis and excludes word count from submission length.

Assessment:

• Varied assessments designed to compliment creative writing pieces.
• Includes posters, oral presentations, video presentations, experimental assignments, recorded performances, essays, author talks, reflections, professional dossiers, industry-standard submissions, negotiated pieces, and longer projects.

Teaching:

• Two-hour workshops for individual and group work, feedback, drafting, editing, and reflection on creative process.
• One-hour lectures and readings to convey expertise and introduce professional writers and publishers.
• Tutorials for discussing work and feedback in one-to-one or small group settings.
• Virtual Learning Environment for ongoing discussion and collaboration between workshops, lectures, and tutorials.

Careers:

• Graduates equipped to build portfolio careers as freelance writers.
• Develop skills for teaching workshops and community arts engagement.
• Understand how to market oneself in the writing industry.
• Prepare for diverse career paths in various writing-related fields.
• Utilize skills gained to pursue PhD studies.

Other:

• Program ranked first in Creative Writing Graduate Prospects by Complete University Guide 2023.
• Taught by published writers and experienced tutors.
• Focuses on individual research, long project management, and nuanced research methodology.
• Provides excellent learning resources like the Kimberlin Library and specialist facilities.
• Offers Universal Design for Learning (UDL) with support for accessibility and diverse learning needs.
• Utilizes DMU Replay technology for anytime access to lectures.
• Emphasizes research culture and public engagement opportunities.

2024/25 Full-time tuition fees for UK students: £9,435 (full-time) per year 2024/25 tuition fees for EU and international students £15,800 per year