Welcome to the MA Creative & Critical Writing.

We are delighted to have you on board and are looking forward to getting to know you better at the start of the year. In the meantime, you can find us on Twitter (X) @writing_at_CCCU and Instagram cccu_creative_prof_writing_

Why not stop by and introduce yourself?

As an MA candidate, you should aim to have a solid foundation in your reading and your knowledge of literature in general, as well as your preferred genre. Think about your course as building a container: a series of shelves in your head into which you will begin to slot the books that influence your development as a writer and those works which will influence your writing projects during the course.

A secure knowledge base consists of:

• An overview of literature, to understand history and context, as well as an awareness of classic texts and literary precedents. Take this time to work through your ‘to read’ book pile and start filling gaps in your reading knowledge. We also recommend A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders to get you thinking about reading as a writer.
• An understanding of the tools at a writer’s disposal: grammar, vocabulary, language, etc. As an MA student, your grammar should be clear and clean with no repeated errors. Be sure to have a sound foundation in sentence construction. The website Learn English hosts some useful grammar reference pages. If you wish to seek out a useful text to work with, we recommend Lynne Truss’s book Eats Shoots and Leaves, an easy-read reminder of common mistakes.
• The craft of writing. Before you arrive, we expect you to be writing, writing, writing. If you need inspiration or if it’s been a while since you studied the subject, we recommend some summer revision using a solid creative writing primer. Linda Anderson’s Creative Writing: A Workbook with Readings is a useful compendium of exercises and linked readings to get you up to speed with key techniques, or visit the National Centre for Writing for some free online resources.

If you do not already keep a writer’s notebook, this is a good time to start. Get into the habit of writing a few words every day. We will give you further guidance on how to form good writing habits and journal effectively at the start of the course.

The timetable for this course will consist of weekly twilight seminars (5-7pm) and intensive Saturday Study sessions spread out over the term. Your full timetable will be available at induction, but do get in touch with us if you need confirmation of Saturday Study days in advance.

Your welcome and induction will be in the week commencing 16 September 2024. We look forward to meeting you then!

Aside from your own 'to read' pile and the suggestions above, there is no set advance reading for this course.

Core texts and wider reading lists will be available at the start of each module.

It is useful to note that the University Bookshop offers 10% discount on most titles in print and have some price-beating book bundles. They also price match Amazon on core texts recommended in the module handbooks you will receive when you start in September.