Our students say that they write more in their first year than they have written in their whole lives, and that’s just how we like it. You will be encouraged to take risks with your writing, to reflect on what works, and what doesn’t. In this way, you will develop your own writing practice and unique voice.

You will be exposed to a range of writers and techniques. Some will be familiar, others will be new. You will begin to explore relationships between writers and writing across time and how contemporary writers shape their work and practice as they look towards the future.

The modules you study in your first year with us are:

Introduction to Writing Fiction

Introduction to Drama

Introduction to Writing Poetry for Publication and Public Engagement

Professional Writer’s Toolbox

Writing and Wellbeing

Texts in Context

You can see an overview of your second and third year modules by visiting the BA Creative & Professional Writing Course Page here.

We look forward to welcoming you into our writing community - in the meantime, you can keep up with the latest news on Twitter @writing_at_CCCU and Instagram cccu_creative_prof_writing_

Writers often talk about ‘filling the well’, or the need to inspire themselves with cultural experiences such as: reading, watching plays and films, or visiting galleries, exhibitions and other places of interest. Your only preparation task is to fill your own well – in whatever form you choose and to be ready to talk about something that has inspired you this summer.

One essential thing every writer needs is a substantial hardback notebook, one that will last a lifetime. You can fill this notebook with ideas for stories, inspirational quotes, notes to self, sketches, lines of poetry, draft writing...

Your welcome and induction will be w/c 16 September 2024 - we look forward to meeting you then.

We do not expect you to undertake any course reading over the summer. However, if you are keen to start mentally preparing for your studies, we recommend Andy Miller’s The Year of Reading Dangerously. Great writers also tend to be great readers. This book will challenge you to read – and love – difficult things.

For practical writing advice we suggest Stephen King's On Writing. Finally, for inspiration, energy and in celebration of the very joy of writing, why not pick up a copy of Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury?

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.