Creative Writing Now

Overview

Syllabus: SUM503D_Creative_Writing_Now [PDF 104KB]

This course explores contemporary examples and practices of creative fiction, nonfiction, and poetry and draws upon some of the formal and political motivations of contemporary English-language literature for its content. It is particularly suited to Summer School students looking to develop their creative voice independently and alongside their existing critical writing skills. It teaches students to explore distinct narrative and/or poetic voices and techniques and issue as well as learn from peer-feedback in workshop environments.

What makes great storytelling now, and what makes new narrative or poetic voices so distinctive? What is challenging about writing creatively in the present moment, and how do we understand what constitutes a story or a poetic form in our own writing?

This course draws on a range of contemporary literature in English, and will give students the freedom and the tools to experiment with fiction, nonfiction or poetry, and to shape their own creative voices in the process. Using a combination of writing workshops and seminar-style discussion, we will address the ways contemporary literature reckons with a world in flux (BLM, #MeToo, climate change) and invents new, experimental ways to move beyond the boundaries of literary form. Writers we will look at include Claudia Rankine, Ocean Vuong, Victoria Adukwei Bulley, Patricia Lockwood, Sheila Heti, Diane Williams, Gwendoline Riley, and Natasha Brown.

The emphasis will be on developing the tools to give and receive constructive peer feedback with an effort to build craft alongside of — but separate from — the students’ existing skills in analytical reading and writing. The course is assessed by coursework submission as well as feedback participation during the workshops.

Course content is subject to change.

Course aims

This course aims to: 

• to give students the opportunity to explore the relationships between contemporary literary forms and the content, subject matter or issues that may be addressed by different and overlapping approaches or genres.
• to explore with students a range of international contemporary literature, in the fields of poetry, fiction and nonfiction.
• to provide students with a supportive framework in which to develop their own literary practice, and make judgments about subject matter and form.
• to give students a critical context for their work and encourage them to reflect on its relationship with the contemporary.

Teaching and learning

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical workshops and field trips. 

Learning outcomes

You will gain:

• a knowledge of narrative technique
• a critical and practical understanding of imagery, structure, and form in relation to prose fiction, nonfiction, and/or poetry
• an understanding of the contexts of writing in prose fiction, nonfiction, and poetry today

You will be able to:

• Develop effective storytelling and poetic voices
• Employ imagery and a variety of storytelling and poetic forms
• Appraise the formal and structural elements of the text
• Develop a sophisticated critical understanding of narrative and poetic technique
• Acquire the ability to respond constructively and critically to creative work produced by peers
• Express yourself with confidence in writing in a range of narrative, lyrical, and critical modes

Fees

Additional costs

All reading material will be provided online, so it is not necessary to purchase any books.

If any field trips are offered you would be required to pay for any travel costs to and from an event.

For course and housing fees visit our finance webpage

Entry requirements

We welcome Summer School students from around the world. We accept a range of qualifications

How to apply

Have a question? Get in touch - one of the team will be happy to help!

Applications close 24 May 2024