In this module students will focus on generating material, understanding their own writing process through practice and identifying their strengths and interests (literary and otherwise), with an emphasis on workshopping each week. They will work towards a fully realised and developed piece of writing, which may be self-contained or a part of a longer project. They may be continuing to work on an existing project, or starting something new. In seminar/workshops, they will give and receive constructive criticism, and work on editorial exercises to revise and refine their writing. Seminars will focus on reading selected extracts, process- and craft-focused texts, and reflective essays as a basis for class discussion. Seminar leaders will identify recommended reading tailored to individual students' interests and development.
Total Contact Hours: 20
Private Study Hours: 280
Total Study Hours: 300
Main assessment methods:
Original prose (5,000 words) – 100%
Reassessment methods:
Like-for-like
Indicative Reading List:
Any edition of the following:
Brande, Dorothea, Becoming a Writer
Calvino, Italo, Six Memos for the Next Millennium
Smith, Zadie, Changing My Mind
Wood, James, How Fiction Works
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of how a text is brought into existence by a writer, how everything is a decisive, creative choice;
2. Read on sentence-by-sentence, formal and structural levels, from a writer's point of view, to an advanced level;
3. Reflect on the wide range of stylistic practices open to the contemporary writer and demonstrate an understanding of how these relate to their own prose writing practice;
4 Plan and undertake a portfolio of prose writing which demonstrates a developed sense of their relationship between their work and its audience;
5 Reflect on, interrogate, evaluate and comment upon their own writing processes and outputs, and those of others.
6 Deal with complex issues in their creative thinking and critical evaluation
7 Demonstrate confidence and the ability to discipline their own writing and work habits, and gain a mature level of independent learning.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate comprehensive editorial and critical skills, applied to their own work and that of others;
2. Identify, evaluate, and interrogate advanced literary techniques, and apply these techniques to their own work;
3. Demonstrate confidence, both in discussing and in generating creative writing;
4. Demonstrate self-direction and originality of thought, when writing and in seminar debates.
5. Demonstrate sophisticated communicative and collaborative skills.
University of Kent makes every effort to ensure that module information is accurate for the relevant academic session and to provide educational services as described. However, courses, services and other matters may be subject to change. Please read our full disclaimer.
