Advanced Creative Writing Workshop

Short stories, novels and memoirs are compelling modes of storytelling in modern culture.

But how do we make our writing stand out? What does it take to get our writing noticed in such a popular and competitive field?

This module will help you develop your writing skills at a more advanced level.

Building on your funds of knowledge from prior creative writing courses, you will explore how to advance your writing skills in a way that enhances your professional development as well as opportunities for having work published.

This includes understanding how to be ‘competition ready’, how to approach an agent, how to approach a publishing house and how to self-publish successfully.

Please note that this module has prior learning requirements.

Learning and teaching

There will be two-hour meetings once a week (20 contact hours in all) which will include workshops, seminars and lectures.

Learners will be encouraged to talk about their progress, ask questions, discuss concepts covered in lectures, and workshop their stories in small groups.

Learners will produce a Creative Writing Portfolio of 2,500-3,000 words. The university’s Virtual Learning Environment, Learning Central, provides a useful resource for course materials, lecture slides and additional reading.

This is an advanced creative writing course. Therefore, students must have successfully completed at least three Level 4 writing modules within Lifelong Learning. Other prior learning from other providers will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For further advice, please contact learn@cardiff.ac.uk

Syllabus

Topics are likely to include:

• Published Prose Fiction & Memoir Analysis
• Advanced Characterisation
• Advanced Dialogue
• Advanced Structure & Plotting
• Advanced Style & Technique
• Advanced Drafting & Editing
• Work Sharing/Reading Out Loud

Coursework and assessment

To award credits we need to have evidence of the knowledge and skills you have gained or improved. Some of this has to be in a form that can be shown to external examiners so that we can be absolutely sure that standards are met across all courses and subjects.

The most important element of assessment is that it should enhance your learning. Our methods are designed to increase your confidence and we try very hard to devise ways of assessing you that are enjoyable and suitable for adults with busy lives.

You will produce a complete a creative writing portfolio (2,500–3,000 words) and a critical commentary (around 500 words) where you analyse your understanding of writing and your progress as a writer. Unlike many of our introductory courses, this course is marked on a percentage basis.

Reading suggestions

Essential Reading:

Students will be encouraged to read and analyse a wide range of short fiction, novellas, novels and memoirs.

Selected Secondary Reading

• Writing Short Stories – A Routledge Writer’s Guide (2^nd Ed.) by Alisa Cox
• Save The Cat! Writes A Novel – The Last Book On Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need by Jessica Brody
• Writing Memoir by Judith Barrington

Library and computing facilities

As a student on this course you are entitled to join and use the University’s library and computing facilities. Find out more about using these facilities.

Accessibility

Our aim is access for all. We aim to provide a confidential advice and support service for any student with a long term medical condition, disability or specific learning difficulty. We are able to offer one-to-one advice about disability, pre-enrolment visits, liaison with tutors and co-ordinating lecturers, material in alternative formats, arrangements for accessible courses, assessment arrangements, loan equipment and dyslexia screening.