Creative Nonfiction

This course includes two local visits, likely the National Museum and Cathays Park, for writing inspiration. There is some flexibility in these planned outings, so please inform us on enrolment of any access needs you may have.

Sometimes referred to as the “fourth genre”, alongside poetry, drama and fiction, creative nonfiction occupies a space in which telling the truth and deploying literary language are equally important.

Creative nonfiction encompasses many different types of writing, including memoir, diary, travel writing, food writing, literary journalism, narrative history, and the personal essay. More recently, speculative nonfiction and the visual essay have begun to be included under this umbrella term.

On this course, you will explore a wide range of styles and genres within the field of creative nonfiction, while finding a voice that suits the narrative that you wish to tell. Factual accuracy is at its heart, but the telling is done with style.

Learning and teaching

The module will be delivered through ten 2-hour sessions, made up of workshops, class discussions, and small group work.

Syllabus

Topics are likely to include:

• Memoir, biography, and autobiography
• Travel writing
• Food writing
• Personal Essays
• Speculative nonfiction
• Digital contexts

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 complete a creative writing portfolio and will write reflectively about your own process. The portfolio will be around 1500-2000 words in length.

Reading suggestions

You will be provided with comprehensive reading suggestions at the beginning of the course. No pre-reading is required.

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.