There’s no place like home: Writing the Domestic 2

Real families are messy. Real homes hold secrets. Every community has its heroes, its villains, and its eccentrics.

This much requested follow-on course to Writing the Domestic will take us on a deeper dive into places we live, the spaces we share, and the relationships that evolve there.

Exploring a mix of perspectives, including first person and third person, micro and macro, we will look at the families we’re born into, the families we create, and what it means to belong (or not to belong).

Via a mix of poetry and prose, fiction and autobiography, we will navigate sibling dynamics; intergenerational relations; romantic love; platonic love; the love for our pets; the sense of our surrounds; and the definition of home.

We will re/create tales inspired by family folklore and local legends, all the while developing confidence in our storytelling and fine-tuning our instinct for the written word.

This course is suitable for writers of any level of experience and will be taught in an environment which is unconditionally warm and supportive.

This course can be studied as a stand-alone module or as follow on to Writing the Domestic.

Learning and teaching

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

Syllabus

Typically, the syllabus will comprise of a variety of exercises, reading of texts, tutor-led discussion, the sharing of student work, and will cover genres such as micro-fiction, the short story, the novel and poetry.

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.