Studying Creative Writing

What can you expect from a creative writing course? What skills do you need to develop? How can you make the most of your degree course - and the opportunities it can create? This book is designed to answer those questions. It explains how to: learn from other writers, workshops, and online study; develop ideas and edit your own work; present your writing and reflect on it; understand and meet assessment requirements; apply your learning to life after the course. This practical guide for current and prospective students of creative writing in higher education comprises: What to expect of a creative writing degree by Sharon Norris; The skills you'll need to study creative writing by Ally Chisholm; The importance of reading to your writing by Shawn Shiflett; Pre-writing: how to use journals, notes and plans to improve your writing by Lorna Fergusson; Workshops: what they are (and aren't) and how to make the most of them by Jennifer Young; Online learning and how it can help your work by Elizabeth Reeder; The role of editing and redrafting, and how to do both by Spencer Jordan; 'Reading aloud: making the most of your work when you present it' by Nabila Jameel; The role of critical reflections and how to write them by Sharon Norris; Assessment: how it's done and its implications for your work by Helen Kidd; What happens next? How to proceed after graduation by Sally O'Reilly.

Dr Sharon Norris has taught creative writing at several universities, most recently as Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing in the Department of English and Creative Writing, University of Roehampton, London). Dr Norris is a trained journalist who works as a writer, editor, and musician.