27 th June 2015
Find out more about the course and the benefits to you during our presentation and in the Subject Zone Learn about our work placement opportunities, tutoring system and pastoral support Explore our walk-everywhere campus and discover where you ll study and live Visit the Student Zone to find out about our services including the Professional Development Centre Listen to the Vice-Chancellor s Welcome
Frazer Lee Admissions Tutor
10 th for English with Creative Writing in the Guardian University Guide (May 2015) 96.5% of students are satisfied with the course 93.9% of students are satisfied with the teaching 3 rd in the National Student Survey with an overall score of 98% for Outstanding Student Experience (August 2014) 4
Dynamic teaching methods: lectures seminars workshops independent study Individual supervision Actively seek and respond to student feedback about the learning experience 5
Your team of published writers & professional editors: Benjamin Zephaniah performance poet, author Will Self novelist, non-fiction, TV panellist Bernardine Evaristo novelist, poet, critic, editor Suzi Feay Literary Editor of the Financial Times Max Kinnings novelist, screenwriter Matt Thorne novelist, biographer, screenwriter, critic Juliette Mitchell former Penguin editor/ now freelance Sarah Penny - novelist Frazer Lee novelist, screenwriter, director Matthew D Abaitua - sci-fi novelist Liesel Schwarz - fantasy novelist, Brunel graduate working with you to develop your creative writing 6
Personal tutor assigned for the entire length of the BA Scheduled weekly meetings with personal tutor in Year 1 Each member of staff holds 4 office hours a week to answer questions and provide individual supervision 7
YEAR 1: Building your basic skills 3 compulsory Creative Writing modules 2 compulsory English modules (running across Term 1 & 2) YEAR 2: Following your interests 2 compulsory Creative Writing modules Choose 2 further Creative Writing modules (out of 3 available) Choose 2 English modules (out of 8 available) YEAR 3: Your choice 3 compulsory Creative Writing modules Choose 1 further Creative Writing module (out of 4 available) Choose 1 English module (out of 12 available, during Term 1 or Term 2) DISSERTATION (Year 3): Special Project in a Creative Writing discipline 8
INTRODUCTION TO WRITING FICTION You will write short fiction and participate in seminars and workshops to get the most from your writing. INTRODUCTION TO WRITING DRAMA You will study stage/radio plays, discuss film screenings, and write and perform your own stage/radio play. INTRODUCTION TO WRITING POETRY Learn the techniques of poetry and experiment with them to express your own ideas. 9
LEARNING LONDON We will read texts related to London as a site of literary production and take field trips to key locations. READING RESILIENCE, READING LIVES Through life writing, we develop close reading and university-level interpretive skills. Features Will Self. 10
This week s session examines the use of dialogue in Patrick Marber s Closer. Following discussion of the play, you will experiment using different types of dialogue in a play of your own composition. (Introduction to Writing Drama, workshop class) 11
WRITING THE SHORT STORY WRITING CONTEMPORARY POETRY WRITING JOURNALISM INTRODUCTION TO SCREENWRITING HORROR, SCI-FI & FANTASY 12
POSTCOLONIAL WRITING THE VICTORIAN NOVEL THE WOMEN S MOVEMENT & 20 TH CENTURY FICTION MODERNISM ROMANTICISM AND REVOLUTION SHAKESPEARE: TEXT AND PERFORMANCE CONTEMPORARY BRITISH FICTION GENRE FICTIONS 13
You will study Edgar Allan Poe s The Tell-Tale Heart and discuss how the author uses characterisation and the notion of horror in the everyday to craft a seminal work of short genre fiction. In group discussion, we will explore the above concepts to create our own short stories that evoke the idea of the uncanny in the everyday. The workshop will include a dramatic reading of Poe s story (film screening), and hand-out examples of writing from Angela Carter and others. (Horror, Sci-fi & Fantasy workshop) 14
3x COMPULSORY MODULES 1x OPTIONAL CREATIVE WRITING MODULE SPECIAL PROJECT This 10,000-word creative project enables students to write on a topic of their choosing and work closely with a supervisor to develop their work. COMPULSORY MODULES: Creative Writing Minor Project (single term) Creative Writing Special Project (runs across Level 3) Creative Writing & The Creative Industries (single term) OPTIONAL MODULES: (choose one of the following) Writing Modern Fiction Writing Comedy Writing Modern Drama Writing Poetry for Performance + 1 MODULE FROM ENGLISH (indicative list) 15
1x OPTIONAL ENGLISH MODULE Writing Ireland Writing India Postcolonial Perspectives Critical Perspectives The Muslim World in Early Modern English Literature Victorian Literature & Culture Moving Modernisms Post-War & Late-Twentieth-Century Literature Erotic Bodies: Gender, Sexuality and Early Modern Writing Modern British Poetry Post-Millennial Fiction The Long Novel (indicative list) 16
We will discuss core theories from screenwriting gurus Philip Parker, Robert McKee and Syd Field, including characterisation and story structure. You will study the series bibles for hit TV shows Lost, Minder, and Battlestar Galactica to see how these theories are put into industry practice. In small workshop groups, and individually, you will use these techniques to pitch and develop your own TV series concept. (Writing Modern Drama - seminar) 17
Collection of Journalism Articles. First chapters from a novel. A complete novella of 7,500 words. Collection of poetry, linked by a theme. Collection of short stories, linked by a recurring character. Feature film/tv screenplay genres have included Drama, Thriller, Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy and Children s Animation. All supplemented with a Critical Essay of 2,500 words and including your research into the kind of creative writing that inspires you. 18
Advertising Agent Arts Management Arts Centre Manager Art Therapist Author Blogger Branding consultant Casting director Comedian Community artist Content Provider Critic Digital Marketing Director Dramaturg Editor Events organiser Franchise creator Journalist Lecturer Policy adviser Producer Publisher Playwright Researcher Scriptwriter Speechwriter Poet Storyliner Teacher TV producer Public Relations manager Teacher Venue programmer Web editor Workshop leader Writer in Residence
LEVEL 1 Formal workshops on early steps towards employability presented by professional advisors from Careers and Student Placements LEVEL 2 Personal tutors meet with their tutor groups regularly to help them selfassess and self-reflect on the continued development of transferrable skills within their degree program LEVEL 3 Sessions run by Careers and Placement prepare students for the work place. The module The Creative Industries is available for students interested in working in the creative industries, with seminars given by industry professionals and an informal placement system.
Now working with King, the company that makes Candy Crush. Had to go through seven phone interviews and one live interview. Signed the contract before graduating!
ACADEMIC MA Creative Writing MA English Literature MEDIA MA Media and Public Relations Journalism TEACHING CELTA Certificate PGCE Primary / Secondary EDITORIAL Library Studies (Conservation) MSc Magazine Publishing OTHER MA Human Rights Graduate Diploma Critical Writing
Catherine Barrett Memorial Prize For the student who achieves the highest grade in the Writing the Short Story module, Year 2 Along The Thames Prize For the student who achieves the highest grade in the Creative Industries module, Year 3 Arthur Scott Prize For the student who obtains the highest grade for their Special Project, Year 3
Annual anthology of students short stories - edited by the students themselves
Wayne Holloway Smith s first poetry collection, was published in 2011 and award nominated. Holds a BA and MA in Creative Writing from Brunel University London. He is now doing a PhD in Creative Writing at Brunel & teaches here. Liesel Schwarz graduated with a 3-book publishing deal. She holds a Creative Writing MA from Brunel University London, studies for a PhD in Creative Writing here & teaches on our modules.
Frazer Lee (Admissions Tutor/Lecturer in Creative Writing) english-admissions@brunel.ac.uk