Creative writing

Programme content

The programme is delivered through a combination of approximately 40% direct teaching time, combined with follow-up seminars, peer review, tutorial and other literary events supplemented by independent study. The additional MA component can be completed over the summer vacation. Alternatively, part-time students have the option of completing the MA component during a third year of part-time study.

Throughout the Postgraduate programme you will be encouraged to use your own writing as the basis for your study.

The programme is designed around twelve units of study consisting of 61% Practical, 17% Theoretical and 22% Professional. All twelve units can be completed using fragments of your work in progress. Equally, these units can be exploited as a playground for more open-ended experiments. At every step, there is room for constructive failure.

The practical element of the programme includes units designed to define and develop the writers’ craft skills, for example: Character & Back Story; Drafting & Redrafting; Structure & Suspense; Creating an Imaginary World. These units are taught over six or twelve weeks, allowing plenty of time for experiment and refinement.

To master the broader aspects of the practical craft – such as management of suspense, development of character, integration of plotlines, consistent style and imaginary chronology – requires an understanding of the whole sweep of a novel or screenplay or long dramatic work and experience of trying to write long works of fiction. You will already be able to show an understanding of the fine detail of composition – for example, the balance of sentences, choice of vocabulary, historical accuracy, authentic speech, manipulation of point of view.

The theoretical element includes units such as Structure of an Original Novel and Reflections on Practice. This element is based on critical deconstruction of successful fiction in lectures and workshops.

The professional element includes units such as Online Author and Professional Project & Treatment. This is supported by contact, through the lecture series and the Chichester Writing Festival, bringing together successful agents, editors, scouts and authors from all genres of fiction and non-fiction writing. Among the many authors who have spoken are Simon Brett, Jason Goodwin, Joanne Harris, Anthony Horowitz, Marian Keyes, Andrea Levy, Kate Mosse, William Nicholson, Adèle Parks, Ian Rankin, Sandi Toksvig, Julie Walters, Minette Walters, Sarah Waters and Jacqueline Wilson.

At the end of the first term of study, West Dean College will publish a collection of works in progress from the Postgraduate Creative Writing students. This publication will be part of an informal review of the students’ studies to date.

In mid-February in term two, there will be a first formal assessment of each student’s progress. The second publication of collected works will take place at Easter, alongside a second informal review.

The second formal assessment will then take place at the end of the summer term.

Editorial advice, tutorial meetings and script review will be available over the long summer vacation while students complete the long piece of Creative Writing (in year one for full-time students and following year two for part-time students) that makes up their additional MA component. Formal assessment of the MA component will take place in early September.