ma creative writing canterbury christ church

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MA Creative & Critical Writing

Canterbury christ church university, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, university information, similar courses at this uni, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

MA - Master of Arts

Subject areas

Literary Criticism Creative Writing

Course type

The MA Creative & Critical Writing at Canterbury Christ Church offers a stimulating course taught by practising, published writers and scholars.

This MA will enable you to hone your creative and critical writing skills and help you find a unique voice. Through the study of craft and theory you will learn how these disciplines inform each other, enriching your understanding of contemporary critical thinking alongside your own creative practice.

Our course is designed with busy lives in mind. Delivery is structured to enable a flexible approach to study, with a combination of ‘twilight’ seminars, workshops and Saturday study sessions.

All modules draw directly on tutors’ own research, practice and publications, making them both distinctive and cutting-edge. With a strong focus on developing professional, applied and academic skills, we will introduce you to the expectations of advanced scholarship and the publishing industry, and help you to develop a robust writing practice.

Your future career

Our MA Creative & Critical Writing is a valuable step towards a professional writing career. Graduates of this course are likely to continue developing their writing practice with publication in mind. We aim to give students the critical toolkit and industry understanding to present their work professionally, whether they wish to pursue publication for a project, work as freelance writers, or develop a community-facing creative practice.

This course will also enhance applications for teacher training, and provide essential preparatory skills for those wishing to progress to PhD study.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

2:2 in BA (Hons) or equivalent. IELTS score of 6.5 where relevant. Applicants who do not have a 2:2 or above in a named BA Creative Writing or BA Creative & Professional Writing course are required to submit a sample of their writing in the form of a 2000-word portfolio, along with their personal statement. This enables the course team to review applicants on their individual merits, taking the quality of applicants’ writing into consideration alongside undergraduate qualifications, relevant professional qualifications, life experiences affecting ability to study, and work experience.

Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) was first established in 1962 and has, for over 60 years, built an exceptional reputation for the quality of its study programmes. In total there are around 20,000 students enrolled at the university, with a fifth enrolled in a postgraduate qualification. Students study in one of three academic faculties: Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Education Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social... more

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Creative and Critical Writing

Entry requirements.

2:2 in BA (Hons) or equivalent. IELTS score of 6.5 where relevant.

Applicants who do not have a 2:2 or above in a named BA Creative Writing or BA Creative & Professional Writing course are required to submit a sample of their writing in the form of a 2000-word portfolio, along with their personal statement. This enables the course team to review applicants on their individual merits, taking the quality of applicants’ writing into consideration alongside undergraduate qualifications, relevant professional qualifications, life experiences affecting ability to study, and work experience.

Months of entry

Course content.

The MA Creative & Critical Writing at Canterbury Christ Church offers a stimulating course taught by practising, published writers and scholars.

This MA will enable you to hone your creative and critical writing skills and help you find a unique voice. Through the study of craft and theory you will learn how these disciplines inform each other, enriching your understanding of contemporary critical thinking alongside your own creative practice.

Our course is designed with busy lives in mind. Delivery is structured to enable a flexible approach to study, with a combination of ‘twilight’ seminars, workshops and Saturday study sessions.

All modules draw directly on tutors’ own research, practice and publications, making them both distinctive and cutting-edge. With a strong focus on developing professional, applied and academic skills, we will introduce you to the expectations of advanced scholarship and the publishing industry, and help you to develop a robust writing practice.

This course is for everyone wishing to sharpen their writing skills. You may be a recent graduate looking to progress your knowledge and practice to the next level, or perhaps you have been writing independently for a while and are now ready to take the next steps towards a writing career.

Our modules will introduce you to the theory and practice of contemporary writing, considering what makes work ‘new,’ how literature reflects and shapes social, political and environmental concerns, and how writers can explore these through a range of forms and modes. You will sample critical, creative and reflective forms, strengthen your research skills, discuss exemplar texts and participate in peer workshops. Throughout the course you will work towards producing a portfolio of new writing, culminating in an extended project of your choice.

You may wish to focus on a particular creative writing subgenre such as speculative fiction, or an emerging strand like eco-fiction. Perhaps you want to offer informed creative nonfiction responses to a topic through personal essays or a book-length memoir, or experiment with a crossover form such as autofiction. Whatever your focus, we can help you to explore how to write within, and push the boundaries of, your chosen genre.

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For up to date fee and loan information please visit our website .

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MA Creative & Critical Writing Canterbury Christ Church University

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Qualification.

MA - Master of Arts

Canterbury Christ Church University

• TUITION FEES
• ENTRY REQUIREMENT
• UNIVERSITY INFO

Course summary

The MA Creative & Critical Writing at Canterbury Christ Church offers a stimulating course taught by practising, published writers and scholars.

This MA will enable you to hone your creative and critical writing skills and help you find a unique voice. Through the study of craft and theory you will learn how these disciplines inform each other, enriching your understanding of contemporary critical thinking alongside your own creative practice.

Our course is designed with busy lives in mind. Delivery is structured to enable a flexible approach to study, with a combination of ‘twilight’ seminars, workshops and Saturday study sessions.

All modules draw directly on tutors’ own research, practice and publications, making them both distinctive and cutting-edge. With a strong focus on developing professional, applied and academic skills, we will introduce you to the expectations of advanced scholarship and the publishing industry, and help you to develop a robust writing practice.

Your future career

Our MA Creative & Critical Writing is a valuable step towards a professional writing career. Graduates of this course are likely to continue developing their writing practice with publication in mind. We aim to give students the critical toolkit and industry understanding to present their work professionally, whether they wish to pursue publication for a project, work as freelance writers, or develop a community-facing creative practice.

This course will also enhance applications for teacher training, and provide essential preparatory skills for those wishing to progress to PhD study.

Modules (Year 1)

Tuition fees.

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£ 15,500 per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

University league table, campus address.

Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1QU, England

Subject rankings

Subject ranking.

• Creative Writing

55th out of 96 2

20th out of 50 13

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MA Creative Writing and Publishing

Bournemouth University

Creative Writing league table

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Leeds Trinity University

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MA Creative & Critical Writing

Want to know what it's like to study this course at uni? We've got all the key info, from entry requirements to the modules on offer. If that all sounds good, why not check out reviews from real students or even book onto an upcoming open days ?

Different course options

MA - Master of Arts

Canterbury Christ Church University

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Course info

Entry requirements, tuition fees, latest reviews.

The MA Creative & Critical Writing at Canterbury Christ Church offers a stimulating course taught by practising, published writers and scholars.

This MA will enable you to hone your creative and critical writing skills and help you find a unique voice. Through the study of craft and theory you will learn how these disciplines inform each other, enriching your understanding of contemporary critical thinking alongside your own creative practice.

Our course is designed with busy lives in mind. Delivery is structured to enable a flexible approach to study, with a combination of ‘twilight’ seminars, workshops and Saturday study sessions.

All modules draw directly on tutors’ own research, practice and publications, making them both distinctive and cutting-edge. With a strong focus on developing professional, applied and academic skills, we will introduce you to the expectations of advanced scholarship and the publishing industry, and help you to develop a robust writing practice.

Your future career

Our MA Creative & Critical Writing is a valuable step towards a professional writing career. Graduates of this course are likely to continue developing their writing practice with publication in mind. We aim to give students the critical toolkit and industry understanding to present their work professionally, whether they wish to pursue publication for a project, work as freelance writers, or develop a community-facing creative practice.

This course will also enhance applications for teacher training, and provide essential preparatory skills for those wishing to progress to PhD study.

What students say

I was surrounded by welcoming and supportive staff members and fellow students. I was frequently encouraged to step outside of my comfort zone which has ensured that my writing.. Read more

CCCU has a very supportive and helpful staff team. The transition into university was made much smoother with an induction week that allowed me to really get to know my course.. Read more

Modules (Year 1)

2:2 in BA (Hons) or equivalent. IELTS score of 6.5 where relevant. Applicants who do not have a 2:2 or above in a named BA Creative Writing or BA Creative & Professional Writing course are required to submit a sample of their writing in the form of a 2000-word portfolio, along with their personal statement. This enables the course team to review applicants on their individual merits, taking the quality of applicants’ writing into consideration alongside undergraduate qualifications, relevant professional qualifications, life experiences affecting ability to study, and work experience.

Students living in

£9,090 per year

Students from Domestic

This is the fee you pay if the University is in the same country that you live in (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

£15,500 per year

Students from EU

The amount you'll pay if you come to study here from somewhere in the EU.

Students from International

The amount you'll pay if you come to study here from a country outside the EU.

Latest Creative Writing reviews

Review breakdown, how all students rated:, canterbury christ church university , canterbury.

Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) was first established in 1962 and has, for over 60 years, built an exceptional reputation...

Student rating

Cug ranking.

North Holmes Road Canterbury Kent CT1 1QU

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Canterbury Christ Church University

Degree level: postgraduate, creative writing (taught), course options.

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

The Creative Writing MA at Canterbury Christ Church offers a stimulating course with a commercial edge, taught by experienced tutors who are successful writers themselves. We believe that all writers need a core toolkit of skills, but we also understand that our students often want to specialise in an area of writing about which they’re passionate. That’s why we offer pathways that allow you to explore subgenres within Fiction, Writing for Children and Creative Non-Fiction, supported by subject specialists. Our courses are designed with busy lives in mind, and are taught through a combination of intensive weekends, distance learning and tutorials. We also offer a strong focus on developing professional practice in writers, looking at skills such as self-presentation, pitching and understanding the publishing industry. Fiction: Students selecting this pathway will explore literary and more commercial forms of creative writing. You may wish to focus on a particular subgenre such as fantasy, horror or science-fiction, where you can work on building a larger imaginative world. Perhaps you want to try your hand at historical fiction, or a page-turning thriller, where research is key to the authenticity of your fiction. Or maybe you would like to try new forms for fiction through experimental writing. Whatever your focus, we can help you to explore how to write within, and push the boundaries of, your chosen genre. Creative Non-Fiction: This pathway allows students to explore the creative aspects of non-fiction writing, including memoir and writing from life, features journalism, travel and nature writing. Students will consider the creative tension between fact and fiction and how this can be explored in contemporary creative non-fiction. Writing for Children: An ideal choice for those who want to develop a career in writing novels, picture books or children’s non-fiction, this pathway will develop the specific writing skills needed for writing for under-12s. Steeped in literary history, Canterbury is an excellent setting for the next chapter of your Creative Writing story. Canterbury Christ Church University is a young, dynamic university and the degree is run by a team of writers who have live experience of the publishing market. We pride ourselves in taking innovative approaches to the way our students learn, offering flexible options that help you to fit an MA into your life. We also have strong links to publishers, agents and literary festivals, and work hard to create opportunities for our students to develop their writing practice and career. The MA Creative Writing includes core modules in The Craft of Writing, Professional Practice, Critical Reading and Research skills, which develop a toolkit for great writing across all genres. In other modules students specialise in their chosen pathway, developing a critical understanding (and warm appreciation) of their specialised area of writing. Finally, every student submits a 15,000 word piece of extended writing, working closely with an established writer from their chosen area of specialism.

Research Methods (10 credits - core) This module introduces students to the demands of postgraduate study, developing the skills, approaches and methods that students will need to complete both the critical and creative aspects of their studies. Writing in Genre (20 credits - core) This module offers students the chance to explore and write in their chosen subgenre within Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction or Writing for Chidlren. Students will work on an individual project, drawing on a bank of online resources and supported by an expert tutor from their chosen field. Writers’ Workshop 1 and 2 (10 credits each – core) In these linked modules, students will work on developing their practice through reflective journal writing and supportive peer workshops. Students will consider the practice of giving and receiving constructive criticism on work in progress and the role of reader feedback in drafting and editing. The modules are assessed through engagement with online workshop, journal pages and reflective writing. The Craft of Writing 1 (20 credits - core) The Craft of Writing 1 offers opportunities to enrich your craft through exercises that stretch the boundaries of your writing, and dig deep into the components of your writer’s toolkit, such as speech, metaphor and gesture. Students will be encouraged to move from this creative experimentation into developing short-form pieces of writing, and reflecting upon them. The Craft of Writing 2 (20 credits - core) The Craft of Writing 2 builds on the previous module to explore the structural, philosophical and rhetorical aspects of writing, challenging students to consider how to sustain themes and storylines across extended pieces of writing. Students will develop the skills to analyse aspects of their writing such as narrative and style, and to deploy these in writing long-form creative pieces. Professional Practice (10 credits - core) This module develops the public-facing skills of the author, including giving readings, developing online platforms, and working as a writer in a variety of contexts. Critical Reading Group (20 credits – core) A key part of the writer’s armoury is a dynamic understanding of the market surrounding their work, and this module aims to develop, challenge and enrich such an understanding. Students will look at critical and creative responses to text, sharpen their own critical reading skills, and learn how to adapt this understanding to critically evaluate and contextualise their own work. The core reading list for this module will be supplemented by recommended further reading for each pathway. Creative Writing Portfolio (60 credits – core) Students will work with an individual tutor, chosen for their specific expertise in the genre, to develop 15,000 word piece of prose, which might be the beginning of a novel, the first part of a book-length piece of non-fiction, or a collection of articles or short stories.

Assessment method

This course is assessed solely through coursework, including creative writing portfolios, critical essays and a reading of the student’s own work. There are no examinations. Students are encouraged to develop their own assignment titles as far as possible, developing their own practice in a focused way. The final Creative Writing Portfolio allows students to dive deep into their chosen genre, presenting the opening chapters of a full-length book (fiction or non-fiction) or a collection of shorter pieces.

Entry requirements

Applicants are assessed on a 2,000 word creative writing portfolio. A first degree is preferred, but applicants are considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should state their preferred pathway (Commercial Fiction/Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror/Creative Non-Fiction/ Writing for Children) on application.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees.

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Provider information.

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Canterbury Christ Church University North Holmes Road Canterbury CT1 1QU

Course contact details

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01227 782900

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  Creative & Critical Writing-MA

Canterbury christ church university     faculty of arts, humanities and education, findamasters summary.

Embark on a transformative journey with the MA in Creative & Critical Writing at Canterbury Christ Church. Delve into the art of writing under the guidance of experienced writers and scholars, honing your skills to discover your unique voice. This flexible programme offers a blend of 'twilight' seminars, workshops, and Saturday study sessions to accommodate your busy schedule. Explore contemporary writing theories, craft, and genres while developing a portfolio of new writing culminating in an extended project of your choice. Whether you aspire to delve into speculative fiction, eco-fiction, creative nonfiction, or autofiction, this MA equips you with the tools to push the boundaries of your chosen genre. The assessment is solely through coursework, allowing you to showcase your creativity without the pressure of exams. With a strong focus on professional development and industry insights, this course paves the way for a successful writing career. Join us and unlock your full writing potential. Entry requirements include a 2:2 in BA (Hons) or equivalent, with the option to submit a writing portfolio for consideration.

About the course

The MA Creative & Critical Writing at Canterbury Christ Church offers a stimulating course taught by practising, published writers and scholars.

This MA will enable you to hone your creative and critical writing skills and help you find a unique voice. Through the study of craft and theory you will learn how these disciplines inform each other, enriching your understanding of contemporary critical thinking alongside your own creative practice.

Our course is designed with busy lives in mind. Delivery is structured to enable a flexible approach to study, with a combination of ‘twilight’ seminars, workshops and Saturday study sessions.

Entry Requirements

2:2 in BA (Hons) or equivalent. IELTS score of 6.5 where relevant. Applicants who do not have a 2:2 or above in a named BA Creative Writing or BA Creative & Professional Writing course are required to submit a sample of their writing in the form of a 2000-word portfolio, along with their personal statement. This enables the course team to review applicants on their individual merits, taking the quality of applicants’ writing into consideration alongside undergraduate qualifications, relevant professional qualifications, life experiences affecting ability to study, and work experience.

2023/24 tuition fees for this course UK Overseas Full-time £8,655 £14,500 Part-time £4,330 N/A

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Creative Writing MA Canterbury Christ Church University

• On campus - Canterbury Campus
• Oct 1, 2024 Part-time - 2 years
• Oct 1, 2024 Full-time - 1 years

Key Course Facts

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• Admission advice for international students

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 15 graduates of Creative Writing MA at Canterbury Christ Church University for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Ophthalmics.

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Course Description

The Creative Writing MA at Canterbury Christ Church offers a stimulating course with a commercial edge, taught by experienced tutors who are successful writers themselves. We believe that all writers need a core toolkit of skills, but we also understand that our students often want to specialise in an area of writing about which they’re passionate. That’s why we offer pathways that allow you to explore subgenres within Fiction, Writing for Children and Creative Non-Fiction, supported by subject specialists.

Our courses are designed with busy lives in mind, and are taught through a combination of intensive weekends, distance learning and tutorials. We also offer a strong focus on developing professional practice in writers, looking at skills such as self-presentation, pitching and understanding the publishing industry.

Students selecting this pathway will explore literary and more commercial forms of creative writing. You may wish to focus on a particular subgenre such as fantasy, horror or science-fiction, where you can work on building a larger imaginative world. Perhaps you want to try your hand at historical fiction, or a page-turning thriller, where research is key to the authenticity of your fiction. Or maybe you would like to try new forms for fiction through experimental writing. Whatever your focus, we can help you to explore how to write within, and push the boundaries of, your chosen genre.

Creative Non-Fiction:

This pathway allows students to explore the creative aspects of non-fiction writing, including memoir and writing from life, features journalism, travel and nature writing. Students will consider the creative tension between fact and fiction and how this can be explored in contemporary creative non-fiction.

Writing for Children:

An ideal choice for those who want to develop a career in writing novels, picture books or children’s non-fiction, this pathway will develop the specific writing skills needed for writing for under-12s.

Steeped in literary history, Canterbury is an excellent setting for the next chapter of your Creative Writing story. Canterbury Christ Church University is a young, dynamic university and the degree is run by a team of writers who have live experience of the publishing market.

We pride ourselves in taking innovative approaches to the way our students learn, offering flexible options that help you to fit an MA into your life. We also have strong links to publishers, agents and literary festivals, and work hard to create opportunities for our students to develop their writing practice and career.

The MA Creative Writing includes core modules in The Craft of Writing, Professional Practice, Critical Reading and Research skills, which develop a toolkit for great writing across all genres. In other modules students specialise in their chosen pathway, developing a critical understanding (and warm appreciation) of their specialised area of writing. Finally, every student submits a 15,000 word piece of extended writing, working closely with an established writer from their chosen area of specialism.

Grading & Study Time

Assessment methods, study time distribution.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Requirements for international students / english requirements.

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

• International Foundation
• Graduate Degrees
• Undergraduate Degrees

Applicants are assessed on a 2,000 word creative writing portfolio. A first degree is preferred, but applicants are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants should state their preferred pathway (Commercial Fiction/Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror/Creative Non-Fiction/ Writing for Children) on application.

Average student cost of living in the UK

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

University Rankings

Positions of canterbury christ church university in top uk and global rankings., rankings of canterbury christ church university in related subject specific rankings., arts visual & performing, languages & literature, about canterbury christ church university.

Founded in 1962, Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) has two campuses for Undergraduates, with one being located in the urban setting of the town of Canterbury, Kent and the other in Medway. Students come from afar to take this university’s STEM courses in the subjects of Medicine and Engineering, as well as their more than 200 Undergraduate courses on a wide variety of subjects.

List of 365 Bachelor and Master Courses from Canterbury Christ Church University - Course Catalogue

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Request course information or send a question directly to canterbury christ church university, ranking publishers, the university league tables, cug the complete university guide - by subject  (published: 14 may, 2024).

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Creative Writing: Student to Author

• 10 Mar, 2022 10 Mar, 2022

Writer April Doyle talks about how studying the Creative Writing MA programme shaped her debut novel

I’ve worked at Canterbury Christ Church University in various Professional Services roles for many years. My current job is in the Quality Office in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Education. But when I’m not in the office I’m also a writer, tutor and editor. My debut novel, Hive , was shortlisted for the 2019 Exeter Novel Prize and published in January 2022. The book is set in Kent, in the near future, during a time when climate change has led to food shortages and civil unrest, and pollinating insects are in steep decline. The story focuses on a small group of characters as they navigate their way through a world in which survival is increasingly challenging. Victor, a commercial bee farmer, and Annie, a research entomologist, unexpectedly find themselves working together in a desperate attempt to ensure a harvest. The plot is driven by the declining bee population and its knock-on effect for pollination and food supply. All of the characters’ lives are defined in some way by their relationship to bees. While it’s not an easy journey for any of the characters, ultimately this is a story of hope, of ordinary people with enough courage and inventiveness to believe they can make a difference. And it’s not too late for us to turn things around either – although according to the recent IPCC Climate Change report* time is definitely running out. The idea for this book brewed for some time – like most of us I’m worried about the increasingly frequent reports about the damage we’re doing to our planet, and warnings about pollinator decline have been in the news for years. (And yet – at the beginning of the month the UK government has authorized the use of neonicotinoids which are known to harm bees**. This pesticide has been almost entirely banned in the EU.) Writing Hive allowed me to channel some of my anxieties into a fictional world – a way to try and make sense of things that were haunting me. I think I’ve always been a writer, but I decided to get serious about it when I applied for a place on the Creative Writing MA offered by CCCU. The opportunity to learn alongside other writers was invaluable, as was the support and expertise offered by our tutors. I’d never really showed my writing to anyone before and sharing my work with the rest of the group was a challenge, but I found the constructive feedback seminars incredibly useful. It was a first step in putting my writing out into the world. The revising and editing skills I learned during the MA have stood me in good stead. From the first draft of Hive to the final published version there have been many (MANY) drafts and redrafts, and it was good to learn early on that this difficult, yet necessary work is all part of the process. I know lots of writers who enjoy doing edits, but I’m not one of them. For me, the excitement is all in the first draft, and what follows sometimes feels like a terrible slog. However, with each new thing I write, I find that I’m able to embrace the revisions a little more wholeheartedly. Come back to me in ten years and who knows – maybe it will have become my favourite part? April Doyle

Hive is available from the University Bookshop (pub: The Book Guild Ltd, ISBN: 978-1913913779)

April’s short stories have been published in women’s magazines in the UK and Australia, and her short story Elsewhere was published in an anthology Tales From Elsewhere in 2016. Her short story Rise on the Wings was longlisted for the 2019 Mslexia Short Story competition. April taught Creative Writing and Life Writing at CCCU on the Faculty of Education’s Community Adult Education project from 2012-2018.

 * https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60525591

** https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60579670

Find out more about Creative Writing courses at Canterbury Christ Church University here

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2 comments on “ creative writing: student to author ”.

You are amazing. Well done April 💜

Thank you, Kerry! x

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MA Creative Writing Canterbury Christ Church University

About this program.

Level: MA Creative Writing

Discpline: Other Arts and Humanities

Length: 2 semesters

Canterbury Campus Campus

Program description.

The MA Creative & Critical Writing at Canterbury Christ Church offers a stimulating course taught by practising, published writers and scholars. This MA will enable you to hone your creative and critical writing skills and help you find a unique voice. Through the study of craft and theory you will learn how these disciplines inform each other, enriching your understanding of contemporary critical thinking alongside your own creative practice. Our course is designed with busy lives in mind. Delivery is structured to enable a flexible approach to study, with a combination of ‘twilight’ seminars, workshops and Saturday study sessions. All modules draw directly on tutors’ own research, practice and publications, making them both distinctive and cutting-edge. With a strong focus on developing professional, applied and academic skills, we will introduce you to the expectations of advanced scholarship and the publishing industry, and help you to develop a robust writing practice.

Other Programs at the School

Whether you are studying creative or professional writing, the library has books, journals and databases to suit your needs.

Welcome to our guide about Creative and Professional Writing resources. As the Learning and Research Librarian for Humanities and Languages, I am here to support you in your learning and assignments. Michelle Crowther, Learning & Research Librarian for Humanities and Languagues

You can find books about creative writing on the third floor at classmark 808 both on the open and moving shelves.

• 808.02 Non fiction writing
• 808.066 Life writing
• 808.0683 Writing children’s fiction
• 808.23 Script writing / Screen writing

E-books are very handy as you can read them off-campus. We have several titles which you can find them via the library’s catalogue and search tool  Library Search   e.g.  Researching creative writing by Jen Webb and  Creative writing: a workbook with readings  by Linda Anderson.

Stephen King (2012) said: “ If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” The library has a good selection of fiction, both adult and children’s, to help you in your studies. The children’s fiction is located on the 2nd Floor of Augustine House. It includes picture fiction, junior fiction and senior fiction. Digitized copies of older literary works are available via Historical Texts .

The library also has access to contemporary fiction ebooks and audiobooks via the Overdrive platform. You can download the Libby app to borrow books from this collection.

Project Gutenberg – Freely available ebooks. Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, M.E. Braddon, Charlotte Bronte, Mary Cholmondeley, Lewis Caroll, Wilkie Collins, Charles Dickens, Emily Dickinson, Mary Shelley, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Ellen Wood and many more.

You can keep up to date with the publishing industry by reading some of the following publications:

• London Review of Books
• Times Literary Supplement

Or you may like to read some examples of creative writing in magazines such as Interzone or Black Static . You can find these in the Silent Zone on the second floor near the lifts.

Online journals about the theory and practice of creative writing are also available and include: Contemporary Literature, Editor and Publisher, Hollywood Scriptwriter, Journal of Poetry Therapy, Life Writing, Literary Imagination, and New Writing: International Journal for the Practice and Theory of Creative Writing.

To find out more about journals published for creative writers, you can use an app such as Browzine . Not only does it store all your favourite journals, it enables you to easily find and read the most recent issue from your mobile device (and store them in a bibliographic management tool such as Zotero or Mendeley).

Open Access Journals

Open access journals are often scholarly, but the difference is, they believe in making their research accessible to anyone with an internet connection. This means that you don’t have to have a subscription to read the articles they publish. An example of a peer-reviewed open access journal is Writing in Practice: The Journal of Creative Writing Research – produced by the National Association of Writers in Education.

Finding journal articles by topic

Sometimes you may want to look for journal articles on a specific topic, such as life writing or fantasy fiction. You don’t have to browse for articles using Browzine, but can use a search engine such as Library Search or Google Scholar . Both are good, but they have different functions and it is good to be aware of that. Google Scholar searches scholarly material, but you may not be able to access all of the material whereas Library Search is linked to the CCCU journal subscriptions. Run a quick search in LibrarySearch to find full-text journal articles to read online using key words or phrases connected with your research topic e.g. “horror” or “writing non-fiction”. You can read the Library Search quick guide for more information.

JSTOR is also a popular journal database which provides access to past issues of journals.

If you need a journal article that the university doesn’t subscribe to, try document delivery . It's a great service for that end-of-year assignment.

Kanopy  is a video-streaming service which includes a number of documentaries such as  Mary Shelley and the Birth of Science Fiction and   Science Fiction: Jules Verne to Ray Bradbury and Beyond . Plus, we have access to  Box of Broadcasts  (BoB )  which archives British TV and radio broadcasts.  Here you can find the BBC4 series  Tomorrow’s Worlds: the Unearthly History of Science Fiction. You can search for a topic and find BBC, Channel 4 and Sky documentaries. Another great feature is that you can take clips of programmes and put them in your presentations or analyse the transcripts. Visit the Learning on Screen  How to Videos  or look at the CCCU  Box of Broadcasts guide .

The library has some printed ‘shooting scripts’ which you can find with the books at class mark 791.437 on the third floor of Augustine House. For online material, the following web sites are recommended:

BBC Writers Room – script library and writing opportunities.

Daily Scripts – a collection of movie scripts and screenplays to serve as a resource for writers and actors.

Drama Online – digital library of play texts, filmed live performances, audio plays.

Script Slug – Download movie, tv, and web series scripts in PDF format or follow them on Twitter to find out what’s new @ScriptSlug.

Simply Scripts – A database of hundreds of downloadable scripts, movie scripts, screenplays, and transcripts of current and classic movies.

You can access c orpora of scripts for TV, movies and American soap operas. These are useful for cross-searching several programmes simultaneously.

For industry news the Script Lab is quite good.

The following databases are available via the Find Databases A to Z link on Library Search. Don’t forget to log in to Library Search using your computing account to gain full access:

• Oxford English Dictionary – the definitive record of the English language.
• Digital Theatre Plus – Plays and production, theory and criticism.
• Drama Online – digital library of playtexts, filmed live performances, audio plays.
• International Bibliography of Theatre and Dance
• Periodicals Archive Online includes The Literary Review, Modern Fiction Studies, Studies in Short Fiction, Studies in the Novel, Yearbook of English Studies and many more.

National Association of Writers in Education – organisation supporting the development of creative writing of all genres and in all educational and community settings throughout the UK.

Poetry Society – The Poetry Society was founded in 1909 to promote “a more general recognition and appreciation of poetry”.

Society of Authors – union for more than 10,000 writers, illustrators and literary translators, at all stages of their careers.

Writers Guild of Great Britain – includes advice and industry guidelines for writers.

Study Support

Library student blog, library twitter account, university bookshop twitter account.