Core modules
CONFLICT AND THE CITY (DRAMA)
This module focuses on the craft of playwriting, with a particular emphasis on drama that exploits the possibilities of the urban environment. You will draft a dramatic work of 60-90 minutes, critique the work of experienced dramatists and develop a shared vocabulary of ´technical´ terminology. It will also introduce you to major new-writing opportunities in London and beyond. While contextualising new playwriting within the wider parameters of 20th and early 21st century drama, the module will encourage you to reflect in depth on your own writing and develop an advanced understanding of the elements of a dramatic text, including characterisation, structure, conflict, dramatic irony and subtext.
LANGUAGE AND THE IMAGINATION (POETIC WRITING)
You will develop your use of poetic language through a combination of short exercises, close reading of poetry and prose poetry, and critiques of your own work. You will gain a sophisticated understanding of poetic language and its applications to a range of other genres, and enhance your ability to identify imaginative uses of language as a writer and reader of poetry on the city. The module will allow you to develop an advanced understanding of formal poetic structures and of the publishing and performance opportunities for poetry in London.
TALES OF THE CITY (FICTION)
This module focuses on Friction Writing inspired by the city. Through a combination of exercises, close reading of established authors and critiques of your own work, you will be challenged to raise your own prose writing to a professional level. As it establishes your understanding of prose fiction and treating the city as a primary source or background presence, the module will nurture your potential to be an innovative and independent writer. You will also examine approaches to writing short and longer prose fiction that either overtly takes the city as its theme or employs it as a significant presence.
CREATIVE PRACTICE
This module will develop your understanding of the aesthetic, ethical and methodological choices that underpin writing practice. You will learn how to evaluate different theories of writing (including realist, modernist and postmodernist approaches), while widening your knowledge of associated literary styles and practices such as stream of consciousness writing, automatic writing, writing as representation and visual writing. The module will also introduce you to the ways in which place, in particular the urban environment, affects writing and encourage you to interrogate the ethical and political dilemmas arising from literary production.
HOW TO WRITE CREATIVELY : PORTFOLIO (JANUARY STARTERS)
This module focuses on developing your creative writing skills using a variety of exercises and techniques. The module will allow you to develop a portfolio of creative writing inspired by the city through a combination
of practical workshops and close reading
of established authors. You will also learn to critique their work, while being challenged to raise your own writing to professional level.
THE WRITING BUSINESS (YEAR-LONG)
The module focuses on the development of knowledge, personal and professional skills that will allow you to plan our professional development, with a particular emphasis on the writing business in London. Providing useful and relevant information about working in the creative industries through visiting speakers and workshops, the module aims to develop and nurture advanced and transferable entrepreneurial skills and allow you to network with other professionals with confidence.
THE WRITING PROJECT
You will focus on one substantial piece of creative work or portfolio of smaller pieces, with a view to submission for publication. The module aims to provide the support needed for you to prepare a substantial piece of creative writing and develop your individual voice in the genre of your choice. As the module seeks to synthesise the discoveries about the city made during the course, and help you to respond appropriately in your creative work, it will allow you to absorb and process your explorations of the city, and respond through your creative work.
Option modules
You will choose either a further core module or one of the following:
ANALYSING SPOKEN AND WRITTEN DISCOURSE
DIGITAL LONDON
READING CONTEMPORARY CULTURE
READING THE NATION
URBAN CULTURES