Archived Events
Beyond the Workshop: The Creative Writing MA and the Market
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City: Edinburgh
Venue:
Edinburgh Napier University, Craighouse Campus, Craighouse Road, EH10 5LG, Edinburgh Suite
Date:
24 Feb 10
Time:
10:00
Last Date for registration:
15 Feb 10
Event Overview:
Is there a winning formula for the Creative Writing MA? Are programmes structured with the right balance between the craft and the business of writing? What different models of teaching are on offer? What is the student experience of the MA? Is an MA a plus with publishers? Lecturers, postgraduates and industry representatives came together in February 2010 to debate and discuss the current state of affairs in Creative Writing. Short 15-minute provocations were followed by small group discussions where delegates tackled the following types of questions:
Is there a winning formula for the Creative Writing MA? Are programmes structured with the right balance between the craft and the business of writing? What different models of teaching are on offer? What is the student experience of the MA? Is an MA a plus with publishers? Lecturers, postgraduates and industry representatives came together in February 2010 to debate and discuss the current state of affairs in Creative Writing. Short 15-minute provocations were followed by small group discussions where delegates tackled the following types of questions:
- Is the highly competitive literary market place influencing the way Creative Writing MA programmes are being marketed and delivered? Is a focus on craft losing out?
- Is it possible to keep the craft and business side of writing separate in our teaching? When we talk about work being of a 'publishable standard' are we really assessing its marketability?
- Regarding the student experience of Creative Writing MA programmes, do we really understand what students expect? How do we find out?
- Does what we teach actually help our students? How much teaching is based on habit and assumption and how much on what students actually need (or want)?
- What is our role as CW teachers? At the MA level are we more mentors and midwives than teachers?
- Do we really need to be published writers ourselves to be good CW lecturers?
- Whither the workshop? Why have some programmes dropped it altogether? What are the key pedagogical issues facing MA programmes today?
Programme: (subject to alteration)
| Time | Theme/Session |
|---|---|
| 10:00 | Coffee and Registration |
| 10:25 | Welcome Nicole King, English Subject Centre and Sam Kelly, Edinburgh Napier University |
| 10:30 | Provocation 1 Achieving A Balance: The Craft and the Business of Writing David Miller, Director of Rogers, Coleridge & White Literary Agency |
| 10:45 | Discussion Groups |
| 11:30 | Provocation 2 The Student Experience Andrew Cowan, University of East Anglia |
| 11:45 | Discussion Groups |
| 12:30 | Lunch |
| 13:30 | Provocation 3 The Workshop and Beyond: Modes of Teaching Dr Graham Mort, Lancaster University |
| 13:45 | Discussion Groups |
| 14:30 | Coffee and Tea |
| 15:00 | Keynote Address Professor Sean O'Brien, Newcastle University |
| 16:00 | Closing Remarks Philippa Johnston, literaturetraining and Sam Kelly, Edinburgh Napier University |
| 16:15 | Close |
