Project archive
Student responses to Creative Writing: Coherence, Progression and Purpose
Level Two - Student Narratives
C. Does it work?
I like creative writing because it allows me to share my work with people who are also passionate about writing. Therefore I know that their criticism is constructive and it helps me improve my work. However, I think that the module leader has a bit of influence on how much I will enjoy the class. If the module leader is passionate and sets good tasks for the class I am more likely to enjoy it.
As a mature student my desire for writing has grown strong over time. I am here because I really want this. I seem to need the structure and deadlines to keep me going, so I’m grateful for that. The first year felt a little slow, but I have really enjoyed the second. The classes are more focussed and I can see my writing has improved. I’ve grown in confidence and even the process of writing feels easier and quicker these days.
The tutors are all experienced writers which shows in their knowledge and passion. The feedback on work is always constructive, honest and well explained. The course is geared towards a future in professional writing but such ambitions do not need to be a pre-requisite.
Good points
- The balance between reading material and creating material is done very well.
- The exercises done within the class are usually very helpful, e.g. become more confident in contributing, sharing ideas, improving on weak aspects.
- The duration of lessons is perfect - 2 hours is enough to get a lot of work done but also enough so writers don’t become tired near the end.
I think ultimately – although one can be taught structure and writing subtext, etc. – that the talent lies within the writer. Although the course is useful and thoroughly enjoyable, probably one of the most important things is getting contacts within the business and learning the working process. As far as being taught to write well, I think talent is a major factor to start off with.
I believe that writers are born not taught - schools and programs can only develop talent, an ability that is already present.
An MFA degree in Creative Writing is only as good as part of a credential to secure a teaching job at a university.
Writing programs free up time and space to write, not much else.
What can be taught in a creative writing program is the different elements of fiction, - putting them all together is an entirely different matter.
The best thing a creative writing program can offer is an open audience that offers honest critique and feedback of a student’s work.
An MFA degree in Creative Writing is only as good as part of a credential to secure a teaching job at a university.
Writing programs free up time and space to write, not much else.
What can be taught in a creative writing program is the different elements of fiction, - putting them all together is an entirely different matter.
The best thing a creative writing program can offer is an open audience that offers honest critique and feedback of a student’s work.
I think it must be really difficult to try and teach creative writing because for me writing is very personal. At first I hated having my work read out and it felt like I was being judged, but I realise now that getting feedback has really improved my writing, and people suggest things that would never have occurred to me.
I think one of my main problems is not necessarily to do with the course but more the university way of doing work. At the moment, I have one lesson on a Friday and the rest of the time I’m expected to be doing work in my own time. I find it hard to get motivated when sitting at home and prefer to be in uni more often with specific lessons to sit and write. That way I will have to do it.
I’m paying lots of money but I’m never in uni.
I’m paying lots of money but I’m never in uni.
I don’t see why so many people have a problem with Creative Writing degrees. The way I see it, it’s like an extended form of work experience in the same way you would hang around a garage if you wanted to be a mechanic to see how other people do it and learn from it.
I believe that a writing course should be disciplined exercise. In the same way that athletes go and work out, or practise their game, writers should be doing the same thing.
I’m not going to learn how to be a better writer by listening to a professor. I need to work it out for myself.
I’m not going to learn how to be a better writer by listening to a professor. I need to work it out for myself.
I look back on my work from a year ago and cringe – but I love that because it means my writing must be getting better. This course does benefit – I promise. I want nothing more than to be a writer and I’m lucky to be here. Anyone who feels this is ‘Mickey Mouse’ is just bitter and scared of never getting rich or respected. Writing something decent is hard but it’s worth learning how to do it. XXX is also full of interesting people who inspire interesting characters. You get out from it what you put in.
I sometimes find this course difficult as I don’t like being restricted to what I can write and how long I have to write it. I do think it will benefit me to do a project on writing a piece of T[heatre] I[n] E[ducation] script so I am prepared for when I leave university. I have enjoyed Writing for Young People as our tutor, BBB , made the subject interesting and fun.
I’ve found that workshopping has been great sometimes and awful other times; it depends so much on the other students, the teacher and layout and also on my own work.
I feel that the course has improved my writing, partly because I’ve kept writing all the time, and partly because of the course itself. I love doing the course and it’s helped me decide what I do (and don’t) want to do with my future.
I feel that the course has improved my writing, partly because I’ve kept writing all the time, and partly because of the course itself. I love doing the course and it’s helped me decide what I do (and don’t) want to do with my future.
Recalling from each other’s work isn’t always helpful, especially when people add things to your story that you never wrote.
I had no idea what to expect during the XXX fiction writing process. I came into the program absolutely blind-folded other than knowing what I loved to do and that’s write fiction. However, I was amazed by the process and how openminded the program was in allowing us as students to venture in the direction we preferred. I must say if anything the energy projected in class has inspired me to become the best of my craft. And I must say one thing that absolutely made me want to scream out loud to the top of my lungs was the semi-circle but I have later learned how the semi-circle strengthens sense of audience and has made me fear no audience beyond.
I really enjoy creative writing especially scriptwriting. Having written many scripts of different varieties in the past, this module helps me improve my skills.
I really enjoy creative writing especially scriptwriting. Having written many scripts of different varieties in the past, this module helps me improve my skills.
I love the workshops. I feel like I’m working towards my folder all semester, rather than leaving it all to the end and dreading it, like history.
Writing is therapeutic and even if I don’t carry it on and be professional then I would still do it. I feel like I’ve achieved something when I’ve done a good piece of writing.
Writing is therapeutic and even if I don’t carry it on and be professional then I would still do it. I feel like I’ve achieved something when I’ve done a good piece of writing.
I think creative writing teaches many intangible skills but I wish the courses also taught more tangibly valuable skills such as copy editing and html or other web interface protocols.
Taking creative writing courses introduces me to different ideas about writing while also providing me with deadlines and otherwise spearheading my productivity.
At first I was embarrassed with some of the creative writing class exercises – I found them hokey and ‘touchy-feely’. As I’ve gotten used to them, I now feel much more comfortable and participate enthusiastically.
Taking creative writing courses introduces me to different ideas about writing while also providing me with deadlines and otherwise spearheading my productivity.
At first I was embarrassed with some of the creative writing class exercises – I found them hokey and ‘touchy-feely’. As I’ve gotten used to them, I now feel much more comfortable and participate enthusiastically.
Some workshops annoy me because I generally feel like I’ve gained no help in improving my writing. Other times it helps me a great deal. I think it depends how comfortable everybody is within the group at giving good constructive criticism.
Generally I enjoy the course but I feel that sometimes the exercises that we are asked to do are not beneficial to me as I feel I write better and have more ideas when I am alone and in a creative mood. However, I do find that lectures are a prompt, a way of giving me ideas of what to write about.
I feel that sometimes the workshops are a waste of time and that we would be better off having CW taught to us more like an English degree so there are less silly exercises and we get a better understanding of the texts we are studying and in turn improve our writing.
I understand that the course has to have deadlines and workshops, but I fear that it may stifle my creativity. I’m used to writing for myself and in my own time and so often find it difficult to allocate specific time frames for writing like I would for another module assignment. My ideas for writing have to come naturally – that’s how they are my most creative – not forced.
Although I really do enjoy the course, I find I have very little time to write anything that isn’t course-orientated. Now my time is taken up with reading texts and emulating their style rather than developing my own style.
I’m not really sure how much I’ve leant on the course so far. I did some work on poetry last year which I hadn’t done before, but I haven’t continued with it because I didn’t think it was ‘me’. I did a lot of writing for myself over the summer which I felt helped more. Being expected to produce X amount of words by a certain date is a bit offputting; either I’m uninspired or I’m too inspired and go over the word limit. We don’t really do enough work on extended pieces, just add little bits and pieces which are just sort of shoved to one side after assessment rather than being something to develop.
Previous to starting this course, I used to love writing freely and expressively in my own time. Whenever I was at a loose end, or felt inspired to write, I simply would! Now that I HAVE to write, I almost fight against it. I think it is my subconscious rebelling against the ‘authority’ over the tasks I have been given. What I do now is to convince myself, that I am writing for me and just me, and ten minutes into my writing I am on a roll and can’t seem to stop, and so am writing freely and expressively again.
I like the fact that we are encouraged to write in whatever way we like – to develop our own voices and our own narrative techniques. I’m sure it can be tempting for teachers to lay down general rules and give examples of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ writing. This isn’t the case – the emphasis is on individuality, and I have been struck by just how diverse the group is. I haven’t read or heard two styles of writing the same.
Creativity is such an abstract thing to quantify. All you can do is provide a stimulating environment. I would like the course to be more structured to, for example, closely examine some good quality prose/poetry – then being given a related exercise, with everyone coming together to read their pieces at the end. This would give the group a chance to be influenced by great writers and by each other.
This course allows you to find what you enjoy as a writer. For example I took scriptwriting not knowing if it was suited to me. Once I did it, I discovered it wasn’t for me. But in the same semester I did Towards Publication and loved it. Going on to Into Print it helped me to discover my passion for music journalism.
For once in my life I feel like I’m surrounded by people that understand what I’m trying to do. Most of us have the same goals and it has been extremely inspiring for me.
So far the most important thing that I have been able to gain from the creative writing courses are ideas I have given at least a little time to. Before, if I had an idea and couldn’t think of where it was going, I put it aside. Now, I give each idea at least a few pages just to see where it’s going.
Getting a degree in creative writing will push me further to pursuing my writing career.
So far the most important thing that I have been able to gain from the creative writing courses are ideas I have given at least a little time to. Before, if I had an idea and couldn’t think of where it was going, I put it aside. Now, I give each idea at least a few pages just to see where it’s going.
Getting a degree in creative writing will push me further to pursuing my writing career.
The module has helped me, although at times I fail to realise that. It has made me both confident and more adventurous as a writer. I find myself writing about both the surreal and the banal, the comedic and the tragic. Although the exercises seem like a waste, they help me to open myself up to other writers and explore other points of view.
Writing is always a pleasure and I see weekly sessions positively even though I cannot imagine how the workshop provides concrete training for writers. Being only the first term of the course, I expect the next to be more intense, and more techniques (of editing, revision, rewriting, etc.) introduced, some of them as in-class exercises. One fear of mine is that I might walk away at the end of the sessions still unsure how I can become a writer or that I am good enough to be one. How, for instance, do writers find publishers? What is involved in that? If I were to find a job as a writer, am I confident in saying that I am trained to write in a number of genres, style and purposes to be truly versatile?
Sometimes criticism is not as useful as it could be. Often we are told what’s wrong but not how to improve it.
