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The Writer's Toolkit: Creative Writing Practice and Techniques - CED00232C

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  • Department: Centre for Lifelong Learning
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

This module is suitable for students new to Creative Writing, or those wishing to refresh their writing skills. The module will cover various aspects of creative writing, including: establishing a productive and enjoyable writing practice; academic creative writing; editing; characterisation; use of language; plotting; prose; poetry and script form writing. Each session will include discussion, mini-lectures and writing exercises, with an opportunity to share your work with fellow students on the online website. ‘Writer’s Toolkit’ is an ideal introductory module for anyone wishing to undertake other modules in the Creative Writing series, or to explore Creative Writing in general.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Summer Term 2024-25

Module aims

To introduce writers to the key techniques and processes of creative writing at an academic level, including the use of critical reflection to improve practice:

  • Explore different approaches to writing practice including writing habits; drafting, rewriting and editing; research and interaction with existing texts.
  • Gain an overview of different forms, including narrative fiction (short and long form), poetry, script and creative non-fiction.
  • Understand the principles of key writing elements such as characterisation, setting, structure, movement in time and space, observation, point of view, opening and closing, voice, dialogue, rhythm and use of language.
  • Support fellow students as they draft, workshop, revise and rework a portfolio of creative writing to completion.

Module learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Create and develop their own writing practice.
  • Interact critically with texts for both creative and academic purposes, using reflective and close reading techniques.
  • Develop their own writing through reading, writing exercises and journal keeping.
  • Write their own pieces of creative writing and share them with peers for critical discussion.
  • Actively listen to, critique and support other writers in their endeavours.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Students receive regular verbal comments on their work through the critiquing workshops wherein they share their work. They may, in addition, elect to go online to share their work with one another. The tutor gives individual regular written and oral feedback throughout the module.

The assessment feedback is as per The University’s system and is written onto the relevant documents.

Indicative reading

Morley, D. (2007)

The Cambridge introduction to creative writing. Cambridge:, Cambridge University Press.

Goldberg, N. (2005)

Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within London: Shambhala

Sansom, Peter (2011)

Writing Poems Bloodaxe Books

Boulter, Amanda (2007)

Writing Fiction: Creative and Critical Approaches. Palgrave Macmillan

Rib Davis (2016)

Writing Dialogue for Scripts. London: Bloomsbury

Prose, Francine (2012)

Reading Like A Writer London: Union Books

And a selection of fiction and creative non fiction writing by other authors, for example:

Booth, Naomi (2022)

Animals at Night. Liverpool: Dead Ink

Amy Liptrot (2016)

The Outrun London: Canongate

Various Poets (2023)

The Forward Book of Poetry London: Canongate

Paul Murray (2023)

The Bee Sting London: Macmillan

Wainwright, Sally, (first aired 2019)

Gentleman Jack, episode 1. Available from the BBC Writers Room website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts/tv-drama/gentleman-jack/


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.