Studying at York
Creative Writing: Contemporary Practice - ENG00081H
Module summary
The premise of this module is that the study of literature should include your own writing practice. To understand how stories, poems, or scripts are made, there is no substitute for making some yourself. Building on the critical background and writing skills developed throughout your degree, this will be your chance to work with texts from a creative angle - learning to read like a writer, engaging with formal and genre conventions from a practitioner's perspective, and exploring ways in which 'creative' writing might expand our modes of critical interaction.
The module is structured around key issues in contemporary literary practice, with discussion of texts and peer-feedback on your original writing each week. Readings will include innovative and inspiring examples of recent fiction, poetry, and dramatic writing, each linked to themes and models to inform your own creative development. In this way, the range of texts will frame our engagement with form, while the weekly topics will consider broader possibilities, including: Writing as Play, Writing as Research, Writing as Record, and Writing as Action. Although certain weeks will focus on prose, poetry, or scriptwriting, you will be encouraged to experiment across forms, developing a sense of your own strengths and interests as an author. This module is a chance to explore the relationship between critical and creative practice more generally, approaching the study of literature from a practical perspective, while developing a body of original writing that responds to the demands of genre, form, and audience.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2023-24 |
Module aims
The purpose of this module is to explore key issues in contemporary fiction, poetry, and dramatic writing, and to support your production of a body of original writing in response to reading. The ultimate aim is to relate a critical understanding of trends in contemporary writing to your own creative approaches.
Module learning outcomes
On successfully completing this module, you will be able to:
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Demonstrate an advanced understanding of and engagement with key issues in contemporary writing practice.
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Demonstrate an advanced understanding of and engagement with key techniques in contemporary writing, including an awareness of form, genre, and audience.
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Produce a body of original work which evidences creative and critical engagement with contemporary practice in its writing and redrafting process.
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Produce independent arguments and ideas which demonstrate an advanced proficiency in critical thinking, research, and writing skills.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
Students will receive peer and tutor feedback on formative work throughout the module, the work submitted in response to reading and module discussions. Work from these formative workshops will then be developed for the 3000 word summative portfolio submission, which can either include one longer creative piece (e.g. a single short story or short script) or a collection of shorter pieces, in which you are welcome to include different forms. For poetry, there will be an agreed word-equivalent based on length. The summative portfolio may also include a short critical introduction, linking the creative work to module content.
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
- You will receive feedback on all assessed work within the University deadline, and will often receive it more quickly. The purpose of feedback is to inform your future work; it is designed to help you to improve your work, and the Department also offers you help in learning from your feedback. If you do not understand your feedback or want to talk about your ideas further you can discuss it with your tutor or your supervisor, during their Open Office Hours
- For more information about the feedback you will receive for your work, see the department's Guide to Assessment
Indicative reading
Texts may include the following. Current Students should consult the module VLE site for the reading list:
- Rachel Cusk, Outline (Vintage, 2014);
- Claudia Rankine, Citizen: An American Lyric (Penguin, 2015);
- Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel (Faber, 2014);
- Raymond Carver, Beginners (Vintage, 2010).