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CW319-30 Personal Writing Project

Department
SCAPVC - Warwick Writing Programme
Level
Undergraduate Level 3
Module leader
David Morley
Credit value
30
Module duration
20 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry
Introductory description

The Personal Writing Project is a fully assessed piece of independent, guided work to produce a substantial and original portfolio of either short fiction, an excerpt from a longer work of fiction, poetry, new writing for stage/screen, accompanied by a reflective and critical essay on the aims and processes involved.

Module web page

Module aims

The module enables creative writers to work closely with a practitioner in a specific genre for two terms, allowing the student to specialise at a crucial time of their development as a writer.
The Personal Writing Project is especially useful for students who seriously intend a career as a professional writer or are considering a post-graduate degree in creative writing.
Previously chosen by more than 90% of our students, we are now designating it as our core Level 6 module.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

There is no syllabus. A series of one-to-one discussions should be held with the student at least four times a term.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • The main purposes of this module are to enable students to develop their practical and creative skills in a specific genre, and also their critical skills in exploring the aims and processes involved in their work and that of notable practitioners.
  • They will also gain critical insights into the work of other contemporary writers and the processes of literary production.
  • Producing a portfolio of creative writing;
  • Examining critical concepts and practice in a genre of fiction or poetry or stage-writing or screen-writing;
  • Understanding, through practice and discussion, the research needed for a larger scale creative work, and the structures and styles necessary for executing such a work;
  • Conceptualising the student's own practice as a writer in relation to other writers' work and practice.
Indicative reading list

The supervisor will provide tailored reading lists appropriate to the project.

Subject specific skills

The main purposes of this module are to enable students to develop their practical and creative skills in a specific genre, and also their critical skills in exploring the aims and processes involved in their work and that of notable practitioners. They will also gain critical insights into the work of other contemporary writers and the processes of literary production. The module will assist the student in:

  1. Producing a portfolio of creative writing;
  2. Examining critical concepts and practice in a genre of fiction or poetry or stage-writing or screen-writing;
  3. Understanding, through practice and discussion, the research needed for a larger scale creative work, and the structures and styles necessary for executing such a work;
  4. Conceptualising the student's own practice as a writer in relation to other writers' work and practice.
Transferable skills

Demonstrate a practical and critical knowledge of one of the following genres in terms of subject, appropriate research, synthesis of materials, language, genre, form, narrative, character, and description, and of representative examples by published writers, namely: poetry, fiction, stage-writing and screen-writing.

Study time

Type Required
Tutorials 8 sessions of 1 hour (3%)
Private study 292 hours (97%)
Total 300 hours
Private study description

Reading, writing & research

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A
Weighting Study time
Portfolio 100%

"A Portfolio of creative writing and a critical, reflective essay on the aims and processes involved. The portfolio will be one of the following:

  1. Fiction
    8,000 words of original fiction which can take the shape of 2 or 3 short stories, a single story, or an excerpt from a longer work-in-progress. The essay is 2,000 words.
  2. Poetry
    30 pages of original poems. The reflective essay is 4,000 words.
  3. Playwrighting or Screenwriting
    An original stage play or screenplay of 5,000 words. The essay is 4,000 words. If a screenplay then also submit a treatment of no more than 1,000 words.
  4. Narrative Nonfiction
    Original narrative nonfiction of 8,000 words. The essay is 2,000 words."
Feedback on assessment

Written and verbal feedback

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 3 of UENA-QP36 Undergraduate English Literature and Creative Writing
  • Year 4 of UENA-QP37 Undergraduate English Literature and Creative Writing with Intercalated Year