CW917-30 Brave New Worlds: Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

Department: SCAPVC - Warwick Writing Programme
Level: Taught Postgraduate Level
Module leader: Tim Leach
Credit value: 30
Module duration: 10 weeks
Assessment: 100% coursework
Study location: University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

Introductory description

This module offers an opportunity for students to engage with specific challenges of science fiction and fantasy writing, including (but not limited to): the use and inversion of existing genre tropes and conventions, convincing world building, ‘hard’ vs ‘soft’ science fiction, heroic and anti-heroic fantasy writing, and other such topics. Students will be expected to develop a rigorous, historical, and comprehensive understanding of the genre they wish to write in, and (in keeping with the title of the module) to create work that is bold, original, and convincing in its portrayal of an invented world.

Module aims

Rather than look at each of the specific genres in turn, the course will seek to explore the common ground between the genres. As such, there will be a particular focus on authors who have written both science fiction and fantasy or whose work blurs these boundaries. Reading each week in the first part of the module will typically consist of texts that explore a particular theoretical aspect of the genres (world building, the story as parable, the genre spectrum, utopia/dystopia, and so on).

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.

Week 1 – Quest and Adventure

Week 2 – World and Structure

Week 3 – Hero and Anti-hero

Week 4 – Human and Inhuman

Week 5 – Politics and Mystery

Week 6 – Reading Week

Week 7 – The Weird and the New

Week 8 – Horror and Apocalypse

Week 9 – Magic and Wonder

Week 10 – The Short Story

Learning outcomes

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

Demonstrate advanced creative and imaginative skills to support the effective conception, design, and production of a project in the Science Fiction and/or Fantasy genre that constitutes an original contribution to its field
Demonstrate an applied awareness of their own processes, influences and approaches to writing, enabling skilful adaptation to any creative challenge that might arise
Demonstrate the ability to produce a piece of writing relating to the genesis and execution of their project, with original critical analysis that contextualises their work within the scholarly and creative traditions of the Science Fiction and/or Fantasy genre

Indicative reading list

Subject specific skills

Historical understanding and original creative analysis of genre, genre specific creative writing skills, worldbuilding, narrative planning, editing, workshopping and peer review

Transferable skills

Research, independent thinking, analysis, creative problem solving, project management, writing

Study time

Type	Required
Seminars	9 sessions of 3 hours (9%)
Tutorials	(0%)
Private study	273 hours (91%)
Total	300 hours

Private study description

Independent reading, planning, writing, and editing for final assessment.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A1

	Weighting	Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
6,000 word portfolio of writing and reflective essay	100%	Yes (extension)
Students must submit a portfolio of 70% creative work and 30% reflective essay.
Reassessment component is the same

Feedback on assessment

Written feedback, consultation with tutor

Courses

This module is Optional for:

Year 1 of TCWA-Q3P7 MA in Writing
Year 1 of TENA-Q3P7 MA in Writing
Year 1 of TCWA-Q3PB Postgraduate Taught Literary Translation Studies
Year 1 of TENA-Q3PB Postgraduate Taught Literary Translation Studies