Creative Writing (Taught)

The Creative Writing programme at Glasgow has gained an excellent reputation amongst writers, agents and publishers. It is perfect for talented and aspiring writers who want to develop their craft, take risks in their work, and gain creative and critical skills; all as part of a supportive community of fellow writers.

WHY THIS PROGRAMME

• Our postgraduate taught and research-led writing courses are among the most challenging and popular in Britain, and have helped launch the career of a number of successful writers including Anne Donovan, Louise Welsh and Rodge Glass, to name but a few.

• We invite a range of guest speakers who can offer inspiration and advice to you, including authors, poets, journalists, publishers, editors, literary judges and playwrights. You can find information on previous guest speakers by visiting our creative writing subject page.

• We have strong links with literary agents and publishers, and an impressive number of our graduates are published and acclaimed authors.

• Glasgow is a city known for its culture (rated by the European Commision as the UK's top cultural & creative city), and our students are involved in festivals, events, radio and literary magazines.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
The MLitt in Creative Writing is directed at those who are already engaged in writing. The programme’s clear three-part structure, focused on creative, critical and practical issues, distinguishes it from others offered in the UK.

You will take four core courses, choose two optional courses, and complete a portfolio.

Portfolio
Your portfolio, consisting of fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, or scriptwriting, is at the heart of the summative assessment.

Creative Writing Portfolio (PGT)

Semester 1
Core courses
Creative Writing: Craft And Experimentation 1
Creative Writing: Editing And Publication 1
Creative Writing Workshop 1

Semester 2
Core Courses
Creative Writing Workshop 2
Optional Courses
You will take 2 courses from the following options:

Creative Writing: Editing And Publication 2
Creative Writing: Craft And Experimentation 2
Crime Fiction
Creative Writing: Of the Personal: Emotions and the Self in Creative Non-Fiction
Creative Writing: Poetry Intervenes Now: Diverse Queer Strategies of Making

Alternatively, it may be possible to take any suitable course from the College of Arts and Humanities with permission from the Programme Convener and subject to availability. Please note that not all optional courses may be available every year.

About Our Courses
These courses have been developed to:

• encourage you to experiment with a range of voices, techniques and genres alongside a consideration of major creative and editorial engagements from the modern through the contemporary period

• provide a space to undertake extended portfolios of creative and editorial work

• familiarise you with the writing context (including audience, publishing in all its forms, the legal framework, and modes of transmission), and to help you develop a critical understanding of diverse creative, theoretical, and critical texts by examining key creative and editorial developments in modern and contemporary writing

• help you develop the discipline of regular writing by providing a stimulating workshop and tutorial environment in which writing skills can be acquired, discussed and honed

Creative Conversations and other events featuring visiting speakers, which are not courses, also run through both semesters.