Creative Writing and Publishing (Taught)

Develop your creativity and publishing industry knowledge with a focus on editorial, imaginative and professional writing, and marketing across print and digital.

Publishing is a thriving international creative industry, central to the shaping and communication of human knowledge, creativity, and entertainment. It has never been more varied, from the Big Five and their many distinctive imprints to small, independent publishers of books and literary magazines.

Our practical, industry-focused course enables you to tailor assignments to your creative and professional interests. This is a structured programme of creative practice, alongside the analytical investigation of the literary world, and publishing strategy and processes.

In our creative writing workshops, you'll get feedback on your writing from other students as well as our experienced teaching team, giving you a unique perspective on how your work is read by different audiences. You'll learn how to develop and edit your work, and to find your voice as a writer.

Our publishing experts will guide your exploration of creative content development from book commissioning, working with authors, project management, and copyediting to design, copywriting and social media marketing. We'll examine the business of publishing such as rights and contracts, production, sales and bookselling, alongside reaching audiences. You can choose to focus on either publishing or creative writing for your major project.

The ability to communicate imaginatively and professionally to promote ideas, stories, information, and campaigns is an in-demand transferable skill across publishing and other sectors from charities to tech. Writers are increasingly expected to take on additional roles requiring these skills, such as running social media sites to promote their work. You'll be supported in thinking about career options and work experience, and in preparing your CV and professional digital portfolio.

As a student on ARU’s MA Creative Writing and Publishing you’ll benefit from our wide-ranging industry connections, as well as masterclasses featuring publishers and established fiction and non-fiction writers.

You can also attend events organised by our Cambridge Writing Centre, including guest talks and live lit jams, where you can showcase your own creative writing and make new contacts in the industry. Our Royal Literary Fund Fellows will also give you feedback on your writing, as well as advice on publishing.

Careers

Our Masters degree in Creative Writing and Publishing will prepare you for employment in whichever aspect of the writing and publishing industries most interests you.

You’ll develop transferable academic and professional skills, including self-reflection, critical analysis and working to briefs and deadlines. You’ll also gain the research skills needed to produce creative work, professional publishing documents and critical writing.

MA Creative Writing students with successful writing careers include Costa Short Story Award winner Caroline Ward Vine, Guinevere Glasfurd, Penny Hancock and Natalya Anderson.

Our publishing graduates also have a track record of success, with most now in careers at companies such as Bloomsbury, Wiley Capstone, Pearson, Cambridge University Press and Macmillan.

Graduation doesn’t have to be the end of your time with us. You could choose to continue your academic career with a research programme at ARU such as our PhD Creative Writing or PhD Publishing. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and save £400 on your fees.