Creative Writing and Publishing (Taught)

Study at a specialist college with the assurance of a university qualification. Develop your passions and reach your potential in a small, welcoming environment within a community of like-minded people. Benefit from the unique setting and history of the College. The house, its archive and extensive grounds offer opportunities to explore site-specific works, while historic connections to literary and publishing experimentation provide a stimulating environment for study.

Why choose West Dean?

94% of students studying at the College* felt the programme had enhanced their skills and abilities (*2019 student survey)
A rich arts environment and a focus on craft skills with vocational application.
Be inspired by the unique historic character and beautiful South Downs setting.
Located close to Chichester and the South Coast, with easy access to London.

The Course

This programme is for you if you are already a committed writer looking to complete the first draft of a novel. You are keen to further develop your writing and research skills and learn about the publishing process and the role of the professional author in today's publishing environment. Learn from professional authors with extensive creative writing teaching experience and visiting industry professionals. Workshops include experimental collaboration with artists working in other disciplines at West Dean. Intensive study blocks foster an immersive atelier-style experience within the College's School of Creative Arts and allows for self-determination in independent practice.

What to expect

Explore literary fiction in its varied forms
Develop your writing, editing and critical skills
Complete a first draft of up to 60,000 words in year one
Redraft the first chapter of your novel for publication in a specially produced anthology
Gain hands-on experience of the publishing process
Learn how to build your author profile

Learning environment

Attend 12 three-day intensive blocks of workshops, lectures and tutorials (over two years)
High tutor: student ratio
Intensive workshops
Creative interdisciplinary environment
Guest lectures from publishing industry professionals

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and supervised practicals. In addition, you have personal tutorials with your subject tutor.
You typically have around 17-18 contact hours per study block, typically consisting of:

5-6 hours of lectures
4 hours of seminars
8 hours of supervised practicals
30 mins of one-to-one meetings/tutorials

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars and workshop or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:

Reading journal articles and books
Working on individual and group projects
Undertaking research in the library
Preparing coursework assignments and presentations.

Overall workload

10% of your time is spent in scheduled teaching and learning activity
Scheduled teaching and learning: 171 hours
Independent learning: 1629 hours

When not attending lectures, seminars and workshop or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library and preparing coursework assignments and presentations.

Year 1 / Semester 1 (18 weeks)
MACW-1
Authorial Practice 1: Writing a first draft
40 credits

MACW-2
Authorial Practice: Critical analysis
20 credits

MACW-3
Interdisciplinary Practice
20 credits

Year 1 / Semester 2 (18 weeks)
MACW-1 cont.
Authorial Practice 1: Writing a first draft
40 credits

MACW-2 cont.
Authorial Practice 2: Critical analysis
20 credits

MACW-3 cont.
Interdisciplinary Practice
20 credits

Year 2 / Semester 1 (18 weeks)
MACW-4
Authorial Practice 3: Editorial and Revision
50 credits

MACW-5
Professional Publishing Practice
50 credits

Year 2 / Semester 2 (18 weeks)
MACW-4 cont.
Authorial Practice 3: Editorial and Revision
50 credits

MACW-5 cont
Professional Publishing Practice
50 credits
FINAL ASSESSMENT