Summer Writing Series Course Descriptor (Enrichment Course)

Course Overview

Students can choose to enrich their online Contemporary Creative Writing MA experience by participating in an annual in-person Summer Writing Series organised by Northeastern University London, at an additional cost. This special writing retreat enables students taking MA courses to meet and work with their peers and tutors in-person.
Participants will attend a bespoke series of literary events designed by faculty at the university. These will be complementary to the Contemporary Creative Writing MA’s focus on modern creative writing and publication opportunities. Events may include, for example: live classes and creative writing workshops, readings and Q&As with authors, talks by academics and creative industry insiders (such as publishers and agents), professional role plays, bespoke publication advice, professional networking, themed literary discussions, mini-book clubs and guided writing time.
Participation in the Summer Writing Series is non-compulsory and non-credit bearing. Students do not need to take this course to complete an MA, PG Cert or PG Dip qualification. It is therefore costed separately to the MA programme.

Learning Outcomes

Students participating in this course will:

Knowledge and Understanding

Subject Specific Skills

Teaching and Learning

This course will be taught on location. A syllabus and range of learning resources will be provided to orientate and engage students in the programme. Students can choose whether to participate in some or all events offered as part of the series. Certain events may run concurrently to facilitate small-group teaching.
Indicative total learning hours for this course: 60 – typically including induction, course activities, consolidation and revision.

Assessment

As a non-compulsory Enrichment Course, there is no summative assessment for the Summer Writing Series. Students will not receive academic accreditation for participating.

Feedback

Formative feedback on creative works-in-progress will be embedded within the programme. This may be delivered within live classes, workshops or one-to-ones, and may come from peers, tutors and/or industry professionals.

Indicative Reading

The indicative reading list provided below is for a general guide and part of the approval/modification process only.

• Archer, Jodie and Matthew L. Jockers, The Bestseller Code (Penguin Books, 2017)
• LaPlante, Alice, The Making of a Story: a Norton Guide to Creative Writing (Norton, 2007)
• McKee, Robert, Story: Style, Structure, Substance and the Principles of Screenwriting (Methuen Publishing, 1999)
• Miller, Brenda and Suzanne Paola, Tell It Slant: Creating, Refining, and Publishing Creative Nonfiction, 3rd edn (McGraw-Hill, 2019)
• Morley, David, The Cambridge Introduction to Creative Writing (Cambridge University Press, 2007)
• Yakich, Mark, Poetry: A Survivor’s Guide, 2nd edn (Bloomsbury, 2022)

Indicative Topics

The indicative topics provided below are used as a general guide and part of the approval/modification process only.

• Contemporary publication opportunities.
• Creative writing workshops.
• Literary events
• Literary discussions.
• Reading as a writer.
• Composition, drafting and editing practices.