01 Module introduction and the basics of story 

This will introduce you to the module and give students a introduction to the basics of storytelling. 02 Deeper dives into narrative structure

Now we understand the basics of story, we need to understand the context of the storytelling we are doing. Going deeper and examining the parts of storytelling is what this session does. 

03 Setting: building worlds

Given the basics of storytelling, students now turn to developing their own worlds using some of the storytelling principles discussed in the previous two weeks. 

04 Characters and casts

Like week 3, this session works on developing the main character and a cast around them, considering intersectionality at the forefront. 

05 Narrative perspectives

It is important that we can develop the narrative perspective of our narrator. Through understanding structuralist and post-structuralist theory, this session develops writers’ ability to engage with different types of narrators. 

06 Voice and style 

Developing a voice and a style is a challenge for most writers, we will use writign exercises and critical theory to help us develop  a voice to uplift perspectives in our creative writing. 

07An introduction to different forms

This session introduces you to the variety of mediums available for storytelling throug engaging with defamiliarisation techniques. 

08 Genres: blending and isolation

This session teachers students to take their understanding of genre, and practice blending them, and writing them alone. 

09 Dialogue 

Dialogue is an important part of the creative process for characters, both in fiction and creative non-fiction. We need, therefore, to practice developing it. 

10 Workshopping introduction

This session gives students the ability to get feedback in our workshop environment. 

11 The Writing research toolkit 

This session engages with the ‘person as research’ idea, and engages with students and teaches them how to effectively use themselves and their experiences as a site for research. 

12 The Business of writing

As writers we must understand the market we are a part of. As a result, this will be a critical theory approach to developing the parts which make you unique as a disruptive creative practitioner. s

All assessments are coursework-based. In the rare exception where this is not coursework-based, it will be practically based. Every module we run, regardless of level, has two components: 

• Component A: A creative writing piece (professionally in a specific form)

• Component B: A critical piece which contextualises what you've written 

Component A: Creative Writing

1500 words developing a portfolio of writing throughout the module. Exercise(s) should be illustrate one (or more of) the following components: voice, narrative structure, world building, genre, character, dialogue in reference to ‘socially engaged writing’ as explored through the module. 

Component B: Reflection 

1500 words creative writing reflection, considering future directions and experimentation with social engagement as explored through the module; engaging with future directions for publication

Knowledge 

1. Students will gain an understanding of activist writing and its historical developments

2. Students will effectively understand the craft techniques associated with creating activist writing 

Practice

1. Students will develop their creative writing using an understanding of historical activist writing 

2. Students will develop editorial processes to create impactful activist fiction 

Skills Developed 

• Critical: advanced structural editing and development, engagement with critical theory

• Creative: reflective writing, structural editing, analytical skills, written and communication skills