Learn the tricks of the publishing trade and complete a creative final project in this intensive 20-day master’s.
If you’ve always wanted to complete a master’s in Creative Writing and Publishing, now’s your chance. In a new partnership with the University of Lincoln, we are launching a joint postgraduate programme in Creative Writing and Publishing, commencing in October 2018 with the first full-time cohort completing their studies in 2019.
Delivered over 20 intensive days between the Guardian and the University of Lincoln that lead to an MA qualification, certain aspects of the structure of the 180-credit course will build on the structure of the current Creative Writing MA. Students will complete a series of four 30-credit modules, followed by a 60-credit major project.
Drawing on the decade-long delivery of creative writing at Lincoln, this master’s provides students with the opportunity to practise two or more specific genres of English literature, including fiction, non-fiction, life writing and scriptwriting, as well as the chance to work with editors, journalists and publishers, and to write an extended piece of creative literature.
Teaching is enhanced by workshopswith visiting professors and authors at the Lincoln classes, and publishing professionals at Guardian Masterclasses in London. A focus on the business of publishing will prepare students for entering this competitive world, as well as build on necessary skills such as creating an elevator pitch, writing first-rate submission letters to attract agents and publishers, understanding what editors are seeking, and the publisher/reader relationship.
For the final major project, students will work with assigned supervisors operating as associate lecturers, who are also successful in the publishing industry - a combination of lecturers, published novelist, poets and scriptwriters.
Students will also have an excellent opportunity to publish their work on the University of Lincoln site, with the Guardian providing teaching space, contributions from our own editorial staff, and industry guest speakers from our existing Masterclass portfolio.
Indicative activities
An indicative schedule of activities is as follows (some of these are confirmed for 2018, others will follow on in subsequent years):
- Introduction to the Guardian with Claire Armitstead, associate editor (Culture) and Guardian journalist to discuss what good creative writing is and entry points into the publishing industry. Creation of Action Learning Groups
- The business of publishing. Strategy – looking at goals, partners, publishing law, accounting, operations, international marketing, brand, data analytics, segmentation and positioning and entrepreneurship. Submissions – cover letters, synopses and manuscripts, differentiation
- Life writing workshop with a visiting professor such as Chris Packham
- Poetry workshop with a visiting artist such as Carol Ann Duffy and Imtiaz Darker
- How to get published with Guardian writers, agents and publishers
- Writing masterclass - the news. How to research, plan and write good copy by Guardian journalists., Work with Stuart Heritage and Paula Cocozza looking at writing copy, interviews with Decca Aitkenhead and get feedback
- Writing masterclass – fiction/short story writing with Guardian authors
- Genre writing masterclass with authors such as crime novelist Clare Mackintosh
- Genre writing: Writing for children masterclass with author Laura Dockrill
- Writing non-fiction workshop with a visiting professor such as Andrew Graham Dixon
Booking information
For more information on this course, please visit the University of Lincoln website.
