MA brochure - Creative Writing - Queen's University Belfast

School&of&English
Postgraduate+Degrees+in+Creative+Writing

Today,+our+lecturers+in+Creative+Writing+are+all+
acclaimed+writers+in+their+respective+genres+who+have+
received+major+national+and+international+awards+for+
their+work.+To+study+Creative+Writing+at+Queen’s+means+
working+alongside+some+of+Ireland’s+leading+novelists,+
poets+and+dramatists+with+extensive+experience+of+
both+writing+and+teaching,+in+a+challenging+but+
supportive+environment.++++
Events
Students+of+Creative+Writing+at+Queen’s+join+a+vibrant+
literary+and+social+culture.+Throughout+each+semester,+
the+Heaney+Centre+and+the+English+Society+host+
evening+readings+and+lectures+by+acclaimed+poets,+
novelists+and+critics.+The+Lunchbox+Series+offers+more+
intimate+readings+and+talks+by+writers+on+the+first+
Friday+lunchtime+of+the+month.+Every+Wednesday+
afternoon,+the+Queen’s+Writers’+Group+meets+in+the+
Centre+to+discuss+creative+work+in+any+genre+–+this+
group+is+open+to+students+and+writers+from+outside+the+
university+alike,+and+is+currently+hosted+by+the+Centre’s+
Director,+Ciaran+Carson.+
Resources&and&Facilities
In+addition+to+the+new+McClay+Library,+which+offers++
students+worldNleading+facilities+and+research+
resources,+the+Heaney+Centre+houses+an+additional+++
library+of+contemporary+poetry,+located+on+the+second+
floor.+On+the+ground+floor+you’ll+find+a+social+space+and+
a+computer+room.+The+garden+has+been+planted+with+
flowers+and+shrubs+with+particular+resonances+in+
contemporary+Irish+literature.+
!
Why&Creative&Writing&at&Queen’s?
Postgraduate+students+of+Creative+Writing+in+the+
School+of+English+at+Queen’s+take+advantage+of+MA+and+
PhD+programmes+which+are+at+the+forefront+of+the+
teaching+of+Creative+Writing+as+an+academic+discipline+
in+both+Ireland+and+the+UK.+The+MA+in+Creative+Writing+
is+currently+in+its+12 th +year+and+regularly+recruits+
students+from+all+over+the++EnglishNspeaking+world,+
including+Canada,+the+U.S.A+and+New+Zealand.+The+MA+
allows+students+to+focus+exclusively+on+poetry,+prose,+
or+scriptwriting+whilst+simultaneously+offering+modules+
which+develop+and+challenge+work+undertaken+in+these+
core+disciplines.+
The+School+of+English+at+Queen’s+remains+one+of+a+
handful+of+institutions+which+offer+a+PhD+in+Creative+
Writing.+A+former+graduate+of+the+MA+in+Creative+
Writing,+Emily+Dedakis,+was+the+first+student+in+Ireland+
to+attain+a+PhD+in+Creative+Writing+and+places+are+
currently+available+for+students+wishing+to+study+
poetry,+prose,+or+scriptwriting+at+doctoral+level.++
Creative&Environment
Creative+Writing+at+Queen’s+is+part+of+a+worldNfamous+
literary+tradition+going+back+to+the+renowned+‘Group’+
of+the+1960s,+which+included+such+literary+giants+as+
Seamus+Heaney,+Michael+Longley,+Derek+Mahon,+Paul+
Muldoon,+Ciaran+Carson+and+Medbh+McGuckian.++
To+build+on+the+peculiar+strength+of+this+Queen’sNbased+
poetic+tradition,+The+Seamus+Heaney+Centre+for+Poetry+
was+founded+as+part+of+the+School+of+English+in+2003.+
The+Heaney+Centre,+headed+by+Professor+Ciaran+
Carson,+hosts+the+Creative+Writing+programmes+within+
the+School.
“The+MA+in+Creative+Writing+provided+a+
space+to+explore+what+the+process+of+
writing+was+for+me+–+which+meant+
disciplining+myself+to+write,++rather+than+
just+talking+about+doing+it;++letting+it+flow,+
getting+it+down+on+paper;++working+on+
what+I've+written+to+craft+it+into+something+
worth+reading;++exposing+it+to+others+to+see+
if+it+works.+The+weekly+workshops+with+
tutors+at+Queens+were+there+to+encourage+
and+critique+at+every+step+of+that process.+
The+tutors+are+all+well+established+in+their+
own+fields+and+I+found+them+accessible+and+
honest+in+their+comments+on+my+work.+
They+more+than+fulfilled+their+part+of+the+
bargain+–+I+wrote,++they+read+what+I+wrote+
and+critiqued+it+and+inspired+me+to+work+on+
it+until+it+was+the+best+it+could+be. And+the+
discipline+of+having+to+produce+a+piece+of+
work each+week+for 'workNshopping'+was+
crucial+in+my+development+as+a+writer.”
―+MA+student,+Sheila+Llewellyn.

MA&in&English&(Creative&Writing)
Convenor:+Dr+Sinéad+Morrissey
The+MA+in+English+(Creative+Writing)+is+designed+to+
allow+students+to+concentrate+exclusively+on+the+genre+
of+their+choice,+be+it+poetry,+prose+fiction,+or+
scriptwriting.+The+spine+of+the+MA+is+therefore+the+
Creative+Writing+Workshop+which+runs+through+both+
semesters+in+each+of+these+three+disciplines.+In+addition+
to+the+workshops,+students+undertake+a+range+of+
additional+halfNmodules+to+further+their+development+
as+selfNreflective+writers.+
Modules&Available&in&2012E13
Compulsory+modules:
Poetry,(Prose,(Scriptwriting(Workshops(
Research(Methods(for(Creative(Writers(–+this+module+
requires+students+to+undertake+a+piece+of+original+
research+and+to+use+this+research+as+the+basis+of+a+new+
creative+work+in+the+genre+of+their+choice.+
Craft(and(Technique(–+this+module+examines+existing+
‘master’+texts+in+all+three+genres+and+requires+students+
to+apply+the+techniques+deployed+by+these+authors+to+
their+own+writing.
Selected+elective+modules+(subject+to+change):
Poetic(Form(
The(Seven(Basic(Plots
From(Page(to(Stage
The(Poetics(of(Translation
Life(Writing
PhD&in&Creative&Writing
The+PhD+in+Creative+Writing+involves+both+an+extended+
piece+of+creative+work+and(a+related+critical+
component.+To+apply+for+a+PhD+in+Creative+Writing+you+
must+have+already+completed+an+MA+in+Creative+
Writing+in+the+same+genre.+Students+with+a+Distinction+
at+MA+level+will+be+given+preference.
Core&Teaching&Staff
Garrett&Carr&–&&Prose&Fiction
Garrett+Carr+was+born+in+1975.+He+grew+
up+in+Co.+Donegal,+in+a+town+rather+like+
Ballydog,+the+setting+of+his+first+novel+
The(Badness(of(Balldog.+That+book+and+
its+sequel,+Lost(Dogs,+were+both+listed+
as+2010+reads+of+the+year+by+the+Irish+
Independent+and+The+Times+(UK).+
The+common+ground+between+texts+and+maps+
interests+Garrett.+He+creates+maps+of+Ireland’s+border+
region+and+exhibits+them+around+Ireland.+He+has+maps+
in+the+collections+of+the+Arts+Council+of+Northern+
Ireland+and+the+National+University+of+Ireland+at+
Maynooth.
Tim&Loane&–&Scriptwriting&
Tim+Loane+has+worked+extensively+as+
a+writer,+director+and+actor+in+film,+
television,+theatre+and+radio+on+local,+
national+and+international+stages.+He+
coNfounded+Tinderbox+Theatre+
Company+in+1998.+His+screenwriting+
includes+Teachers((Channel+4),+Out(of(
the(Deep(Pan((BBC)+and+Reversals(
(ITV).+He+directed+the+short+film+Dance(Lexie(Dance(
which+was+nominated+for+an+Academy+Award+in+1997.+(
Dr&Darran&McCann&–&&Prose&Fiction&and&Drama
Dr+Darran+McCann+is+from+Armagh+
City.+He+was+educated+at+Trinity+
College,+Dublin,+and+Dublin+City+
University.+He+worked+as+a+journalist,+
and+had+work+published+in+local+and+
national+newspapers+and+magazines+
throughout+Ireland+and+the+UK,+before+becoming+a+
news+reporter+on+the+staff+of+Belfast’s+Irish+News.++He+
went+on+to+earn+an+MA,+then+Ph.D,+in+Creative+Writing+
at+Queen’s+University,+Belfast+–+the+latter+being+the+first+
time+a+doctorate+in+Creative+Writing+had+ever+been+
awarded+by+an+Irish+university.
His+play,+Confession,+was+produced+by+Accidental+
Theatre+Co.+at+the+Brian+Friel+Theatre,+Belfast,+in+2008.+
His+debut+novel,+After(the(Lockout,+was+published+
internationally+by+Fourth+Estate+in+2012.
Dr&Sinéad&Morrissey&–&Poetry&
Sinéad+Morrissey+is+the+author+of+
four+poetry+collections:+There(Was(
Fire(in(Vancouver((1996),+Between(
Here(and(There((2002),+The(State(of(
the(Prisons((2005)+and+Through(the(Square(Window(
(2009).+Her+prizes+include+The+Rupert+and+Eithne+
Strong+Award,+The+Patrick+Kavanagh+Award,+The+
Michael+Hartnett+Poetry+Prize+and+The+Irish+Times+
Poetry+Prize.+In+2007+she+was+received+a+Lannan+
Literary+Fellowship.

Former&Students’&Success:
Many+of+our+students+have+gone+on+to+successful+
writing+careers+in+their+chosen+fields.+Some+examples+
of+student+successes+are+listed+below:
• Eoghan+Walls:+winner+of+an+Eric+Gregory+Award;+
first+collection,+The(Salt(Harvest,(Seren,+2011.
• Olive+Broderick:+winner+of+the+Hennessy+XO+
Literary+Award+(Emerging+Poet)+2009;+winner+of+
the+Templar+Poetry+Pamphlet+Competition+(2009).
• Sheena+Wilkinson:+first+novel,+Taking(Flight,(
published+2010+by+New+Island+Press,+winner+of+the+
Bisto+Honour+Award+for+Children’s+Book+of+the+
Year.
• Helen+Madden:+winner+of+the+inaugural+nonNfiction+
GQ+Norman+Mailer+Award,+2010.
• Vanessa+Pope:+winner+of+the+BBC+Tony+Doyle+
Bursary,+2010,+for+her+screenplay,+The(Eastside(
Princess.
• Sheila+Llewellyn:+winner+of+the+P.+J.+O’Connor+
Radio+Drama+Award,+2011,+for+The(House(on(
Shareni(Street.
• Patrick+Fitzsimons:+awarded+a+commission+as+part+
of+BBC+NI+TV+Drama’s+Prime(Time(slot,+2011.+
How&to&Apply&and&Funding
Applicants+should+apply+for+a+place+on+the+relevant+
programme+via+the+University’s+online+application+
system+at+N+https://dap.qub.ac.uk/portal/+N+and+may+do+
so+until+3+June+2012+for+September+2013+entry.++
Applications+submitted+between+2+March+and+4+June+
2013+will+not+be+eligible+to+be+considered+for+funding.++
The+application+requires+a+record+of+undergraduate+
academic+results,+a+sample+of+written+work,+and+two+
academic+references.
The+School+of+English+commits+a+proportion+of+its+
annual+budget+to+fund+postgraduate+taught+and+
research+students.++Home+and+EU+students+are+eligible+
for+awards+from+the+Arts+&+Humanities+Research+
Council+(AHRC)+and+Department+for+Employment+&+
Learning+(DEL).++International+students+can+avail+of+
awards+from+the+University,+amongst+other+sources.++
General+information+about+postgraduate+study+at+
Queen's+is+available+at:+http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/
ProspectiveStudents/PostgraduateStudents/.++
Funding&for&September&2013&Entry
Deadline+for+applications+to+be+considered+for+funding:+
February&22nd,&2013++
The+deadline+for+selfNfunding+applicants+is+June+3rd,+
2013.+
Towards+the+end+of+my+BA+in+English+Literature+at+
Durham+University,+I+knew+I+wanted+to+go+on+to+an+MA,+
but+felt+a+desire+to+shift+the+focus+slightly+–+from+
primarily+studying+poetry,+to+primarily+writing+it.+Of+
course,+as+is+often+stressed+by+more+cynical+
commentators,+nobody+needs+a+degree+in+Creative+
Writing+in+order+to+write+creatively.+However,+I+can+
safely+say+that+during+my+MA+at+the+Seamus+Heaney+
Centre+I+felt+a+vast+improvement+in+my+understanding+
of+poetic+craft+and+technique,+and+in+my+knowledge+of+
modern+and+contemporary+poetry.+This+was+not+only+as+
a+result+of+the+intensive+nature+of+the+course+with+its+
challenging+and+thoughtNprovoking+assignments,+but+
also+thanks+to+the+culture+of+creativity+that+exists+in+the+
Heaney+Centre.+Being+taught+by+outstanding+poets,+
novelists+and+scriptwriters,+in+the+company+of+likeN
minded+students,+was+nothing+short+of+inspiring.+
Towards+the+end+of+the+MA,+I+discussed+with+my+tutor+
the+option+of+applying+for+a+PhD.+I+had+never+really+
considered+doctoral+study+before.+However,+the+work+
completed+on+the+MA+course+was+so+invigorating+that+
the+PhD+suddenly+felt+like+a+natural+progression.+More+
than+anything+else,+it+presented+itself+as+a+chance+to+
expand+on+the+ideas+and+poetic+ambitions+which+the+
MA+had+fostered.+The+prospect+of+spending+three+years+
working+on+a+chosen+writing+project,+overseen+by
supervisors+I+respect+and+admire,+was+–+in+short+–+
irresistible.+
At+this+stage+of+proceedings,+it+has+already+lived+up+to+
its+promise.+I+can+only+look+forward+to+what+else+is+in+
store.
Ben&Maier,&a&doctoral&
student&in&his&second&
year,&reflects&on&why&he&
chose&Creative&Writing.

For&further&information,&contact:
Linda+Drain
Secretary,+Postgraduate+Education
School of English
2 University Square
Queen’s School+of+English
University Belfast
Belfast
BT7 1NN
Queen’s+University+Belfast
Belfast+BT7+1NN
N.+Ireland
Tel: 028 9097 3320
Fax: pgenglish@qub.ac.uk
028 9097 3334
Web: www.qub.ac.uk/english
Email: pgenglish@qub.ac.uk
School of English
2 University Square
Queen’s University Belfast
Belfast
BT7 1NN
Tel: 028 9097 3320
Fax: 028 9097 3334
Web: www.qub.ac.uk/english
Email: pgenglish@qub.ac.uk
http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofEnglish/ProspectiveStudents/
N112666
Design: www.darraghneely.com
Adapted+from+a+design+by:
N112666 Design: www.darraghneely.com