MA brochure - Creative Writing - Queen's University Belfast
MA brochure - Creative Writing - Queen's University Belfast MA brochure - Creative Writing - Queen's University Belfast
School&of&English Postgraduate+Degrees+in+Creative+Writing
- Page 2 and 3: Today,+our+lecturers+in+Creative+Wr
- Page 4 and 5: Former&Students’&Success: Many+of
School&of&English<br />
Postgraduate+Degrees+in+<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>
Today,+our+lecturers+in+<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+are+all+<br />
acclaimed+writers+in+their+respective+genres+who+have+<br />
received+major+national+and+international+awards+for+<br />
their+work.+To+study+<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+at+Queen’s+means+<br />
working+alongside+some+of+Ireland’s+leading+novelists,+<br />
poets+and+dramatists+with+extensive+experience+of+<br />
both+writing+and+teaching,+in+a+challenging+but+<br />
supportive+environment.++++<br />
Events<br />
Students+of+<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+at+Queen’s+join+a+vibrant+<br />
literary+and+social+culture.+Throughout+each+semester,+<br />
the+Heaney+Centre+and+the+English+Society+host+<br />
evening+readings+and+lectures+by+acclaimed+poets,+<br />
novelists+and+critics.+The+Lunchbox+Series+offers+more+<br />
intimate+readings+and+talks+by+writers+on+the+first+<br />
Friday+lunchtime+of+the+month.+Every+Wednesday+<br />
afternoon,+the+Queen’s+Writers’+Group+meets+in+the+<br />
Centre+to+discuss+creative+work+in+any+genre+–+this+<br />
group+is+open+to+students+and+writers+from+outside+the+<br />
university+alike,+and+is+currently+hosted+by+the+Centre’s+<br />
Director,+Ciaran+Carson.+<br />
Resources&and&Facilities<br />
In+addition+to+the+new+McClay+Library,+which+offers++<br />
students+worldNleading+facilities+and+research+<br />
resources,+the+Heaney+Centre+houses+an+additional+++<br />
library+of+contemporary+poetry,+located+on+the+second+<br />
floor.+On+the+ground+floor+you’ll+find+a+social+space+and+<br />
a+computer+room.+The+garden+has+been+planted+with+<br />
flowers+and+shrubs+with+particular+resonances+in+<br />
contemporary+Irish+literature.+<br />
!<br />
Why&<strong>Creative</strong>&<strong>Writing</strong>&at&Queen’s?<br />
Postgraduate+students+of+<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+in+the+<br />
School+of+English+at+Queen’s+take+advantage+of+<strong>MA</strong>+and+<br />
PhD+programmes+which+are+at+the+forefront+of+the+<br />
teaching+of+<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+as+an+academic+discipline+<br />
in+both+Ireland+and+the+UK.+The+<strong>MA</strong>+in+<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+<br />
is+currently+in+its+12 th +year+and+regularly+recruits+<br />
students+from+all+over+the++EnglishNspeaking+world,+<br />
including+Canada,+the+U.S.A+and+New+Zealand.+The+<strong>MA</strong>+<br />
allows+students+to+focus+exclusively+on+poetry,+prose,+<br />
or+scriptwriting+whilst+simultaneously+offering+modules+<br />
which+develop+and+challenge+work+undertaken+in+these+<br />
core+disciplines.+<br />
The+School+of+English+at+Queen’s+remains+one+of+a+<br />
handful+of+institutions+which+offer+a+PhD+in+<strong>Creative</strong>+<br />
<strong>Writing</strong>.+A+former+graduate+of+the+<strong>MA</strong>+in+<strong>Creative</strong>+<br />
<strong>Writing</strong>,+Emily+Dedakis,+was+the+first+student+in+Ireland+<br />
to+attain+a+PhD+in+<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+and+places+are+<br />
currently+available+for+students+wishing+to+study+<br />
poetry,+prose,+or+scriptwriting+at+doctoral+level.++<br />
<strong>Creative</strong>&Environment<br />
<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+at+Queen’s+is+part+of+a+worldNfamous+<br />
literary+tradition+going+back+to+the+renowned+‘Group’+<br />
of+the+1960s,+which+included+such+literary+giants+as+<br />
Seamus+Heaney,+Michael+Longley,+Derek+Mahon,+Paul+<br />
Muldoon,+Ciaran+Carson+and+Medbh+McGuckian.++<br />
To+build+on+the+peculiar+strength+of+this+Queen’sNbased+<br />
poetic+tradition,+The+Seamus+Heaney+Centre+for+Poetry+<br />
was+founded+as+part+of+the+School+of+English+in+2003.+<br />
The+Heaney+Centre,+headed+by+Professor+Ciaran+<br />
Carson,+hosts+the+<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+programmes+within+<br />
the+School.<br />
“The+<strong>MA</strong>+in+<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+provided+a+<br />
space+to+explore+what+the+process+of+<br />
writing+was+for+me+–+which+meant+<br />
disciplining+myself+to+write,++rather+than+<br />
just+talking+about+doing+it;++letting+it+flow,+<br />
getting+it+down+on+paper;++working+on+<br />
what+I've+written+to+craft+it+into+something+<br />
worth+reading;++exposing+it+to+others+to+see+<br />
if+it+works.+The+weekly+workshops+with+<br />
tutors+at+Queens+were+there+to+encourage+<br />
and+critique+at+every+step+of+that process.+<br />
The+tutors+are+all+well+established+in+their+<br />
own+fields+and+I+found+them+accessible+and+<br />
honest+in+their+comments+on+my+work.+<br />
They+more+than+fulfilled+their+part+of+the+<br />
bargain+–+I+wrote,++they+read+what+I+wrote+<br />
and+critiqued+it+and+inspired+me+to+work+on+<br />
it+until+it+was+the+best+it+could+be. And+the+<br />
discipline+of+having+to+produce+a+piece+of+<br />
work each+week+for 'workNshopping'+was+<br />
crucial+in+my+development+as+a+writer.”<br />
―+<strong>MA</strong>+student,+Sheila+Llewellyn.
<strong>MA</strong>&in&English&(<strong>Creative</strong>&<strong>Writing</strong>)<br />
Convenor:+Dr+Sinéad+Morrissey<br />
The+<strong>MA</strong>+in+English+(<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>)+is+designed+to+<br />
allow+students+to+concentrate+exclusively+on+the+genre+<br />
of+their+choice,+be+it+poetry,+prose+fiction,+or+<br />
scriptwriting.+The+spine+of+the+<strong>MA</strong>+is+therefore+the+<br />
<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+Workshop+which+runs+through+both+<br />
semesters+in+each+of+these+three+disciplines.+In+addition+<br />
to+the+workshops,+students+undertake+a+range+of+<br />
additional+halfNmodules+to+further+their+development+<br />
as+selfNreflective+writers.+<br />
Modules&Available&in&2012E13<br />
Compulsory+modules:<br />
Poetry,(Prose,(Scriptwriting(Workshops(<br />
Research(Methods(for(<strong>Creative</strong>(Writers(–+this+module+<br />
requires+students+to+undertake+a+piece+of+original+<br />
research+and+to+use+this+research+as+the+basis+of+a+new+<br />
creative+work+in+the+genre+of+their+choice.+<br />
Craft(and(Technique(–+this+module+examines+existing+<br />
‘master’+texts+in+all+three+genres+and+requires+students+<br />
to+apply+the+techniques+deployed+by+these+authors+to+<br />
their+own+writing.<br />
Selected+elective+modules+(subject+to+change):<br />
Poetic(Form(<br />
The(Seven(Basic(Plots<br />
From(Page(to(Stage<br />
The(Poetics(of(Translation<br />
Life(<strong>Writing</strong><br />
PhD&in&<strong>Creative</strong>&<strong>Writing</strong><br />
The+PhD+in+<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+involves+both+an+extended+<br />
piece+of+creative+work+and(a+related+critical+<br />
component.+To+apply+for+a+PhD+in+<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+you+<br />
must+have+already+completed+an+<strong>MA</strong>+in+<strong>Creative</strong>+<br />
<strong>Writing</strong>+in+the+same+genre.+Students+with+a+Distinction+<br />
at+<strong>MA</strong>+level+will+be+given+preference.<br />
Core&Teaching&Staff<br />
Garrett&Carr&–&&Prose&Fiction<br />
Garrett+Carr+was+born+in+1975.+He+grew+<br />
up+in+Co.+Donegal,+in+a+town+rather+like+<br />
Ballydog,+the+setting+of+his+first+novel+<br />
The(Badness(of(Balldog.+That+book+and+<br />
its+sequel,+Lost(Dogs,+were+both+listed+<br />
as+2010+reads+of+the+year+by+the+Irish+<br />
Independent+and+The+Times+(UK).+<br />
The+common+ground+between+texts+and+maps+<br />
interests+Garrett.+He+creates+maps+of+Ireland’s+border+<br />
region+and+exhibits+them+around+Ireland.+He+has+maps+<br />
in+the+collections+of+the+Arts+Council+of+Northern+<br />
Ireland+and+the+National+<strong>University</strong>+of+Ireland+at+<br />
Maynooth.<br />
Tim&Loane&–&Scriptwriting&<br />
Tim+Loane+has+worked+extensively+as+<br />
a+writer,+director+and+actor+in+film,+<br />
television,+theatre+and+radio+on+local,+<br />
national+and+international+stages.+He+<br />
coNfounded+Tinderbox+Theatre+<br />
Company+in+1998.+His+screenwriting+<br />
includes+Teachers((Channel+4),+Out(of(<br />
the(Deep(Pan((BBC)+and+Reversals(<br />
(ITV).+He+directed+the+short+film+Dance(Lexie(Dance(<br />
which+was+nominated+for+an+Academy+Award+in+1997.+(<br />
Dr&Darran&McCann&–&&Prose&Fiction&and&Drama<br />
Dr+Darran+McCann+is+from+Armagh+<br />
City.+He+was+educated+at+Trinity+<br />
College,+Dublin,+and+Dublin+City+<br />
<strong>University</strong>.+He+worked+as+a+journalist,+<br />
and+had+work+published+in+local+and+<br />
national+newspapers+and+magazines+<br />
throughout+Ireland+and+the+UK,+before+becoming+a+<br />
news+reporter+on+the+staff+of+<strong>Belfast</strong>’s+Irish+News.++He+<br />
went+on+to+earn+an+<strong>MA</strong>,+then+Ph.D,+in+<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+<br />
at+Queen’s+<strong>University</strong>,+<strong>Belfast</strong>+–+the+latter+being+the+first+<br />
time+a+doctorate+in+<strong>Creative</strong>+<strong>Writing</strong>+had+ever+been+<br />
awarded+by+an+Irish+university.<br />
His+play,+Confession,+was+produced+by+Accidental+<br />
Theatre+Co.+at+the+Brian+Friel+Theatre,+<strong>Belfast</strong>,+in+2008.+<br />
His+debut+novel,+After(the(Lockout,+was+published+<br />
internationally+by+Fourth+Estate+in+2012.<br />
Dr&Sinéad&Morrissey&–&Poetry&<br />
Sinéad+Morrissey+is+the+author+of+<br />
four+poetry+collections:+There(Was(<br />
Fire(in(Vancouver((1996),+Between(<br />
Here(and(There((2002),+The(State(of(<br />
the(Prisons((2005)+and+Through(the(Square(Window(<br />
(2009).+Her+prizes+include+The+Rupert+and+Eithne+<br />
Strong+Award,+The+Patrick+Kavanagh+Award,+The+<br />
Michael+Hartnett+Poetry+Prize+and+The+Irish+Times+<br />
Poetry+Prize.+In+2007+she+was+received+a+Lannan+<br />
Literary+Fellowship.
Former&Students’&Success:<br />
Many+of+our+students+have+gone+on+to+successful+<br />
writing+careers+in+their+chosen+fields.+Some+examples+<br />
of+student+successes+are+listed+below:<br />
• Eoghan+Walls:+winner+of+an+Eric+Gregory+Award;+<br />
first+collection,+The(Salt(Harvest,(Seren,+2011.<br />
• Olive+Broderick:+winner+of+the+Hennessy+XO+<br />
Literary+Award+(Emerging+Poet)+2009;+winner+of+<br />
the+Templar+Poetry+Pamphlet+Competition+(2009).<br />
• Sheena+Wilkinson:+first+novel,+Taking(Flight,(<br />
published+2010+by+New+Island+Press,+winner+of+the+<br />
Bisto+Honour+Award+for+Children’s+Book+of+the+<br />
Year.<br />
• Helen+Madden:+winner+of+the+inaugural+nonNfiction+<br />
GQ+Norman+Mailer+Award,+2010.<br />
• Vanessa+Pope:+winner+of+the+BBC+Tony+Doyle+<br />
Bursary,+2010,+for+her+screenplay,+The(Eastside(<br />
Princess.<br />
• Sheila+Llewellyn:+winner+of+the+P.+J.+O’Connor+<br />
Radio+Drama+Award,+2011,+for+The(House(on(<br />
Shareni(Street.<br />
• Patrick+Fitzsimons:+awarded+a+commission+as+part+<br />
of+BBC+NI+TV+Drama’s+Prime(Time(slot,+2011.+<br />
How&to&Apply&and&Funding<br />
Applicants+should+apply+for+a+place+on+the+relevant+<br />
programme+via+the+<strong>University</strong>’s+online+application+<br />
system+at+N+https://dap.qub.ac.uk/portal/+N+and+may+do+<br />
so+until+3+June+2012+for+September+2013+entry.++<br />
Applications+submitted+between+2+March+and+4+June+<br />
2013+will+not+be+eligible+to+be+considered+for+funding.++<br />
The+application+requires+a+record+of+undergraduate+<br />
academic+results,+a+sample+of+written+work,+and+two+<br />
academic+references.<br />
The+School+of+English+commits+a+proportion+of+its+<br />
annual+budget+to+fund+postgraduate+taught+and+<br />
research+students.++Home+and+EU+students+are+eligible+<br />
for+awards+from+the+Arts+&+Humanities+Research+<br />
Council+(AHRC)+and+Department+for+Employment+&+<br />
Learning+(DEL).++International+students+can+avail+of+<br />
awards+from+the+<strong>University</strong>,+amongst+other+sources.++<br />
General+information+about+postgraduate+study+at+<br />
<strong>Queen's</strong>+is+available+at:+http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/<br />
ProspectiveStudents/PostgraduateStudents/.++<br />
Funding&for&September&2013&Entry<br />
Deadline+for+applications+to+be+considered+for+funding:+<br />
February&22nd,&2013++<br />
The+deadline+for+selfNfunding+applicants+is+June+3rd,+<br />
2013.+<br />
Towards+the+end+of+my+BA+in+English+Literature+at+<br />
Durham+<strong>University</strong>,+I+knew+I+wanted+to+go+on+to+an+<strong>MA</strong>,+<br />
but+felt+a+desire+to+shift+the+focus+slightly+–+from+<br />
primarily+studying+poetry,+to+primarily+writing+it.+Of+<br />
course,+as+is+often+stressed+by+more+cynical+<br />
commentators,+nobody+needs+a+degree+in+<strong>Creative</strong>+<br />
<strong>Writing</strong>+in+order+to+write+creatively.+However,+I+can+<br />
safely+say+that+during+my+<strong>MA</strong>+at+the+Seamus+Heaney+<br />
Centre+I+felt+a+vast+improvement+in+my+understanding+<br />
of+poetic+craft+and+technique,+and+in+my+knowledge+of+<br />
modern+and+contemporary+poetry.+This+was+not+only+as+<br />
a+result+of+the+intensive+nature+of+the+course+with+its+<br />
challenging+and+thoughtNprovoking+assignments,+but+<br />
also+thanks+to+the+culture+of+creativity+that+exists+in+the+<br />
Heaney+Centre.+Being+taught+by+outstanding+poets,+<br />
novelists+and+scriptwriters,+in+the+company+of+likeN<br />
minded+students,+was+nothing+short+of+inspiring.+<br />
Towards+the+end+of+the+<strong>MA</strong>,+I+discussed+with+my+tutor+<br />
the+option+of+applying+for+a+PhD.+I+had+never+really+<br />
considered+doctoral+study+before.+However,+the+work+<br />
completed+on+the+<strong>MA</strong>+course+was+so+invigorating+that+<br />
the+PhD+suddenly+felt+like+a+natural+progression.+More+<br />
than+anything+else,+it+presented+itself+as+a+chance+to+<br />
expand+on+the+ideas+and+poetic+ambitions+which+the+<br />
<strong>MA</strong>+had+fostered.+The+prospect+of+spending+three+years+<br />
working+on+a+chosen+writing+project,+overseen+by<br />
supervisors+I+respect+and+admire,+was+–+in+short+–+<br />
irresistible.+<br />
At+this+stage+of+proceedings,+it+has+already+lived+up+to+<br />
its+promise.+I+can+only+look+forward+to+what+else+is+in+<br />
store.<br />
Ben&Maier,&a&doctoral&<br />
student&in&his&second&<br />
year,&reflects&on&why&he&<br />
chose&<strong>Creative</strong>&<strong>Writing</strong>.
For&further&information,&contact:<br />
Linda+Drain<br />
Secretary,+Postgraduate+Education<br />
School of English<br />
2 <strong>University</strong> Square<br />
Queen’s School+of+English<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>Belfast</strong><br />
<strong>Belfast</strong><br />
BT7 1NN<br />
Queen’s+<strong>University</strong>+<strong>Belfast</strong><br />
<strong>Belfast</strong>+BT7+1NN<br />
N.+Ireland<br />
Tel: 028 9097 3320<br />
Fax: pgenglish@qub.ac.uk<br />
028 9097 3334<br />
Web: www.qub.ac.uk/english<br />
Email: pgenglish@qub.ac.uk<br />
School of English<br />
2 <strong>University</strong> Square<br />
Queen’s <strong>University</strong> <strong>Belfast</strong><br />
<strong>Belfast</strong><br />
BT7 1NN<br />
Tel: 028 9097 3320<br />
Fax: 028 9097 3334<br />
Web: www.qub.ac.uk/english<br />
Email: pgenglish@qub.ac.uk<br />
http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofEnglish/ProspectiveStudents/<br />
N112666<br />
Design: www.darraghneely.com<br />
Adapted+from+a+design+by:<br />
N112666 Design: www.darraghneely.com