Why study Creative Writing?

There is something about a creative writing degree that makes it a little like an art school for people who write.  For sure, the main thing we focus on is trying to make sure that the students improve their writing, but it is also important to create the right kind of atmosphere – something friendly, creative, inclusive, industrious, productive.  A lot of students will join the course having only ever shown their work to a small number of friends: talking about writing with strangers can seem a little bit daunting and the world you sometimes read about of Booker prizes and publishers' advances might look like something from another planet.  What we try to do is to make it alright to talk about your own work and to have what you are saying taken seriously.  We study the tools and techniques of writing and look at our students' work in the context of writing that gets published, just as an art course might look at materials and methods in the context of what is shown in galleries.  We create an atmosphere where writing students can thrive.  Inside and outside of the classroom we appreciate how important your writing is to you.  We want to make it possible for you to achieve things with your writing.

What's special about Creative Writing at Bolton?

We make sure the creative writing degree stays fresh and provocative because we are always returning to the question of what writing actually is – is it more to do with literary tradition or self-expression, more about technique or originality? Our staff includes writers with impressive national reputations but even they are not sure they have all the answers.  Still, we hope you will join us in working away at the problem.

We are proud of having a diverse body of students. The degree is available for both joint- and single-honours students, full-time or part-time, by September or February entry. People enrolled at Bolton include many straight from school or sixth-form college, many mature students who bring a lifetime's interest to their creative work, a large number of people from the region, people from all over the country and a number of students from across Europe. The most important qualification before you join us is a love of writing and we may ask you to show us some of your written work.

Although sometimes overshadowed by Manchester, Bolton has always produced successful, creative individuals. Peter Kay, Badly Drawn Boy, Ian Mckellan, the Buzzcocks, Monica Ali, Sara Cox and Bill Naughton all come from Bolton.  Bolton has some impressive theatres, clubs and galleries although it is also useful to remember that the unrivalled cultural life of Manchester is only a 20 minute train ride away.

How is the course delivered?

One thing we should make clear is that we never actually tell you how to write. And, let's face it, would you really want us to? Instead, we think creative writing is about empowering the student to go ahead and produce their own work with a better developed sense of what writing actually involves. We can offer guidance and support, but the writing must come from you.

We recognise that everybody has to get started somewhere. You might come to the course having written some things already for your own entertainment or self-expression. You might be pleased with some of the things you have come up with, but maybe you simply want to improve your writing.  We try to guide you through the conventions and techniques used in the poetry, fiction and scripts of the writers whose work gets published and produced.

Another aspect of this brings you into contact with what is happening in the world of writing.  Much of the teaching here makes use of published writing to provide examples of what is possible in your work. The University runs a visiting writers/poets programme, featuring contemporary writers who read and discuss their own work.  

How will the course enhance your future prospects?

The creative writing programme begins by making sure you have a firm grounding in the subject and by the final year requires you to be working independently, making your own creative choices and aiming for your own artistic goals.

Our degree includes a work-related element, introducing students to the kind of occupations that many professional writers might do to supplement their royalty cheques. These include working in writing workshops, publishing, literary organisations, education and promotional outlets.

The opportunity to learn from the experiences of published writers is a valuable part of the Bolton course. We are well placed to help you in making contacts of your own, and enabling you to develop in the world of writing.