ENGL43930: The Word in the World

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• To introduce students to a broad range of ways in which their creative work (and, as appropriate, their skills and experience as creative practitioners) may be made available to the public, and to the possibilities and challenges presented by the different methods.
• To introduce students to the practicalities of how to get published and make a living as a writer.
• To allow students to gain insights, and practical experience, of how the publishing industry works and broader literary culture operates.

• Teaching will be provided through seminars, including guest talks from visiting writers, artists, and industry experts (agents, editors, etc). This part of the module will be assessed via an essay on an aspect of contemporary literary culture OR a case-study of a specific publisher, literary organization, or literary project.
• Students will also be asked to research and prepare materials for a draft submission to an appropriate literary organisation (i.e. agent, editor, literary magazine). This will be assessed by a covering letter, synopsis/pitch and sample of work.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• An advanced understanding of the contexts and considerations in which literary works are created, published, promoted and received, for instance, how writers make a living; where to send work; how to write a pitch letter; how to approach an agent; how to go about submitting work to literary journals; how the editorial process works; how literature is promoted; how to go about writing a book review; how to adjust approach literary events and teaching opportunities according to the setting and audience.
• An advanced ability to develop and reflect critically on professional practice within an industry, teaching or interdisciplinary collaborative context.

Subject-specific Skills:

• An advanced ability to work with others in a professional context.
• An ability to prepare materials for submission according to relevant professional standards.

Key Skills:

• Sophisticated skills in critical reasoning and problem solving.
• An advanced ability to analyse critically.
• Practice of developing poetry or imaginative prose and supporting materials for professional submission.
• Information-technology skills such as word-processing and electronic data access information.
• Professional conduct skills, e.g. observing professional academic standards, including correct referencing of sources.
• Professional organisation and time-management skills.

• Seminars: these will be led by in-house colleagues, and will include guest talks by visiting literary industry experts, e.g. writers, editors, publicists, agents.
• Students will have the opportunity to develop and contribute to literary projects, if they wish, which may form the basis of a case study, e.g. contributing to the student-led publication of an annual creative writing anthology.
• As part of the coursework portfolio, students will be required to write a report which should include a summary of research into a target professional publication, a draft cover letter and synopsis and a sample of creative work.

Each student is entitled to a consultation to discuss their plans for the summative assessment. This activity will not be centrally timetabled and should be organised between the tutor and student as schedules permit.

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