What’s the best way to begin writing a novel? Should you plunge straight in and see where your characters and voice take you, or should you do a meticulous plan first? What should a contemporary novel be about? Does it have to be ‘publishable’, and what does that mean? On this module, students will learn how to work with their own experience, opinion, imagination and ideas to create engaging characters, dramatic situations, immersive locations and more. They will have the chance to experiment with different types of planning and writing before they commit to one project. Halfway through the term they will pitch their project to the class and get feedback before they begin writing their novel in earnest. At the end of the module students will have the opening chapters of their own contemporary novel as well as a plan to complete it.
Lecture 16, Workshop 16
3,000 words Portfolio. Assessment Details: Student writing portfolio worth 80%. This Assessment is Pass Compulsory.
P/P presentation of 6-8 pages with images and up to 500 words Presentation. Assessment Details: Pitch worth 20%.
Reassessment Method: Single instrument 100% written assessment (3000 words)
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
Analyse and reflect on a range of contemporary novels as technical exemplars of the principles of novel writing.
Understand the structure of the contemporary novel and apply this understanding to their own work
Create the beginning of their own contemporary novel
Evaluate and interpret both exemplar texts and the work of their peers with open-mindedness, curiosity, and critical acumen
Communicate creative ideas in a clear and engaging manner in the form of a pitch
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