BA Literary Studies with Creative Writing

About this course

Literary studies with creative writing is a combination that pairs the analytical and interpretive discipline of reading literature with the creative and craft-based practice of writing it. Literary studies asks you to read carefully, to understand how texts produce their effects, to situate literature within its historical and cultural contexts, and to engage critically with the ideas, arguments and aesthetic choices that great writing embodies. Creative writing asks you to produce original work in prose, poetry and other forms, developing your own voice and technique through workshops, feedback and the sustained practice of the craft. At the University of Suffolk this degree is designed to cultivate both your creative talents and your analytical abilities, recognising that the two activities reinforce each other. Reading widely and critically develops your understanding of technique and possibility, which in turn enriches your own writing. Writing seriously gives you a practical understanding of the choices that authors face, which deepens your engagement with literary texts as acts of craft and decision-making as well as meaning. The programme runs full time over three years. You will engage with literary texts across periods, genres and traditions, developing critical reading and analytical writing skills alongside the creative abilities that workshops and independent writing develop. You will build a portfolio of original creative work across the three years of study, which is both the primary evidence of your development as a writer and a foundation for your professional identity after graduation. Graduates from literary studies with creative writing programmes pursue careers in writing, publishing, editing, journalism, education, arts administration, content creation and communications. The combination of analytical rigour and creative practice is valued by employers across a broad range of creative and professional fields. Postgraduate study in creative writing, literary studies or publishing is also a natural progression for those seeking specialist expertise.

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