Creative Writing

Creative writing is the practice of making literature: finding forms, voices and stories that bring language to life in ways that engage, move and challenge readers. It is a discipline that takes seriously both the craft of writing and the imaginative and intellectual work that underpins it, asking not just how to write well but what you want to say and why it matters. Studying creative writing at degree level gives you a structured environment in which to develop your own voice across multiple forms while also engaging with the traditions and techniques that experienced writers draw on.

At Manchester Metropolitan University's Manchester Writing School, which specialises in developing writing talent across a wide range of established and emerging forms, this three-year full-time programme covers prose fiction, screenwriting, poetry, digital art, spoken word and writing for computer games. You will be taught by writers who are experts in their fields, including award-winning poets, novelists, screenwriters and content creators, in a stimulating and supportive creative environment. A sandwich year gives you the opportunity to apply your skills in a professional context before your final year, and work placement opportunities throughout the programme connect your creative development with real professional environments in writing, publishing, media and the arts.

Creative writing develops a distinctive set of capacities: imaginative flexibility, close attention to language, the ability to inhabit multiple perspectives and to communicate complex ideas with clarity and impact. These are valued across a wide range of professional contexts.

Graduates move into careers as writers, editors, journalists, copywriters, content creators, screenwriters, game writers, teachers and arts practitioners. Many work across multiple creative forms and contexts, and many pursue postgraduate study in creative writing, publishing, journalism or related fields.