The National Academy of Writing - Diploma in Writing
Applications are now being accepted for July 2010, details.
Structure of the course
Students enrol for one module at a time, and can take up to 5 years to complete the course. Taught modules will take place on Wednesday afternoons and evenings. There will be periods of intensive teaching on campus, a final project, and an ongoing portfolio detailing professional development.
In addition to modules run by Birmingham City University staff, there will be regular visits by Academy patrons. Attendance at these patron visits should be detailed as part of the portfolio of professional development.
At the end of each year there is the NAW show and publication of the annual NAW anthology, both of which offer excellent national showcasing opportunities.
The course is delivered making extensive use of the Moodle e-learning interface, especially forums, allowing constant contact with fellow students.
Compulsory Modules
Qualifying module: 12 credits. A week’s intensive teaching, followed by two weeks home study before students submit a portfolio of work to be assessed. Admission to the other course modules will be on the basis of this work.
The next qualifying module is July 2010.
Professional Development: 24 credits. Assessment by continuous professional development portfolio. This part of the course will be taught by tutorial and ongoing guidance. Portfolios will vary, depending on students’ individual aims and aspirations, but may include any of: Work with radio journalists / filmmakers, involvement in publication of Birmingham City University anthology or magazine, evidence of contact with agents / publishers, involvement in New Generation Arts festival, reports on masterclasses attended, mentoring BA Creative Writing students, building websites for aspiring writers… The contents of the portfolio will be led by the student’s own ambitions and interests.
Final Project: 24 credits. Dissertation project consisting of a significant body of creative work and analytical essay. The work could be: A collection of stories; an original screenplay / adaptation or section of; a continuous section of a novel or piece of narrative non-fiction. The accompanying essay should explore the creative process, and explain influences and inspiration behind the piece of work.
Reading into Writing: 12 credits. In order to help students improve their skills as imaginative and attentive readers, a literature-based module in which themes of literary appreciation and adaptation are explored.
Optional Modules
Three out of four of the following core modules, each of which provide an opportunity for students to develop a substantial piece of work in the particular genre:
Fiction: 24 credits
Creative Non-Fiction: 24 credits
Screenwriting: 24 credits More information on the screenwriting module.
Scipting and Staging: 24 credits
About the National Academy of Writing
The National Academy of Writing believes that the best way for new writers to learn is from established peers. We aim to provide professional training, similar to that available for musicians or actors. Entry to our courses is open to all, regardless of previous experience or qualifications. The only requirements are talent and a commitment to writing.
At the heart of the Academy are its patrons, practising writers, many of whom are household names:
- Diran Adebayo
- Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
- Carole Angier
- Lisa Appignanesi
- Michael Arditti
- Margaret Atwood
- Patrick Augustus
- Beryl Bainbridge
- Iain Banks
- Antony Beevor
- Sujata Bhatt
- Terence Blacker
- Malorie Blackman
- Alan Bleasdale
- Rosie Boycott
- William Boyd
- Melvyn Bragg
- Celia Brayfield
- Simon Brett
- Tina Brown
- Elizabeth Buchan
- Melvin Burgess
- John Burnside
- James Buxton
- A.S. Byatt
- Jung Chang
- Mavis Cheek
- Kate Clanchy
- Jonathan Coe
- Bernard Cornwell
- Jim Crace
- Richard Curtis
- David Dabydeen
- Jill Dawson
- Roddy Doyle
- Patricia Duncker
- Harold Evans
- Helen Fielding
- Ken Follett
- Antonia Fraser
- Jamila Gavin
- Pam Gems
- Peter Gill
- John Godber
- Maurice Gran
- Linda Grant
- Romesh Gunesekera
- Lee Hall
- Peter Hall
- Christopher Hampton
- Josephine Hart
- Zinnie Harris
- Roy Hattersley
- Peter Hennessy
- Tobias Hill
- Michael Holroyd
- Nick Hornby
- Philip Howard
- Will Hutton
- Robert Irwin
- Kazuo Ishiguro
- Amy Jenkins
- Simon Jenkins
- Linton Kwesi Johnson
- Liane Jones
- Russell Celyn Jones
- Graham Joyce
- Jackie Kay
- John Keegan
- Thomas Keneally
- Mary Killen
- Daren King
- Matthew Kneale
- Hanif Kureishi
- Lynda La Plante
- Doris Lessing
- Andrea Levy
- David Lodge
- Michael Longley
Laurence Marks
- Andrew Marr
Blake Morrison
- Andrew Motion
- Paul Muldoon
- Andrew Neil
- Sean O’Brien
- Ruth Padel
- Brian Patten
- Allison Pearson
- Alan Plater
- Philip Pullman
- Ian Rankin
- Andrew Rawnsley
- James Roose-Evans
- Willy Russell
- Jo Shapcott
- Ahdaf Soueif
- Shelagh Stephenson
- George Szirtes
- Stella Tillyard
- Barry Turner
- Lynne Truss
- Barry Unsworth
- Minette Walters
- Timberlake Wertenbaker
- Jacqueline Wilson
- Simon Winchester
- Theodore Zeldin
- Benjamin Zephaniah
Melvyn Bragg on the National Academy of Writing (Guardian Online)