Student Writing
Creative writing is an increasingly popular option amongst both undergraduates and postgraduates in the School. Students welcome the opportunity to try out writing for themselves and experiment with some of the literary and linguistic techniques and effects they have learned about in other modules. As the Birmingham writer David Lodge says, ‘The pleasure and enhanced sense of reality you get from reading gives you the urge to try and reproduce that effect on others.’
However studying creative writing is not just about dreams of being a writer; it’s about articulating thoughts and feelings, expressing them clearly and effectively, structuring work, understanding and using the power of language, paying attention to detail and learning about craft and style in writing. All these skills inherently build confidence and can be applied in numerous professions. Plus students leave university with a portfolio of completed writing – something many people spend their lives wishing they could achieve.
This page will feature completed poems and stories by Birmingham City University students, plus occasional contributions from guest writers and previews of forthcoming work. We hope you enjoy the writing.
Writing on this site falls into four categories:
- Stories
- Poetry
- Plays & Screenplays
- Analysis
- The Shed - Entries in last years mini-story challenge
English students are also active in the local literary scene, with performances and readings at the Midlands Arts Centre and a poetry club, Sunday Xpress, which meets at The Market Tavern, Digbeth on Sunday evenings (call 0121 4713445 if you're interested). Mary Rochford has had two stories accepted for the Midlands Arts Centre 'Short Cuts' series , Heather Wassall has also had a short story accepted for this event (see the Short Cuts Site for further information). Mark Kilburn is on a writing attachment at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and hopes to see his play 'My American Cousin' in production next year.