Certificate in Creative Writing

Course details

This course is designed to help you understand fundamental issues in the creative writing process and assist you to develop as a writer. As well as shaping your personal writing strategies, you will be encouraged to become self critical of your creative work and style. Issues on how to get published will also be explored.

You are required to complete assignments during the year, but there are no written examinations. 

Aims and Learning Objectives

The module aims to provide students with the confidence and basic skills to tackle at least four of the major creative writing genres, including memoir, short fiction, poetry and feature writing. On completion of the programme you will be able to:

• Understand some of the key concepts in creative writing such as character delineation and narrative perspective
• Read other writers with a view to learning more about the craft of writing by seeing what they have achieved
• Establish a regular creative writing practice in your own time
• Have the confidence to present your work for feedback to a supportive group of peers
• Evaluate your own work to the point that you have a good instinct for when to redraft
• Research publishing outlets and submit your work should you feel ready to do so

What topics will I study?

• The business of form
• Narratives
• Short fiction
• The novella
• The novel
• Getting published

What are the Entry Requirements?

• If you already hold an honours degree in an appropriate discipline, or are eligible for an APEL application, you may apply for a postgraduate programme.
• If you do not hold an Honours Degree, you may be interested in our BA (Hons) in English, Media and Cultural Studies (CAO Code: DL241).You will be eligible for an exemption from the Creative Writing module in Year 2.
• Leaving Certificate Examination or equivalent (NQF Level 5). Applicants without this can also be considered based on their prior experience and learning (APEL).