Apply now for 2012 MA Creative Writing intake

It's only week 6 for our new cohort of MA Creative Writing students, and we're already getting applications for the September 2012 intake! It seems word about the new, innovative nature of our course is spreading. We've designed a new brochure to tell the world about what we're doing, as you can see from the images scattered through this blog posting.

Our course keeps a strict cap on numbers so we can maintain the highest standard of teaching and mentoring. Student experience is paramount for us. As proof of that, we turn away 3-5 applicants for every student we accept. So who makes it on the course? Talented, committed writers who are willing to make sacrifices to achieve their goasl.

The new class is only our third intake, but we've already attracted students from the United States, Australia, Malaysia, Italy, Finland and across the UK. The good news for full-time Scottish students is we're the only creative writing MA north of the border to offer any funded places [although those places are strictly limited].

Our course is unique in many ways. We don't believe in workshops or peer review as a teaching tool. Instead we offer professional editorial feedback, delivered in a masterclass style. This is supported with at least ten hours of one-to-one mentoring support, and voluminous written feedback is given on formally assessed student work.

Poetry is not an option on our course. Instead we focus on popular genres [crime, horror, science fiction, fantasy, creative non-fiction], commercial storytelling media [graphic novels, screenwriting] and experimental fiction. We train writers for a career, not how to fill in grant application forms.

Sound like we might be the course for you? Then click the full-time or part-time links at the top, right-hand side of this page. Join us!

[BarBelle picture © Steven Cook, used by kind permission]

Star Wars promo for MA course

This Star Wars style promo was created as a fun way of promoting the MA Creative Writing course at Edinburgh Napier University. May the course be with you - always! [Apologies to anyone reading this on an iPad or iPhone, but we can't get this video to work on your devices - yet!]

Former MA students form Illicit Ink

Illicit Ink is another innovation that's grown out of the MA Creative Writing course at Edinburgh Napier University. It runs themed prose reading nights at Cabaret Voltaire's Speakeasy venue on the Cowgate in central Edinburgh. The Illicit Ink team work with and support authors ahead of events, encouraging fun and risk-taking in both stories and performances. Bizarre experiements and collaborations are welcome.

Having sprung from the Edinburgh Napier MA, the team at Illicit Ink have a soft spot for supporting writing students from any programme. Recent events include horror-themed Monsters Ink in October, and a murder mystery evening  in July. Next up is Time Will Tell on Sunday December 4th. If you want to read with Illicit Ink, click here. Read more about Illicit Ink by clicking the blogroll link at right.

Graphic Scotland - championing innovative comics, grassroots writers and artists

Graphic Scotland is an exciting new venture being developed by a graduating student from Edinburgh Napier's Creative Writing MA [with plenty of help from others]. Ariadne Cass-Maran was inspired to set up Graphic Scotland after taking our course module on writing for graphic fiction. [This post-graduate module is believed to be unique to Edinburgh Napier's course, and is taught by ex-2000AD editor David Bishop.]

Graphic Scotland aims to promote the best of Scottish graphic fiction by showcasing grassroots writers and artists. Another of its core aims is broadening appreciation of this exciting narrative medium to a wider, more diverse audience. The days when comics only meant superheroes or The Beano are long gone! To help you keep an eye on Graphic Scotland, we've added it to our blogroll on the right.