tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61482382140538903602024-02-07T04:04:12.630+00:00MA Creative WritingWant to make a career in writing? Edinburgh Napier University has the course for you. DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-78761819056983145142023-11-23T16:39:00.003+00:002023-11-23T16:39:32.515+00:00We are now OPEN for Sept 2024 applications! Plus: how we select you, what makes us unique <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCKkGjj5fIB9THfFb_70wmGIlTMhM6xJ8rd9a04k5w_JYKxJT7ki0sbMzwsHI1jme-2hg_sFNi0mJMwqgLSaAJ2SMDGnVHwdJlaSuP1yzpjl-gUIdsAuaLH86hL9WW7SLrk5OSCfyv9yqUitmSV9yn70UMbHKq0Mz1eHrbaYmo040BCt-B49PAG-TMasK/s7008/andrea-de-santis-1hR8KNCbWIw-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7008" data-original-width="4672" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCKkGjj5fIB9THfFb_70wmGIlTMhM6xJ8rd9a04k5w_JYKxJT7ki0sbMzwsHI1jme-2hg_sFNi0mJMwqgLSaAJ2SMDGnVHwdJlaSuP1yzpjl-gUIdsAuaLH86hL9WW7SLrk5OSCfyv9yqUitmSV9yn70UMbHKq0Mz1eHrbaYmo040BCt-B49PAG-TMasK/w133-h200/andrea-de-santis-1hR8KNCbWIw-unsplash.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>The Creative Writing MA
at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland is now OPEN for applications
to join our September 2024 cohort. Full details about our selection
process can be found below, but we are already interviewing applicants for our next student cohort!<p></p><p>We
have a rolling selection process.
If you successfully complete all
three stages, we offer you a place within 24 hours of being
interviewed by us. That means we usually start wait-listing people from
May each year. Some places in the September 2024 cohort are already occupied by students who deferred starting for a
year, and the remaining places will fill up fast. The sooner you apply,
the better!</p><p>
What makes our creative writing MA so popular? For a start, we put <b>genre fiction</b>
front and centre in our course. If you love science
fiction, fantasy, crime, horror, historical or stories for YA readers, many creative writing MFAs and MAs don't want to know
- but we embrace great genre writing and people who want to write it.<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
Another unique focus at Edinburgh Napier is <b>graphic novels and comics</b>,
which most programmes ignore. We love this medium so
much we devote an entire module about it, <i>Writing Graphic Fiction</i>. [Good news: no talent for drawing required!] <br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br />
There are <b><i>no peer review workshops</i> </b>in
Creative Writing MA classes at Edinburgh Napier. This boggles the minds of some, as such workshops are the
dominant teaching approach for creative writing pretty much everywhere
else. We encourage students to swap work and feedback - but outside the classroom.<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br />
Instead, you are encouraged to critically self-reflect on your work
[with prompts from us], and to share that thinking. You get <b>professional editorial feedback</b> on your writing and your self-reflection skills, delivered masterclass-style in class. And you get six hours of one-to-one <b>mentoring</b>.<br />
<i><br />
<b>If that sounds enticing, here's how you apply for our course. Like so
much of our programme, the admissions process we use to select students
also
seems to be unique...</b></i><br />
<br />
First, you fill in and submit an <b>application form</b> [there are
links to an online version top right of this page]. We
welcome applicants who already have a degree - it doesn't have to be in
English literature or some form of creative writing. We
also recognise prior learning and writing experience in those who don't have a degree yet. <br />
<br />
The crucial section of your form is the <b>personal statement.</b> This is where you tell us about your aspirations as a writer, and how our programme can help you achieve them. Here's a hint: <i>don't just copy and paste a standard personal statement</i>. We look to see if applicants have done their research on the course and have enthusiasm for our specialisms.<br />
<br />
Do your homework and research our programme. If you want your application taken
seriously, show us you've taken our course seriously. Remember, your personal
statement is also a chance to showcase your ability as a writer. So blow our socks
off!<br />
<br />
All being well, we'll progress you to stage two of our selection
process. We don't expect a writing sample with your application. Instead
we'll invite you to undertake a <b>writing challenge</b> for which
you'll have a week to create an original short story of up to 500 words.
This matches the writing challenges students face many weeks on our MA.<br />
<br />
We give you a choice of first sentences. You
select one and use that as the opening for your story. We let you
decide when to receive the brief, so you can choose a week to suit you.
And we include the criteria used to assess your story, so the process is
transparent.<br />
<br />
Once you've sent in your story, we read and assess it. Some applicants
get turned away at this stage - we take roughly one out of every five
people who apply. But if your story shows promise, we invite you to an online<b> interview</b>.<br />
<br />
The interview lasts up to an hour. During that time we use a teaching and learning activity
from the MA to assess you. This also gives you insight into our programme and how we teach. Your interview
should be <b>an enjoyable experience</b>, not an interrogation!<br />
<br />
<b>We let you know within a day</b> if we're offering you a place - no waiting for months to find out [and no fee to apply, either!]. We
use a rolling admissions process: once we're full, we're full. </div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody"> <br />
If you still have any questions, get in touch before you
apply. Email programme leader David Bishop here: <b>d.bishop@napier.ac.uk</b>. The sooner you apply, the
better your chances...
</div>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-81887065668493224042023-07-31T10:09:00.001+01:002023-07-31T10:09:18.261+01:00We are CLOSED for new applications to join our Sept 2023 MA Creative Writing MA cohort<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEq-dGQ3QtDqTt5mRT_s1vQysxcUB1uR7SX1dEDsnNkBOYa7197NEumxjBQCqfdJr6jU4e-59tLALJIoerYT_YNK3JccYzBhuTH_NuNALfsRPQ_jukkKC-9gmzLuxaALegkOCwwTjw1PNc6nAK-rdPa032PhTlb25FOOlCBBxUQaWig-nPWn2pFgO3ZSmv/s7500/tim-mossholder-Ee-DnKZYmWU-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4998" data-original-width="7500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEq-dGQ3QtDqTt5mRT_s1vQysxcUB1uR7SX1dEDsnNkBOYa7197NEumxjBQCqfdJr6jU4e-59tLALJIoerYT_YNK3JccYzBhuTH_NuNALfsRPQ_jukkKC-9gmzLuxaALegkOCwwTjw1PNc6nAK-rdPa032PhTlb25FOOlCBBxUQaWig-nPWn2pFgO3ZSmv/s320/tim-mossholder-Ee-DnKZYmWU-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The MA Creative Writing programme at Edinburgh Napier University is now
closed for new applications to join the September 2023 cohort. We
re-open in November 2023 for applications to our September
2024 cohort.<p></p><p>You can still apply to our fully online MA Writing Genre Fiction programme. A new cohort is due to start that innovative course of study in January 2024. <a href="https://www.napier.ac.uk/courses/ma-writing-genre-fiction-postgraduate-online-learning" target="_blank"><br />You can find out more information about it here. </a><br /></p><p></p>Watch this space for further updates!DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-10698181107813894722022-11-16T21:25:00.006+00:002022-11-16T21:25:51.724+00:00We are now OPEN for Sept 2023 applications! Plus: how we select you, what makes us unique<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYNPfJbTh-iBsqoXpWJ6x9Ii7T03x5DgZ_fSCrsLQ4zg7LpQ1RHCp7Gdrii5uWaQYYXVNb0-L3FgLa3QOxWoqqwNDJFQ-2iJ7XWBmIxs-v0ayvm43a520MzBfAXWVGzxEQmnLKCRLxdAM5NWGvQAeIp0ymtZXd_MOzEUTRy1ew3YnmtRpI4XCyllOuyg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3875" data-original-width="5812" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYNPfJbTh-iBsqoXpWJ6x9Ii7T03x5DgZ_fSCrsLQ4zg7LpQ1RHCp7Gdrii5uWaQYYXVNb0-L3FgLa3QOxWoqqwNDJFQ-2iJ7XWBmIxs-v0ayvm43a520MzBfAXWVGzxEQmnLKCRLxdAM5NWGvQAeIp0ymtZXd_MOzEUTRy1ew3YnmtRpI4XCyllOuyg" width="320" /></a></div>The Creative Writing MA
at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland is now OPEN for applications
to join our September 2023 cohort. Full details about our selection
process can be found below, but we are already looking at applications for our next student cohort!<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">We have a rolling selection process.
If you successfully complete all
three stages, we offer you a place within 24 hours of being
interviewed by us. That means we usually start wait-listing people from
May each year. Some places in the September 2023
cohort are already occupied by students who deferred starting for a year, and the remaining places will fill up fast. The sooner you apply, the better!<br /></div></div><p>
What makes our creative writing MA so popular? For a start, we put <b>genre fiction</b>
front and centre in our course. If you love science
fiction, fantasy, crime, horror, historical or stories for YA readers, many creative writing MFAs and MAs don't want to know
- but we embrace great genre writing and people who want to write it.<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
Another unique focus at Edinburgh Napier is <b>graphic novels and comics</b>,
which most programmes ignore. We love this medium so
much we devote an entire module about it, <i>Writing Graphic Fiction</i>. [Good news: no talent for drawing required!] <br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br />
There are <b><i>no peer review workshops</i> </b>in
Creative Writing MA classes at Edinburgh Napier. This boggles the minds of some, as such workshops are the
dominant teaching approach for creative writing pretty much everywhere
else. We encourage students to swap work and feedback - but outside the classroom.<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br />
Instead, you are encouraged to critically self-reflect on your work
[with prompts from us], and to share that thinking. You get <b>professional editorial feedback</b> on your writing and your self-reflection skills, delivered masterclass-style in class. And you get six hours of one-to-one <b>mentoring</b>.<br />
<i><br />
<b>If that sounds enticing, here's how you apply for our course. Like so
much of our programme, the admissions process we use to select students
also
seems to be unique...</b></i><br />
<br />
First, you fill in and submit an <b>application form</b> [there are
links to an online version top right of this page]. We
welcome applicants who already have a degree - it doesn't have to be in
English literature or some form of creative writing. We
also recognise prior learning and writing experience in those who don't have a degree yet. <br />
<br />
The crucial section of your form is the <b>personal statement.</b> This is where you tell us about your aspirations as a writer, and how our programme can help you achieve them. Here's a hint: <i>don't just copy and paste a standard personal statement</i>. We look to see if applicants have done their research on the course and have enthusiasm for our specialisms.<br />
<br />
Do your homework and research our programme. If you want your application taken
seriously, show us you've taken our course seriously. Remember, your personal
statement is also a chance to showcase your ability as a writer. So blow our socks
off!<br />
<br />
All being well, we'll progress you to stage two of our selection
process. We don't expect a writing sample with your application. Instead
we'll invite you to undertake a <b>writing challenge</b> for which you'll have a week to create an original short story of up to 500 words. This matches the writing challenges students face many weeks on our MA.<br />
<br />
We give you a choice of first sentences. You
select one and use that as the opening fofor your story. We let you
decide when to receive the brief, so you can choose a week to suit you.
And we include the criteria used to assess your story, so the process is
transparent.<br />
<br />
Once you've sent in your story, we read and assess it. Some applicants
get turned away at this stage - we take roughly one out of every five
people who apply. But if your story shows promise, we invite you to an online<b> interview</b>.<br />
<br />
The interview lasts up to an hour. During that time we use a teaching and learning activity
from the MA to assess you. This also gives you insight into our programme and how we teach. Your interview
should be <b>an enjoyable experience</b>, <br />not an interrogation!<br />
<br />
<b>We let you know within a day</b> if we're offering you a place - no waiting for months to find out [and no fee to apply, either!]. We
use a rolling admissions process: once we're full, we're full. </div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody"> <br />
If you still have any questions, get in touch before you
apply. Email programme leader David Bishop here: <b>d.bishop@napier.ac.uk</b>. The sooner you apply, the
better your chances...
</div>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-89017876086623186642022-08-03T11:06:00.004+01:002022-08-03T11:06:55.703+01:00We are now CLOSED for new applications to join our MA Creative Writing Sept. '22 cohort<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItSa8cMU5ds5d38X-BOlQBA95KpCYL5R6CwfKEgEHDYmwbIGZUr6jdroe3UTfw-5gnE8QOBl8OEL-33L43PWg2gBXGjsJ0v5ZC5DlV3FbIAqtHRwpB0JHOWYXiU-vIpDYWKVlKGgQIJRwops6zns1dJ9_pU4pfBdpZeIzfM8OouIQLP0Ri0-tNCTtNA/s6188/tim-mossholder-68S8iQIWdGc-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6188" data-original-width="4419" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItSa8cMU5ds5d38X-BOlQBA95KpCYL5R6CwfKEgEHDYmwbIGZUr6jdroe3UTfw-5gnE8QOBl8OEL-33L43PWg2gBXGjsJ0v5ZC5DlV3FbIAqtHRwpB0JHOWYXiU-vIpDYWKVlKGgQIJRwops6zns1dJ9_pU4pfBdpZeIzfM8OouIQLP0Ri0-tNCTtNA/w143-h200/tim-mossholder-68S8iQIWdGc-unsplash.jpg" width="143" /></a></div><br />The MA Creative Writing programme at Edinburgh Napier University is now closed for new applications to join the September 2022 cohort. We re-open in November 2022 for those wishing to apply for our September 2023 cohort.<p></p><p>Watch this space for further updates!<br /></p>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-22216318006902869962022-03-22T14:45:00.000+00:002022-03-22T14:45:08.382+00:00New memoirs coming from MA Creative Writing graduates Catherine Simpson & Ali Millar<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBm-CzcA_sRqZ-w5weGow2o3nMNxhV-rVlnX-0-EHWEJnmy29R7diic6-fd2slMm3uZxLf8dY8JDWo-Gvt-_HZ4tfA880dpMAzmPlmw61c3qHQGmiD4SvMLtt1BhHCeiQZK6KRenSXg5Ku5WENJvihiPHWg4zjYAqEH62gaHvvvWb0KkmMDrEU0v2aw/s1180/The%20Last%20Days%20cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBm-CzcA_sRqZ-w5weGow2o3nMNxhV-rVlnX-0-EHWEJnmy29R7diic6-fd2slMm3uZxLf8dY8JDWo-Gvt-_HZ4tfA880dpMAzmPlmw61c3qHQGmiD4SvMLtt1BhHCeiQZK6KRenSXg5Ku5WENJvihiPHWg4zjYAqEH62gaHvvvWb0KkmMDrEU0v2aw/w163-h200/The%20Last%20Days%20cover.png" width="163" /></a></div>We're delighted that two graduates of the MA Creative Writing programme at Edinburgh Napier University are publishing memoirs this year -<i> One Body</i> by Catherine Simpson (from Saraband Books in April), and <i>The Last Days</i> by Ali Millar (Ebury Press, July).<p></p><p><em>One Body</em> is described as 'the candid and often darkly funny story of
how Catherine navigates her cancer treatment and takes stock of the emotions
and reflections it provokes, until she is in remission. She comes to appreciate the skin she is in – to be grateful for her body
and all that it does and is.' </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnYFHSg9lLVnqt6pczWuv6ZyeUykLiIjMH91ptj9hc9M7XTan--coYrX-ztHo9fj6KCWKAQU8p3mzSaqc3a7sJgrJDq6dNXhPZKedehPFcx0ArYtbH_2WhbK5Z4i4PYP68h3MjJ2rm3Mc4KISJRURwN2XpwN9FfLqDkeWoM-YaLgPF1BRqodNorKXDw/s1402/One%20Body%20cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="912" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnYFHSg9lLVnqt6pczWuv6ZyeUykLiIjMH91ptj9hc9M7XTan--coYrX-ztHo9fj6KCWKAQU8p3mzSaqc3a7sJgrJDq6dNXhPZKedehPFcx0ArYtbH_2WhbK5Z4i4PYP68h3MjJ2rm3Mc4KISJRURwN2XpwN9FfLqDkeWoM-YaLgPF1BRqodNorKXDw/w130-h200/One%20Body%20cover.png" width="130" /></a></div>It is Catherine's second volume of memoir, following on from the acclaimed <i>When I Had a Little Sister </i>was published by 4th Estate in 2019 to great acclaim. She received a Scottish Book Trust New
Writers Award not long after graduating from the MA, and her debut novel <i>Truestory </i>was
published in 2015. She has been published in numerous anthologies and
magazines, and been broadcast on BBC Radio. <p></p><p><span class="Apple-converted-space"><i>The Last Days</i> by Ali Millar is described as 'a tale of love and darkness, of faith and absolution ... one woman's courageous journey to freedom from the Jehovah's Witnesses.</span> It is one of the <i>Scotsman</i>'s 2022 books to watch.</p><p></p><p><span class="Apple-converted-space">Since graduating Ali has worked in Edinburgh and London,as a producer and broadcast journalist. <i>The Last Days</i> will be her first published book, exploring a childhood growing up in the shadow of religion. It asks the question, can you escape from the life into which you were born?<br /></span></p>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-4277332752110744572021-12-09T08:45:00.000+00:002021-12-09T08:45:00.971+00:00Angry Robot Books publishing second novel by award-winning MA graduate Ever Dundas<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqQ-8rEBVhW1EQzQDSqrJhr9ljmVsciO0-xbbwLYzik5akj4obS_fTOFdllfYrJ0CWBFlzDNnJdJcATpv9npDisqO-kFHhMR1Vq56ERRPvPWdxLVTV2vZxuQ9YQdFABTx_spINUHg4R4y/s1200/FGJZD_nXsAMfxqi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Author Ever Dundas" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqQ-8rEBVhW1EQzQDSqrJhr9ljmVsciO0-xbbwLYzik5akj4obS_fTOFdllfYrJ0CWBFlzDNnJdJcATpv9npDisqO-kFHhMR1Vq56ERRPvPWdxLVTV2vZxuQ9YQdFABTx_spINUHg4R4y/w200-h200/FGJZD_nXsAMfxqi.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Author Ever Dundas<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Acclaimed publisher Angry Robot Books has acquired the second novel by award-winning MA Creative Writing graduate Ever Dundas. The science fiction thriller <i>HellSans</i> will be published in January 2023.<br /></p><p>The novel is set in a fictional UK, where HellSans is a ubiquitous
typeface, enforced by the government in all communications and in all
public spaces as the ultimate control device. The majority of the
population experience bliss when they see the typeface, but there’s a
minority who are allergic to it. HellSans Allergy Sufferers (HSAs)
are persecuted, and live on the streets or in a ghetto on the outskirts
of the capital.</p>
<p>“<em>HellSans</em> was written as a response to my
experience as a disabled person in Tory austerity UK,' Dundas explains. 'When the pandemic
hit, everyone talked about suddenly existing in a dystopia, but disabled
people had already been living a dystopia of stigma and discrimination
for over a decade. <em>HellSans</em> is first and foremost a science fiction thriller but also reflection of that experience.'</p><p>Dundas won the Saltire First Book of the Year Award for debut novel <i>Goblin</i>, which was their Major Project while studying on the Creative Writing MA programme at Edinburgh Napier University. </p>
<p><em>HellSans</em> was acquired by Angry robot editor Simon Spanton who describes the novel as fierce, fast and fun. 'It shines a
bright light on how society works against the marginalised. Passionate
but never preachy, <em>HellSans</em> does exactly what SF does best: makes you think
about how things are and how things could be. Being able to welcome Ever, such an active and
involved voice in so many parts of the Scottish publishing scene, to
Angry Robot is a really exciting development for us.'<br /> </p>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-33383199587641328022021-11-17T10:27:00.001+00:002021-11-17T10:27:31.328+00:00Oneworld buys debut novel from MA Creative Writing graduate Pim Wangtechawat!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKqamp56ufZA3-jXjWrjsSV6ZlNz8seiYciBiubYN9wgNz-yx2dpUAk0yftuKWmduJf8qyxQBdRcvm3dFldcuOQ9d_ecbA6i767hyR_JEStl7vDN9NdGS-wRdad15UcYcK8b_SXn7GPlQ/s1300/Screenshot+2021-11-17+at+10.13.33.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1300" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKqamp56ufZA3-jXjWrjsSV6ZlNz8seiYciBiubYN9wgNz-yx2dpUAk0yftuKWmduJf8qyxQBdRcvm3dFldcuOQ9d_ecbA6i767hyR_JEStl7vDN9NdGS-wRdad15UcYcK8b_SXn7GPlQ/w320-h317/Screenshot+2021-11-17+at+10.13.33.png" width="320" /></a></div>Great news today as <a href="https://www.thebookseller.com/news/oneworld-scoops-immersive-and-rewarding-debut-wangtechawat-1289495?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=Morning%20Briefing%20-%20171121" target="_blank">UK publisher Oneworld has scooped the debut novel by Thai-Chinese writer Pim Wangtechawat</a>, a recent graduate of our MA Creative Writing programme.<em> </em><p></p><p><em>The Moon Represents My Heart</em> was acquired in a two-book deal and will be
published as the super-lead title in spring 2023. Italian rights have also been sold to publisher Keller Editore.The novel was Pim's major project while she was studying at Edinburgh Napier University from 2019-20,<br /></p><p><em>The Moon Represents My Heart </em>follows the generations of a
British-Chinese family of time travellers. When Tommy’s parents
time-travel and never return, time stands still. But as everyone begins
to move forward, Tommy is stuck in the past which has ramifications for
his life in the present.<em> The Moon Represents My Heart</em> is described as "a
story about relationships between parent and child, whether one can
accept the choices of the other, and whether they would make the same
decision again".</p>
<p>Publisher Juliet Mabey told trade industry weekly The Bookseller that "Pim has written a truly heart-warming, richly poetic
novel, brimming with tenderness, joy and loss, and I found myself
rooting for each character in this immersive, multivocal time-travelling
novel. Sitting in that wonderful sweet spot between literary and
upmarket fiction, I’m incredibly excited to be able to include it in the
launch list for our new commercial fiction imprint here at Oneworld.”</p>
<p>Earlier this year Pim signed with literary agent Liza DeBlock at Mushens Entertainment. "I absolutely loved <em>The Moon Represents My Heart </em>and
Pim’s writing is gorgeous,' says DeBlock. "I laughed, I cried, and this story made me
relive every best day of my life.”</p>
<p>"I’m beyond excited that <em>The Moon Represents My Heart </em>—
a deeply personal debut inspired by my Chinese heritage — has found the
perfect home," Pim told The Bookseller. "As an author from Bangkok writing in my
second language, it is a lifelong dream to have my novel published!"</p><p>The whole Creative Writing team at Edinburgh Napier University congratulates Pim on her success, and we can't wait to read the finished novel when it is published in 2023. Time travel, family heartbreak and a surprise cameo by a famous martial arts star - it's going to be epic!<br /></p>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-31641362449958731712021-11-17T10:11:00.003+00:002021-11-17T10:11:52.774+00:00 We are now OPEN for Sept 2022 applications! Plus: how we select you, what makes us unique<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFcjvD8o21B-yOhkCUjh-xaZtvHNzfcujiyVDYd8mm6jcwNkqxtNOC-8SiI0OUy8a9bUCnuN2sK1XkOPf5Daqiu5UoyhM0hW-gCXd7NWyL9E9GHKahAMWrL1oO5UUbi3CQt0uo7_ktEG0/s1140/Screenshot+2020-10-26+at+10.24.13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1140" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFcjvD8o21B-yOhkCUjh-xaZtvHNzfcujiyVDYd8mm6jcwNkqxtNOC-8SiI0OUy8a9bUCnuN2sK1XkOPf5Daqiu5UoyhM0hW-gCXd7NWyL9E9GHKahAMWrL1oO5UUbi3CQt0uo7_ktEG0/w400-h248/Screenshot+2020-10-26+at+10.24.13.png" width="400" /></a></p>The Creative Writing MA
at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland is now OPEN for applications
to join our September 2022 cohort. Full details about our selection
process can be found below, but we are already looking at applications for our next student cohort!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><div style="text-align: left;">We have a rolling selection process. If you successfully complete all
three stages, we offer you a place within 24 hours of being
interviewed by us. That means we usually start wait-listing people from
May each year. Some places are already occupied in the September 2022 cohort by students who deferred starting for a year due to the pandemic. That means the remaining places are likely
to fill up fast. The sooner you apply, the better!<br /></div></div><p>
That's especially true for part-time applicants. We only take four or
five new part-time students each year, and we've already got people
with deferred part-time offers for September 2022. So if you're thinking
of applying as a part-time student, do not delay.<br />
<br />
What makes our creative writing MA so popular? For a start, we put <b>genre fiction</b>
front and centre in our course. If you love science
fiction, fantasy, crime, horror or historical, many creative writing MFAs and MAs don't want to know
- but we embrace great genre writing and people who want to write it.<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
Another unique focus at Edinburgh Napier is <b>graphic novels and comics</b>,
which most programmes ignore. We love this medium so
much we devote an entire module about it, <i>Writing Graphic Fiction</i>. [Good news: no talent for drawing required!] We also offer a special focus on <b>Young Adult fiction</b>.<br />
<br />
Edinburgh Napier's creative writing MA does not have a poetry option. I repeat, <i><b>we do not teach poetry</b></i>.
There are many great courses with brilliant poets on their
faculty - if you want to study poetry, seek those out. We have had
prize-winning poets as students on our programme, but we don't teach poetry.</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br />
There are <b><i>no peer review workshops</i> </b>in
Creative Writing MA classes at Edinburgh Napier. I repeat, no peer
review workshops.
This boggles the mind of some people, as such workshops are the
dominant teaching style for creative writing pretty much everywhere
else. But we don't
have them in our classes. </div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br />
Instead, you are encouraged to critically self-reflect on your work
[with prompts from us], and to share that thinking. You get <b>professional editorial feedback</b> on your writing and your self-reflection skills, delivered masterclass-style in class. And you get six hours of one-to-one <b>mentoring</b>.<br />
<i><br />
<b>If that sounds enticing, here's how you apply for our course. Like so
much of our programme, the admissions process we use to select students
also
seems to be unique...</b></i><br />
<br />
First, you fill in and submit an <b>application form</b> [there are
links to an online version top right of this page]. We
welcome applicants who already have a degree - it doesn't have to be in
English, English literature or some form of creative writing. We
also recognise prior learning and writing experience in those who don't have a degree yet. <br />
<br />
The crucial section of your form is the <b>personal statement.</b> This is where you tell us about your aspirations as a writer, and why our programme can help. Here's a hint: <i>don't just copy and paste in your usual personal statement</i>. We look to see if applicants have done their research on the course and have enthusiasm for our specialisms.<br />
<br />
Do your homework and research our programme. Read
the other entries on this blog. If you want your application taken
seriously, show us you've taken our course seriously. Remember, your personal
statement is also a chance to showcase your ability as a writer. So blow our socks
off!<br />
<br />
All being well, we'll progress you to the next stage of our selection
process. We don't expect a writing sample with your application. Instead
we'll invite you to undertake a <b>writing challenge</b>.
We ask you to write us an original short story of up to 500 words, and
you'll have a week to submit. This matches the writing challenges students face many weeks on our MA.<br />
<br />
We give you a choice of first sentences. You
select one and use that as the opening for your story. We let you
decide when to receive the brief, so you can choose a week to suit you.
And we include the criteria used to assess your story, so the process is
transparent.<br />
<br />
Once you've sent in your story, we read and assess it. Some applicants
get turned away at this stage - we take roughly one out of every five
people who apply. But if your story shows promise, we
will invite you to an online<b> interview</b>.<br />
<br />
The interview lasts up to an hour. During that time we use a teaching and learning activity
from our course to assess you. This also gives you insight into our programme and how we teach. Your interview
should be <b>an enjoyable experience</b>, and not an interrogation!<br />
<br />
<b>We let you know within a day</b> if we're offering you a place - no waiting for months to find out [and no fee to apply, either!]. We
use a rolling admissions process: once we're full, we're full. </div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody"> <br />
If you still have any questions, get in touch before you
apply. Email programme leader David Bishop here: <b>d.bishop@napier.ac.uk</b>. The sooner you apply, the
better your chances...
</div>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-44559992319909455852021-08-17T09:01:00.005+01:002021-08-17T09:01:37.301+01:00Closed for 2021 applications, but we re-open for 2022 applications on November 1st, 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1X6CZiGTUSodplR9ZnFMzq0FRtTitXo47ARc0P2Ow-ychxy7_1EysebWONBC26s2oveqjS0tY9h1C3Z-o1NE3Rm_E9yDaZ7ABTWtlSzaKN2ui5_7HKFz5mysU7lvd932L4M06MgP_UZiy/s1000/photo-1498811008858-d95a730b2ffc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1X6CZiGTUSodplR9ZnFMzq0FRtTitXo47ARc0P2Ow-ychxy7_1EysebWONBC26s2oveqjS0tY9h1C3Z-o1NE3Rm_E9yDaZ7ABTWtlSzaKN2ui5_7HKFz5mysU7lvd932L4M06MgP_UZiy/w400-h266/photo-1498811008858-d95a730b2ffc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We are now closed to applications from anyone seeking to join our September 2021 intake. The MA Creative Writing programme at Edinburgh Napier University is officially full for this coming academic year, with our incoming students already doing prep work before joining us next month.<br /><br />We re-open on November 1st 2021 for applications to join our September 2022 intake [links at the top of the column on the right]. There are already several students with deferred offers for next year, so we would encourage those interested in applying to do so well before Easter 2022.<br /><p></p>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-90331720440561139532020-10-26T10:25:00.005+00:002020-10-26T10:25:32.140+00:00We are now OPEN for Sept 2021 applications! Plus: how we select you, what makes us unique<p>The Creative Writing MA
at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland is now OPEN for applications
to join our September 2021 cohort. Full details about our selection
process can be found further down this blogpost, but we have already
started looking at applications for our next student cohort.<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFcjvD8o21B-yOhkCUjh-xaZtvHNzfcujiyVDYd8mm6jcwNkqxtNOC-8SiI0OUy8a9bUCnuN2sK1XkOPf5Daqiu5UoyhM0hW-gCXd7NWyL9E9GHKahAMWrL1oO5UUbi3CQt0uo7_ktEG0/s1140/Screenshot+2020-10-26+at+10.24.13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1140" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFcjvD8o21B-yOhkCUjh-xaZtvHNzfcujiyVDYd8mm6jcwNkqxtNOC-8SiI0OUy8a9bUCnuN2sK1XkOPf5Daqiu5UoyhM0hW-gCXd7NWyL9E9GHKahAMWrL1oO5UUbi3CQt0uo7_ktEG0/w400-h248/Screenshot+2020-10-26+at+10.24.13.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXt3vFhfx5rddjjZYL9i0lu4M1BXtmMFqg91OVOvk6Q4EBIK33LyIp_7sEL2ENf2idcQa7nTa8xNKwU_6gJbEM_So5qZHarfspaSB9kz5sxs7hq2p3RcKu96zbCtXzS1kc52PZltsElhD-/s1600/illuminated-1853924_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>We have a rolling selection process. If you successfully complete all
three stages, we will offer you a place within 24 hours of being
interviewed by us. That means we usually start wait-listing people from
May each year. So if you're thinking of applying, sooner is better.</div></div><p>Half
a dozen students who had offers for September 2020 opted to defer their
start for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That means we already
have a few seats occupied for the 2021-22 cohort, so places are likely
to fill up fast. The sooner you apply, the better!<br />
<br />
That's especially true for part-time applicants. We only take four or
five new part-time students each year, and we've already got two people
with deferred part-time offers for September 2021. So if you're thinking
of applying as a part-time student, do not delay.<br />
<br />
What makes our creative writing MA so popular? For a start, we put <b>genre fiction</b>
front and centre in our course. If you love science
fiction, fantasy, crime or horror, many creative writing MFAs and MAs don't want to know
- but we embrace great genre writing and people who want to write it.<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
Another unique focus at Edinburgh Napier is <b>graphic novels and comics</b>,
which most programmes ignore. We love this medium so
much we devote an entire module about it, <i>Writing Graphic Fiction</i>. [Good news: no talent for drawing required!] We also specialise in <b>Young Adult fiction</b>, with acclaimed YA author Laura Lam leading a great module on this.<br />
<br />
Edinburgh Napier's creative writing MA does not offer a poetry option. I repeat, <i><b>we do not teach poetry</b></i>.
There are plenty of great courses with brilliant poets on their
faculty - if you want to study poetry, seek those out. We have had
prize-winning poets as students on our programme, but we don't teach or
critique poetry.</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br />
There are <b><i>no peer review workshops</i> </b>in
Creative Writing MA classes at Edinburgh Napier. I repeat, no peer
review workshops.
This boggles the mind of some people, as such workshops are the
dominant teaching style for creative writing pretty much everywhere
else. But we don't
have them in our classes. </div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br />
Instead, you are encouraged to critically self-reflect on your work
[with prompts from us], and to share that thinking. You get <b>professional editorial feedback</b> on your writing and your self-reflection skills, delivered masterclass-style in class. And you get six hours of one-to-one <b>mentoring</b>.<br />
<i><br />
<b>If that sounds enticing, here's how you apply for our course. Like so
much of our programme, the admissions process we use to select students
also
seems to be unique...</b></i><br />
<br />
First, you fill in and submit an <b>application form</b> [there are
links to an online version top right of this page]. We
welcome applicants who already have a degree - it doesn't have to be in
English, English literature or some form of creative writing. We
also recognise prior learning and writing experience in those who don't have a degree yet. <br />
<br />
The crucial section of your form is the <b>personal statement.</b> This is where you tell us about your aspirations as a writer, and why our programme can help. Here's a hint: <i>don't just copy and paste in your usual personal statement</i>. We look to see if applicants have done their research on the course and have enthusiasm for our specialisms.<br />
<br />
Do your homework and research our programme. Read
the other entries on this blog. If you want your application taken
seriously, show us you've taken our course seriously. Remember, your personal
statement is also a chance to showcase your ability as a writer. So blow our socks
off!<br />
<br />
All being well, we'll progress you to the next stage of our selection
process. We don't expect a writing sample with your application. Instead
we'll invite you to undertake a <b>writing challenge</b>.
We ask you to write us an original short story of up to 500 words, and
you'll have a week to submit. This matches the writing challenges students face many weeks on our MA.<br />
<br />
We give you a choice of first sentences. You
select one and use that as the opening for your story. We let you
decide when to receive the brief, so you can choose a week to suit you.
And we include the criteria used to assess your story, so the process is
transparent.<br />
<br />
Once you've sent in your story, we read and assess it. Some applicants
get turned away at this stage - we take roughly one out of every five
people who apply. But if your story shows promise, we
will invite you to an<b> interview</b> - via Skype, thanks to the pandemic.<br />
<br />
The interview lasts up to an hour. During that time we use a teaching and learning activity
from our course to assess you. This also gives you insight into our programme and how we teach. Your interview
should be <b>an enjoyable experience</b>, and not an interrogation!<br />
<br />
<b>We let you know within a day</b> if we're offering you a place - no waiting for months to find out [and no fee to apply, either!]. We
use a rolling admissions process: once we're full, we're full.
Our course takes a maximum of 18 full-time students a year, and up to four or five
part-timers who are with us for two years.<br />
<br />
If you still have any questions, get in touch before you
apply. Email programme leader David Bishop here: <b>d.bishop@napier.ac.uk</b>. The sooner you apply, the
better your chances...
</div>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-33146363666616160482020-06-12T16:08:00.001+01:002020-06-12T16:08:02.771+01:00MA graduate's Major Project longlisted for Myriad First Graphic Novel Competition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxH-29otLPaBbIo_-idH-erGfSHLCrRGRPKe6UPR36bp5bg6GOxqDwroJD32fHaPnxYYtefOrSRW86m2aDLjWbeb2M_YoKRPm1_sA5Qqp1JylM7iAlTnlCDSJg3MVSVYb0ostL1owwlM6H/s1600/Screenshot+2020-06-12+at+15.43.33.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="788" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxH-29otLPaBbIo_-idH-erGfSHLCrRGRPKe6UPR36bp5bg6GOxqDwroJD32fHaPnxYYtefOrSRW86m2aDLjWbeb2M_YoKRPm1_sA5Qqp1JylM7iAlTnlCDSJg3MVSVYb0ostL1owwlM6H/s200/Screenshot+2020-06-12+at+15.43.33.png" width="200" /></a></div>
We're delighted <span id="goog_220708407"></span><span id="goog_220708408"></span>that MA Creative Writing graduate Lesley MacNiven has been longlisted for the presitigious Myriad First Graphic Novel Competition with her major project, <i>This Woman's Work</i>.<br />
<br />
Lesley devised the narrative while studying for her MA at Edinburgh Napier University and its was the creative capstone of her time on the programme. She has continued to develop it, collaborating with artist <a href="https://www.heathercharters.com/" target="_blank">Heather Charters</a> on their entry for Myriad.<br />
<br />
'I am <span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">ecstatic our project has been longlisted in the Myriad First Graphic Novel Competition,' <a href="https://twitter.com/lesleymacniven/status/1266469446526394370" target="_blank">Lesley wrote on Twitter</a>, praising 'mega talented' artist Heather Charters. 'Keep everything crossed we make the shortlist.'</span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-4qtqp9 r-ip8ujx r-sjv1od r-zw8f10 r-bnwqim r-h9hxbl" dir="auto"></span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"></span><span class="r-18u37iz"></span><br />
<br />
<i>This Woman's Work</i> is a documentary comic designed to inspire action and drive
change in furthering gender equality. It examines how the workplace was not designed for women, and how women’s lives have
been affected by that. [There's a full page from the project further down this blogpost.]<br />
<br />
The graphic novel competition offers the winner(s) an opportunity to have
their completed work published by Myriad Editions. It's a unique
opportunity for creators to see their debut graphic novel in print,
furthering Myriad’s mission to encourage and nurture new talent.<br />
<br />
Myriad has published the graphic novels submitted by first two competitions winners - <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://myriadeditions.wpengine.com/creator/gareth-brookes/&source=gmail&ust=1588678409854000&usg=AFQjCNEWFNjyrps-y-vLU7ldmMVjI1NTgQ" href="http://myriadeditions.wpengine.com/creator/gareth-brookes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gareth Brookes</a> (2012) and <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://myriadeditions.wpengine.com/creator/jade-sarson/&source=gmail&ust=1588678409854000&usg=AFQjCNHaNEt5pSY9Sn91jEhQw05DLGZlPA" href="http://myriadeditions.wpengine.com/creator/jade-sarson/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jade Sarson</a> (2014), with the 2018 winner <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://myriadeditions.com/creator/jenny-robins//&source=gmail&ust=1588678409855000&usg=AFQjCNFrZzydu-n_3uHygd28XCfDDXo3dg" href="https://myriadeditions.com/creator/jenny-robins//" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jenny Robins </a>due to have her graphic novel published next year. Myriad has also published four shortlisted authors from past years, as well as work by other creators who entered the competition.<br />
<br />
The shortlist is due to be announced by the end of this month. We'll be keeping everything crossed for Lesley and Heather, but making the longlist is a massive achievement whatever happens!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This Woman's Work</i> @ Lesley MacNiven & Heather Charters</td></tr>
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<br />DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-58816606088950840142020-03-30T09:26:00.001+01:002020-03-30T09:26:22.409+01:00Why you should consider a Creative Writing MA @ Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-72086788526264164772020-03-02T17:28:00.001+00:002020-03-02T17:28:20.140+00:00Edinburgh Napier University will be @ AWP 2020 in San Antonio, Texas this week!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OC5r9QpJiSSSynZcFHY1_XzOg6O7ja-ZJ_Zfm3o-_8ewo46RTPVIEm5hdrmoUT-rvwegyXy8weSJD6lfVJz6d9yleYRFrxHZKYnxgOsdnBKH3hm5QD7NBhZ3c6W2UfBQ0zmBzht5VQDR/s1600/C.O.VollmerHeadshotSmall.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="722" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OC5r9QpJiSSSynZcFHY1_XzOg6O7ja-ZJ_Zfm3o-_8ewo46RTPVIEm5hdrmoUT-rvwegyXy8weSJD6lfVJz6d9yleYRFrxHZKYnxgOsdnBKH3hm5QD7NBhZ3c6W2UfBQ0zmBzht5VQDR/s200/C.O.VollmerHeadshotSmall.png" width="141" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-TX9ktKxWAMDd5TnEIDoicxksPNCLRdyiQFqidERAyf6Wrq21lK2v5rlmSyNcQW562vPq2tOL8rrYRPJ0V6Wl3o6MSokFmv66UDbXf5jYMyu3KtUom8tq_dEj1hPgRQjGRVCjhB1hBcj/s1600/AWP20Thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-TX9ktKxWAMDd5TnEIDoicxksPNCLRdyiQFqidERAyf6Wrq21lK2v5rlmSyNcQW562vPq2tOL8rrYRPJ0V6Wl3o6MSokFmv66UDbXf5jYMyu3KtUom8tq_dEj1hPgRQjGRVCjhB1hBcj/s1600/AWP20Thumbnail.jpg" /></a>Our MA Creative Writing programme leader David Bishop will be at the <b>AWP</b> (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) <b>Conference & Bookfair</b> in Texas this week. He will be greeting visitors at <b>Bookfair Table T1920</b> inside the Henry B. González Convention Center on <b>Thursday</b> March 5th, <b>Friday</b> March 6th and <b>Saturday</b> March 7th.<br />
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<b>Edinburgh Napier University</b> is sharing the table with <b>Seton Hill University</b>, our partners for a new International MA/MFA dual degree in Writing Popular Fiction. David will be plugging ENU's unique programme, which has attracted dozens of American students to Scotland since 2010.<br />
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To contact David & AWP, the fastest way is via Twitter: <b>@davidbishop</b>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-28392335627129917402020-02-08T16:29:00.001+00:002020-02-09T11:32:15.812+00:00Debut novel by MA Creative Writing alumni Jemma Wallace out soon, other success stories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This month sees the launch of <i><b>T</b><b>he Truth About My Mother,</b></i> the debut novel by Edinburgh Napier University MA Creative Writing alumni Jemma Wallace. Publisher Trapeze Books describes it as 'a sweeping family drama about secrets, sacrifice and love, spanning from the 1950s to present day.'<br />
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Two years ago Jemma won the <a href="https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/what-we-do/news/single-parent-wins-10000-publishing-contract-new-writer-competition/">‘One in Four’ competition for a new writer with single parent background, securing a £10,000 contract</a> in the process. Now her debut novel is being published on February 20th, with a <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-truth-about-my-mother-with-jemma-wallace-tickets-93285039063">special launch event at Blackwells in Edinburgh on Thursday February 25th</a>.<br />
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<b><i>The Truth About My Mother</i></b> was inspired in part by Jemma's experience of single parenthood
and her grandmothers experience of being a single mother in the 1950s. Here's the official blurb for it:<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><b>All families have secrets, don’t they?</b></span><br />
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">
</span>
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">
89-year-old Jeannette never meant to keep the truth from her family. But
when a near fatal fall sends her to live with her granddaughter Amy,
she finds herself revisiting a past that’s been hidden for too many
years.</span><br />
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">
</span>
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">
Amy, however, has always been good at keeping secrets. When ex-partner
Nick shows up, she’s forced to admit that some things just can’t stay
hidden forever.</span><br />
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">
</span>
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">
Judith is starting from scratch – again. The master of reinvention,
Amy’s mother has been seeking happiness in all the wrong places. This
time though, she might just find it a lot closer to home than she ever
believed she would…</span><br />
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">
</span>
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">
As Jeannette’s 90th birthday party approaches, all three women discover
they have more in common than they first thought, and the secrets from
the past may be the key to unlocking the future.</span><br />
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">
</span>
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">
<b>Three women. Three generations. One legacy... </b></span></blockquote>
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<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Two more of our alumni have books coming out soon. </span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">British Fantasy Award-winning author </span>Georgina Bruce has written a new horror novella called <i><b>Honeybones</b></i>, which is being published by TTA Press, home of acclaimed fiction monthlies Interzone and Black Static. </span><br />
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><br /></span>
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><i><b>Honeybones</b></i> is the second tome from this writer, following her short story collection <i><b>This House of Wounds</b></i>, which was unleashed by Undertow to considerable acclaim last summer.</span><br />
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Across the Atlantic publisher Little, Brown is preparing to launch the sixth book by another of our MA Creative Writing graduates, Katrina Leno. </span><br />
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><br /></span>
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<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><i><b>Horrid</b></i> is being described as '</span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">a haunting contemporary horror novel that explores themes of mental
illness, rage, and grief, twisted with spine-chilling elements of
Stephen King and Agatha Christie.' Here's the full blurb for this September 2020 title:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div>
Following her father's death, Jane North-Robinson and her mom move
from sunny California to the dreary, dilapidated old house in Maine
where her mother grew up. All they want is a fresh start, but behind
North Manor's doors lurks a history that leaves them feeling more
alone...and more tormented.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
As the
cold New England autumn arrives, and Jane settles in to her new home,
she finds solace in old books and memories of her dad. She steadily
begins making new friends, but also faces bullying from the resident
"bad seed," struggling to tamp down her own worst nature in response.
Jane's mom also seems to be spiraling with the return of her childhood
home, but she won't reveal why. Then Jane discovers that the "storage
room" her mom has kept locked isn't for storage at all--it's a little
girl's bedroom, left untouched for years and not quite as empty of
inhabitants as it appears....</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Is it grief? Mental illness? Or something more...horrid?</div>
</blockquote>
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"></span><br />
<b></b>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-45709372784831013562019-11-15T07:17:00.000+00:002019-11-15T07:17:40.984+00:00Success stories: MA Creative Writing graduate Ali Millar signs with London literary agency<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwsIi3q4hRAfp_IvL5bK5SMTndSt4sp5D5CgMXxYD_HcTtH1SneedCFXmSWf6jOojmgI90UVV-KL3XzVfLSItLmhzJ0WcNmRV0VNAeAObD6SD6Dj9CcIetEAL39DjsQWDTguFWA0xzA8h/s1600/IMG_0147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwsIi3q4hRAfp_IvL5bK5SMTndSt4sp5D5CgMXxYD_HcTtH1SneedCFXmSWf6jOojmgI90UVV-KL3XzVfLSItLmhzJ0WcNmRV0VNAeAObD6SD6Dj9CcIetEAL39DjsQWDTguFWA0xzA8h/s320/IMG_0147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>In this guest post, Ali Millar writes about her journey to being represented by a top London agent:</i><br />
<br />
I recently signed to literary agency <span class="st">Rogers, Coleridge & White</span>, seven years after graduating from Edinburgh Napier’s Creative Writing MA. It’s an agency I’ve dreamt of joining, but it was the kind of dream I kept on the quiet, the kind of thing that happens to other people. <br />
<br />
Although ostensibly the manuscript I’ve just finished doesn’t have much to do with what I worked on during the MA, dig a little deeper and it’s got everything to do with it. Before I started the MA I’d written a pretty dire manuscript, so I knew I could write to length. But I didn’t know anything about plot, structure or pacing - I didn’t know how to tell a story. The MA taught me everything I needed to know about storytelling, and then, when I did the elective creative non-fiction module*, I learnt how to bring all those storytelling skills and apply them to non-fiction, where my passion lies. <br />
<br />
The most valuable thing I learnt on the MA was that writing is work, and hard work at that. It’s not a case of waiting for the muse to strike or for inspiration to appear. It’s sitting down and planning a piece of work, and working at it until it’s finished, and then reworking it until it’s readable, and then probably reworking it again. It is, to paraphrase Margaret Atwood, a word after a word after a word, until it’s done. <br />
<br />
Shortly after graduating I gave birth to my first son, and over the next five years had two more children. I moved house four times and country once. I interviewed some of the world’s top authors and chaired at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. I helped to produce a film festival.<br />
<br />
But all the while I kept writing, and kept dealing with rejection - badly at first, less badly as the rejections become more encouraging, until finally there was a yes. Without the MA I wouldn’t have had the professional skills needed to keep going and I’m eternally grateful for the time spent at Edinburgh Napier, and still slightly envious of students immersed in worlds of their own making.<br />
<br />
<i>*Edinburgh Napier's Creative Writing MA no longer has a creative non-fiction module, but it offers options in writing genre fiction, young adult fiction, comics and graphic novels, interactive media and writing for the screen. Core professionals skills remain at the heart of our programme!</i>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-29783697573982023752019-05-17T12:33:00.000+01:002019-05-17T12:33:03.906+01:00Edinburgh Napier lecturer Daniel Shand gets shortlisted for presitigous 2019 Encore Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jjSb_v7olewzkhNNZ8Ihc04fEWum14mAL0mO-yRtEnUlonKPAKfJJBVYpM0H2sdFMB1YXowfT2wLrU4ruoBs6AjhLN5ndIS-OgDSrmyEk7SOBBB1-bGtL9K3Ys7-oEkLPEPdf5o1-yuV/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-05-17+at+12.29.48.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="289" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jjSb_v7olewzkhNNZ8Ihc04fEWum14mAL0mO-yRtEnUlonKPAKfJJBVYpM0H2sdFMB1YXowfT2wLrU4ruoBs6AjhLN5ndIS-OgDSrmyEk7SOBBB1-bGtL9K3Ys7-oEkLPEPdf5o1-yuV/s200/Screen+Shot+2019-05-17+at+12.29.48.png" width="178" /></a></div>
Massive congratulations to our MA Creative Writing team member Daniel Shand, whose latest book <i>Crocodile</i> has just been shortlisted for the prestigious Encore Award.<br />
<br />
First presented in 1990, the Encore Award celebrates outstanding second novels with the winner receiving £10,000. Joining Daniel's novel <i>Crocodile</i> on the 2019 shortlist are <i>Perfidious Albion</i> by Sam Byers; <i>Gamble</i> by Kerry Hadley-Pryce; <i>Kitch</i> by Anthony Joseph; <i>Normal People</i> by Sally Rooney; and <i>Jott</i> by Sam Thompson<strong>.</strong><strong> </strong>Award judge Edmund Gordon had this to say: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In <i>Crocodile</i>, Daniel Shand has created some of the most hauntingly damaged characters I’ve encountered for a long time. This is a riveting, heart-breaking, consistently unpredictable novel by an enormously gifted young writer.</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06HqKB_b5RvjeJDvWcB5EuKgWCD3gXc-c1wORXwuLmIGlbYAxhT2LVSCIlIoXEG1-wIzGer0A5W9IzvRQRRTzVgU9q8tmSrjiFZkFEpznua2ZpPIogWGJjIAPD8Ak3SWwfamJgdKFC-Tk/s1600/9781912240371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06HqKB_b5RvjeJDvWcB5EuKgWCD3gXc-c1wORXwuLmIGlbYAxhT2LVSCIlIoXEG1-wIzGer0A5W9IzvRQRRTzVgU9q8tmSrjiFZkFEpznua2ZpPIogWGJjIAPD8Ak3SWwfamJgdKFC-Tk/s200/9781912240371.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<a href="https://sandstonepress.com/books/crocodile">Published by Sandstone Press</a>, <i>Crocodile</i> is set in the summer before Chloe goes to high school and she’s been sent to her
grandparents because her mother can’t cope. At first, all Chloe wants is
to go home, but when she falls in with a feral gang of local boys, life
takes a darker turn. By the time summer ends, Chloe will have learned
where the greater danger lies.<br />
<br />
The winner of the 2019 Encore Award will be announced on Thursday 13 June. Past recipients of the prize administered by the Royal Society of Literature include Colm Tóibín, Ali Smith, and Neel Mukherjee. DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-3208793830041031322019-05-13T11:41:00.002+01:002019-05-13T12:37:28.944+01:00Success on page and stage for MA Creative Writing graduates from Edinburgh NapierWe're always delighted to see graduates from our Creative Writing MA getting noticed, and this month has already brought a trinity of success stories from alumni of the programme, spanning page and stage.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aYta6_nx15s9RUmz9XJFeLlF-yw-TeKRoQeNopTS2pIergnz6DCo0I7-3Wqw_nKryAMd3EvTqDWNRpxvZE1mytfcmoTTuwHYxoQxh7P9VzBH-nKfH7KCiF2qJjse1bIZ1crWqbHdlgnY/s1600/book_chasing_the_lightship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aYta6_nx15s9RUmz9XJFeLlF-yw-TeKRoQeNopTS2pIergnz6DCo0I7-3Wqw_nKryAMd3EvTqDWNRpxvZE1mytfcmoTTuwHYxoQxh7P9VzBH-nKfH7KCiF2qJjse1bIZ1crWqbHdlgnY/s320/book_chasing_the_lightship.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Anna Ibbotson's short story Do No Harm has been selected for the <a href="http://www.newconpress.co.uk/info/book.asp?id=140&referer=Catalogue&fbclid=IwAR38E8KUQPU25qjMDhe5reuQEhmy4nn6yQSwviFJdRv6rKYvQe2z5bj2s1o">Best of British Science Fiction 2018</a> anthology being published next month by Newcon Press. Her work will be rubbing shoulders with stories by acclaimed and best-selling SF authors such as Alistair Reynolds, Aliya Whiteley and Lavie Tidhar.<br />
<br />
Anna's story was first published in Shoreline of Infinity issue 11, but was originally written for an assessment on the MA. 'It was written as part of the genre fiction module,' Anna recalled on Twitter last week, 'and the feedback as part of that made it infinitely stronger!'<br />
<br />
Crime fiction is another area when alumni have been making their mark. Each May the Crime Writers' Association announces longlists for its prestigious Dagger Awards at Crimefest in Bristol, and this year's longlists include a graduate of Edinburgh Napier's programme.<br />
<br />
Mairi Campbell-Jack is one of ten writers longlisted for the 2019 Debut Dagger, for the opening of a crime novel by an author without a traditional publishing contract. Her book is the wittily entitled Self-Help for Serial Killers: Let Your Creativity Bloom.<br />
<br />
She says completing the MA was an important step on her writing journey: 'I used so much of the learning in writing the synopsis and constructing
the plot, used a character from my major project and more.' The Dagger Award shortlists are announced in the summer, we'll keep our fingers crossed.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0GRf-wVuekRR7SlsgHqGvAnruTnMGhScVTIihWEZiEFBszLgCo7NhlHKcQUU-48iqpVDxF9xppi1ERoTDmKqsJtN6h_TOr5C_yI16GGK1_hi6NppJbv2nXojvrb3d8HYWRdw1iKGX17u/s1600/D6cF-cBX4AAzHTH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0GRf-wVuekRR7SlsgHqGvAnruTnMGhScVTIihWEZiEFBszLgCo7NhlHKcQUU-48iqpVDxF9xppi1ERoTDmKqsJtN6h_TOr5C_yI16GGK1_hi6NppJbv2nXojvrb3d8HYWRdw1iKGX17u/s400/D6cF-cBX4AAzHTH.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grant O'Rourke on stage in<i> Jocky Wilson Said</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But graduate success is not always on the page. This week the celebrated A Play, A Pie and A Pint theatre season at Oran Mor in Glasgow features a revival of <a href="http://playpiepint.com/plays/jocky-wilson-said-2/">Jocky Wilson Said</a>, a play written by MA Creative Writing graduate Jane Livingstone and her sibling Jonathan Cairney.<br />
<br />
The one-man play celebrates legendary Scottish darts champion Jocky Wilson, brought back to life on stage by Outlander actor Grant O'Rourke. The play is one of three Jane has written for A Play, A Pie and A Pint, but her successes haven't stopped there.<br />
<br />
She is among the writers chosen for the Scottish Voices development drama group by the BBC writersroom. She had two scripts optioned last year, and another play commissioned, all while being a director of the Outwith Festival in Dunfermline.<br />
<br />
Massive congratulations to all three of these alumni!DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-8088570698848845232019-02-25T07:54:00.005+00:002019-02-25T07:54:56.764+00:00Selection process for MA Creative Writing at Edinburgh Napier University 2019-20 Unique is a great way to describe our creative writing MA
at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland. For a start, we put <b>genre fiction</b>
front and centre in our course. If you love science
fiction, fantasy, crime or horror, many creative writing MFAs and MAs don't want to know
- but we embrace great genre writing and people who want to write it.<br />
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4719761405657913678" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br />
Another unique focus at Edinburgh Napier is <b>graphic novels and comics</b>,
which most programmes ignore. We love this medium so
much we devote an entire module about it, <i>Writing Graphic Fiction</i>. [Good news: no talent for drawing required!] We also specialise in <b>Young Adult fiction</b>, with acclaimed YA author Laura Lam leading a great module on this.<br />
<br />
Edinburgh Napier's creative writing MA does not offer a poetry option. I repeat, <i><b>we do not teach poetry</b></i>.
There are plenty of great courses with brilliant poets on their
faculty - if you want to study poetry, seek those out. We have had
prize-winning poets as students on our programme, but we don't teach or
critique poetry.<br />
<br />
There are <b><i>no peer review workshops</i> </b>in
Creative Writing MA classes at Edinburgh Napier. I repeat, no peer
review workshops.
This boggles the mind of some people, as such workshops are the
dominant teaching style for creative writing pretty much everywhere
else. But we don't
have them in our classes. Not one!<br />
<br />
Instead, you are encouraged to critically self-reflect on your work
[with prompts from us], and to share that thinking. You get <b>professional editorial feedback</b> on your writing and your self-reflection skills, delivered masterclass-style in class. And you get six hours of one-to-one <b>mentoring</b>.<br />
<i><br />
<b>If that sounds enticing, here's how you apply for our course. Like so
much of our programme, the admissions process we use to select students
also
seems to be unique...</b></i><br />
<br />
First, you fill in and submit an <b>application form</b> [there are
links to an online version top right of this page]. We
welcome applicants who already have a degree - it doesn't have to be in
English, English literature or some form of creative writing. We
also recognise prior learning and writing experience in those who don't have a degree yet.<br />
<br />
The crucial section of your form is the <b>personal statement.</b> This is where you tell us about your aspirations as a writer, and why our programme can help. Here's a hint: <i>don't just copy and paste in your usual personal statement</i>. We look to see if applicants have done their research on the course and have enthusiasm for our specialisms.<br />
<br />
Do your homework and research our programme. Read
the other entries on this blog. If you want your application taken
seriously, show us you've taken our course seriously. Remember, your personal
statement is also a chance to showcase your ability as a writer. So blow our socks
off!<br />
<br />
All being well, we'll progress you to the next stage of our selection process. We don't expect a writing sample with your application. Instead we'll invite you to undertake a <b>writing challenge</b>.
We ask you to write us an original short story of up to 500 words, and
you'll have a week to submit. This matches the writing challenges students face many weeks on our MA.<br />
<br />
We give you a choice of first sentences. You
select one and use that as the opening for your story. We let you
decide when to receive the brief, so you can choose a week to suit you. And we include the criteria used to assess your story, so the process is transparent.<br />
<br />
Once you've sent in your story, we read and assess it. Some applicants
get turned away at this stage - we take roughly one out of every five
people who apply. But if your story shows promise, we
will invite you to an<b> interview</b> - face to face or via Skype.<br />
<br />
The interview lasts about an hour. During that time we use a teaching and learning activity
from our course to assess you. This also gives you insight into our programme and how we teach. Your interview
should be <b>an enjoyable experience</b>, and not an interrogation!<br />
<br />
<b>We let you know within a day</b> if we're offering you a place - no waiting for months to find out [and no fee to apply, either!]. We
use a rolling admissions process: once we're full, we're full.
Our course takes a maximum of 16 full-time students a year, and up to four
part-timers who are with us for two years.<br />
<br />
If you still have any questions, get in touch before you
apply. Email lecturer David Bishop here: <b>d.bishop@napier.ac.uk</b>. The sooner you apply, the
better your chances...
</div>
DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-31221408590583792872019-01-14T20:36:00.000+00:002019-01-14T20:36:01.173+00:00Stunning new books and literary zines coming from MA Creative Writing graduates in 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_y-AN7t9hwcW71aaihJjU0XOlBIJnMibWhmw76m-QTww-bTMZBsy5oBBmpPyoZKRtGjiik-f3Fv7E8Oj2SrJ3MUYonf0HtEB27vDuEGAU61ROOBriGIuy6_BuZzX-vj-qMILQ2OnowXB/s1600/cover147920-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_y-AN7t9hwcW71aaihJjU0XOlBIJnMibWhmw76m-QTww-bTMZBsy5oBBmpPyoZKRtGjiik-f3Fv7E8Oj2SrJ3MUYonf0HtEB27vDuEGAU61ROOBriGIuy6_BuZzX-vj-qMILQ2OnowXB/s320/cover147920-medium.png" width="199" /></a></div>
We couldn't be prouder to welcome news of two stunning books from graduates of the Creative Writing MA at Edinburgh Napier University, both coming your way in 2019!<br />
<br />
February sees the launch of <i><b>When I Had a Little Sister,</b></i> a memoir by Catherine Simpson. She started work on an early version of this compelling narrative while studying on the MA programme.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.harpercollins.co.uk/9780008301637/when-i-had-a-little-sister/">Publisher Fourth Estate </a>describes the book as "a searingly honest and heartbreaking account of growing up in a farming family, and of Catherine's search for understanding into what led a younger sister to kill herself at 46. It's a story of sisters and sacrifice, grief and reclamation, and of the need to speak the unspeakable."<br />
<br />
<i><b>When I Had a Little Sister</b></i> is already attracting amazing blurbs from noted authors. Janice Galloway writes that "this book’s secret weapon - alongside the strength and power of its
story - is the remarkable voice that fires from the page to the heart
with no hesitation at all. Just Wonderful."<br />
<br />
James Robertson saus "Catherine Simpson’s memoir of her sister Tricia’s suicide mixes the
coolness of her journalistic training with the subjective pain of loss
in dreadful circumstances. But something else is on these pages:
frustration and anger – with Tricia, with herself and with other
relatives – that if only the family tradition of silence and the
suppression of feelings had been challenged earlier things might have
been different. In analysing the inherited values and habits of a
lifetime, Simpson breaks the silence and liberates herself."<br />
<br />
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June sees the launch of <i><b>This House of Wounds</b></i>, the first collection by MA graduate Georgina Bruce. <a href="http://www.undertowbooks.com/2018/12/01/cover-reveal-for-this-house-of-wounds/">Published by Undertow</a>, it features incredible cover art by<span class="_247o" data-offset-key="f5h7s-5-0" spellcheck="false"><span data-offset-key="f5h7s-5-0"> Catrin Welz-Stein.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_247o" data-offset-key="f5h7s-5-0" spellcheck="false"><span data-offset-key="f5h7s-5-0">Since graduating Georgina's powerful and often perturbing narratives have been published in numerous titles, including Interzone, Black Static and many other notable fiction journals. Georgina's story <i>White Rabbit</i> won the 2017 British Fantasy Award for short fiction - a stunning achievement. Now Undertow is gathering a hand-picked selection of these memorable narratives.</span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lOk1e_ixjSSes9B44AWBNxfS11ro5rBHl86WB3o50eYOwyrpPJTgkPzxJzVOPI24bpeK0m7jMfvJKwRw9NuwttJ6-aJHgp-TyS0qFMXXwRdvUyuPNfQ1EvA2mgd_KCwstU7ZmCAF-nRA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-01-14+at+20.33.56.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lOk1e_ixjSSes9B44AWBNxfS11ro5rBHl86WB3o50eYOwyrpPJTgkPzxJzVOPI24bpeK0m7jMfvJKwRw9NuwttJ6-aJHgp-TyS0qFMXXwRdvUyuPNfQ1EvA2mgd_KCwstU7ZmCAF-nRA/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-01-14+at+20.33.56.png" width="189" /></a><span class="_247o" data-offset-key="f5h7s-5-0" spellcheck="false"><span data-offset-key="f5h7s-5-0">Last Halloween we celebrated the launch of Blood Bath Literary Zine. Created and edited by another MA graduate, Katy Lennon, Blood Bath is </span></span><span class="_247o" data-offset-key="f5h7s-5-0" spellcheck="false"><span data-offset-key="f5h7s-5-0">dedicated to exposing Scottish fiction’s weird horror underbelly, publishing horror/genre poetry, short stories and illustrations.</span></span><br />
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<span class="_247o" data-offset-key="f5h7s-5-0" spellcheck="false"><span data-offset-key="f5h7s-5-0">The first issue was devoted to BODIES, and featured work by Kristy Falconer - a currnet student on our MA programme - alongside that of one of our award-winning graduates, Ever Dundas. Blood Bath is now accepting submissions on the theme of DEMONS for its second issue - deadline if February 14th, 2019. <a href="https://bloodbathlitzine.com/">Click here to find out more about this disturbing new literary zine!</a></span></span><span data-offset-key="f5h7s-6-0"></span>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-6834880879513538342018-08-29T09:10:00.000+01:002018-08-29T09:10:41.866+01:00MA Creative Writing prepares to welcome 10th cohort @EdinburghNapier UniversityThis is the calm between the cohorts. We had final tutorials with students from our 2017-18 cohort last week, and they are now venturing out into the wider community of writing and reading. Meanwhile Edinburgh has bid a fond farewell to the world's largest arts festival, giving the city a chance to breath a sigh of relief and collapse on the nearest sofa or bench for a while.<br />
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It's been an amazing summer, topped off by the majestic Edinburgh International Book Festival. Best-selling book at the festival this year was Scotland's literary journal Gutter, whose 18th issue came bound with a collection of essays called The Freedom Papers. Two graduates from our MA had work in that mighty tome, Catherine Simpson in Gutter 18 ad Ever Dundas in The Freedom papers.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyJvaOERWPoYgTwNNIr0p2-Dph5X3TkoY1kg26uuw8zi7ISP42moyMmkoNnQe01Wy-hMyzzqtjiZK7CY3hyS15dswBe0U_xWtCj0Ak1cLplLIsUX6t1r1R5Q0GB0QEN77AXvBVg8OQCdB/s1600/2480514058948708567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyJvaOERWPoYgTwNNIr0p2-Dph5X3TkoY1kg26uuw8zi7ISP42moyMmkoNnQe01Wy-hMyzzqtjiZK7CY3hyS15dswBe0U_xWtCj0Ak1cLplLIsUX6t1r1R5Q0GB0QEN77AXvBVg8OQCdB/s400/2480514058948708567.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>From left: Robin Spinks, Ever Dundas, and Ali Millar-McMeeken</i></td></tr>
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Ever was a guest speaker at the book festival, debating the intersections of freedom, technology and disability with Robin Spinks of the RNIB. This fascinating event was chaired by another graduate of Edinburgh Napier's Creative Writing MA, Ali Millar-McMeeken [see photo above]. Across town a current MA student, Noelle Harrison, read from her newly published novel <i>The Gravity of Love</i> in a book fringe festival at Blackwell's Bookshop.<br />
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With the festival over and temperatures turning toward the autumnal, the programme team are being preparing for the 2018-19 academic year - and our tenth cohort! Hard to believe the Creative Writing MA has been running since 2009, but it's also a joy to see so many graduates being published, winning prizes, and going on to complete PhDs.<br />
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The class of 2018-19 is going to be our biggest cohort ever, with close to 20 full-time students, many of them joining us from across the Atlantic. It's always exciting to welcome a new cohort, to see what stories they want to write, the themes they want to explore and the genres they want to challenge. For now, as ever, there is only one thing left to say: <b><i>onwards!</i></b>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-41297674034179768202018-05-28T21:58:00.002+01:002018-05-28T21:58:46.852+01:00We are now wait-listing new applicants for our Creative Writing MA September 2018 cohort!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4QZwjUN3gAEVLCjugkAe00qZoeYFkjttqfJgGgH4FUT0KtuHc6vEmx19_WA78xAq5f8H_xHRhOfNIlEM1v4dwerXnvEAeRjWfSiIlGQDCeHfSZPdrVpbEyGXrJ047onkdK1ziQB5lRO2/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-05-28+at+21.48.18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="639" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4QZwjUN3gAEVLCjugkAe00qZoeYFkjttqfJgGgH4FUT0KtuHc6vEmx19_WA78xAq5f8H_xHRhOfNIlEM1v4dwerXnvEAeRjWfSiIlGQDCeHfSZPdrVpbEyGXrJ047onkdK1ziQB5lRO2/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-05-28+at+21.48.18.png" width="400" /></a></div>
The MA Creative Writing programme at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland is now wait-listing new applicants for our September 2018 cohort. The programme is proving incredibly popular this year, with an amazingly high standard of applications.<br />
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As a result, we have already offered all the full-time and part-time places available for the coming academic year, which starts in September 2018. That doesn't mean we are closed to new applications - not yet! But we believe it is only fair to warn people about the waiting list.<br />
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Much as we hope to work with all the applicants to whom we make an offer, one or two are unable to take up their place most years - often due to a change in their personal or financial circumstances. Some defer starting for a year, others withdraw their application.<br />
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If and when some with an offer lets us know they can't take their place this year, we offer it to the next successful applicant on the waiting list. So if you are thinking about applying to our MA this year, don't delay any longer!DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-51728105172799931212018-05-15T21:31:00.002+01:002018-05-15T21:31:39.838+01:00Successes for our MA Creative Writing students<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eYqDFQLKL6r08SmYkZj_q1glYpYllQJ-Zk1_f8SV-3-NdqSRnqKQnxZ-D4ET2iywlYxBMBOHzGm8FQYxfaCdxE7Iq1oKHE4pHyUkd-wqwYVRrTMIPpJTf_Rzfff0zHjZhFlNm2BsczBN/s1600/The+Gravity+of+Love+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1032" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eYqDFQLKL6r08SmYkZj_q1glYpYllQJ-Zk1_f8SV-3-NdqSRnqKQnxZ-D4ET2iywlYxBMBOHzGm8FQYxfaCdxE7Iq1oKHE4pHyUkd-wqwYVRrTMIPpJTf_Rzfff0zHjZhFlNm2BsczBN/s320/The+Gravity+of+Love+Cover.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
The Creative Writing MA programme at Edinburgh Napier is celebrating successes for two of our current cohort - one is having a novel published this money, while the other got to the final twelve for a prestigious crime writing contest.<br />
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Noëlle Harrison is a first-year part-time student on the MA, but that hasn't stopped her getting a novel published by Edinburgh imprint Black and White. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gravity-Love-Noelle-Harrison/dp/1785301934/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr="><b>The Gravity of Love</b> [due out May 24th]</a> is a tale about love, loss and the search for answers, moving between the Swinging Sixties in London and late 1980s life in Arizona and Ireland.<br />
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This isn't Noëlle's first published novel, but she joined the Creative Writing MA at Edinburgh Napier to challenge herself creatively. 'This book was written before I joined the course, but I changed the last chapter after taking the First Person Narrative.'<br />
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Author Sandra Ireland described <b>The Gravity of Love</b> as 'a vivid, gripping tale of family secrets and lost love', while writer Liz Nugent says 'Noëlle Harrison connects her beautifully drawn characters and weaves
them into a story that entangled, enchanted and entranced this reader' - high praise!<br />
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The First Person Narrative module also proved fruitful for full-time student Vicki Ridley. She used feedback to revise a short story she wrote for that class, and entered it into the prestigious Margery Allingham Short Story Competition. Run by the Crime Writers' Association, this contest attracts hundreds of entries from around the world, many by published authors.<br />
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Vicki's story <i>Dead Coral</i> was <a href="https://thecwa.co.uk/debuts/short-story-competition/">one of twelve longlisted from all the 2018 entries</a> - not bad for a module assessment! 'It's a huge honour,' <a href="https://twitter.com/VickiRidley1">Vicki said on Twitter</a> when the final twelve were announced, 'I am so excited!' <br />
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Alas, Vicki's tale of a murderous diving trip didn't make the shortlist but getting on the longlist is a notable achievement for someone still completing their Masters in Creative Writing. We can't wait to read what nefarious narratives Vicki and all our other talented students write next!DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-47582740716832534822018-02-12T10:13:00.001+00:002018-02-12T10:13:40.946+00:00Celebrating MA Creative Writing student success<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YVi4Bcub7I_-0J2yyD1hwNx12UvMyEJZDYZ2vxX5qhsA57V7jz4OvA1qB_FbrmjHyy9R2xVXuZ5AVXINzTOQ5AJRU8w9rOa0IkQ6jwhMZbFHzrE6D45bNkvCZAeY-UYdbBX9MSDlJP1h/s1600/IMG_7718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YVi4Bcub7I_-0J2yyD1hwNx12UvMyEJZDYZ2vxX5qhsA57V7jz4OvA1qB_FbrmjHyy9R2xVXuZ5AVXINzTOQ5AJRU8w9rOa0IkQ6jwhMZbFHzrE6D45bNkvCZAeY-UYdbBX9MSDlJP1h/s200/IMG_7718.jpg" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gutter No. 17</td></tr>
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Two current students on the MA Creative Writing programme at Edinburgh Napier University are celebrating fresh success in 2018.<br />
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First-year part-timer Noëlle Harrison has a story in issue 17 of Gutter, one of Scotland's most acclaimed publishers of new writing. Vardo's Daughters is a chilling tale of treachery and lies set in the witch-fearing past of Norway. <a href="http://www.guttermag.co.uk/">Gutter is now run by an independent cooperative</a> after surviving a tumultuous 2017 in Scottish publishing.<br />
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Second-year part-timer Jenny Bloomfield is one of the creators contributing to <b>WE SHALL FIGHT UNTIL WE WIN</b>, a graphic novel marking a
century since the first wave of women gained the right to vote in the
UK.<br />
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The 64-page anthology by 404 Ink and BHP Comics is being created by celebrated writers and artists including Denise Mina, Hannah Berry, Durre Shahwar and Grace Wilson. A <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1965253475/we-shall-fight-until-we-win-pioneering-political-w">Kickstarter campaign </a>seeking £8000 to help fund the project hit its target in just 15 days<b>.</b>DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-64081917259458720632018-01-23T07:51:00.002+00:002018-01-23T07:51:43.812+00:00Award-winning author joins the MA Creative Writing programme team at Edinburgh Napier<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBhN26gaPjfhsAMK44sgJsJ0LnT7UfDpU-MgEhzRMPQ4D1ONvgsVe3n5kJkx14qSoEGPMe4fi3f5KG0B_CySZ5cpS2e4ufPVPWz_qCXrEH-U-XeGZ7glRSmixE0YVYsDB5PdWhLxdOCeu/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-01-22+at+21.09.30.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBhN26gaPjfhsAMK44sgJsJ0LnT7UfDpU-MgEhzRMPQ4D1ONvgsVe3n5kJkx14qSoEGPMe4fi3f5KG0B_CySZ5cpS2e4ufPVPWz_qCXrEH-U-XeGZ7glRSmixE0YVYsDB5PdWhLxdOCeu/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-01-22+at+21.09.30.png" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Daniel Shand joins MA teaching team</i></td></tr>
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We're delighted to announce that <a href="https://www.daniel-shand.com/">Daniel Shand</a> has joined the teaching team for Edinburgh Napier University's acclaimed Creative Writing MA programme.<br />
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Daniel won the prestigious Betty Trask Prize in 2017 for his debut Fallow, published by Sandstone Press. He has a PhD in Creative Writing from University of Edinburgh, where he won the Sloan Prize for fiction in 2012.<br />
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Daniel joins programme leader <a href="http://macreativewriting.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/ma-creative-writing-tutor-david-bishop.html">David Bishop</a> and lecturer <a href="http://www.lauralam.co.uk/">Laura Lam</a> on the teaching team, helping shape the MA's unique mix of genre and YA fiction, alongside popular narrative strands like writing graphic novels. The trio also delivers an undergraduate module in genre writing.<br />
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'I'm very pleased to be working with David and Laura,' Daniel says. 'Having looked at some of the ideas and materials we'll be working with, it's definitely an exciting and challenging course - I'm eager to get started.'</div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">He won the Saltire Society International Travel Bursary for Literature in 2016, and his debut Fallow was shortlisted for the Saltire Literature Award for Best First Book last year. [Ironically, <a href="http://macreativewriting.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/ma-graduate-ever-dundas-wins-saltire.html">that prize went to Goblin, the debut novel by Ever Dundas</a>, a graduate of the Creative Writing MA at Edinburgh Napier!] </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Daniel's arrival makes our teaching team three-strong again, following the departure of Sam Boyce. She was programme leader for eight years, creating the MA's unique approach to creative writing pedagogy from scratch with David Bishop. Sam is now running a <a href="http://www.samboyce.net/">highly successful writers' consultancy in Edinburgh</a>, helping novelists and non-fiction writers finish their manuscripts - <a href="http://www.samboyce.net/">read all about it here</a>. </span></span></span></span></div>
DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148238214053890360.post-3611856054961041222017-12-08T07:28:00.002+00:002017-12-08T07:28:50.525+00:00MA graduate Ever Dundas wins Saltire Society First Book Award - Goblin gets republished!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGFjrdLJUOkYLVtRDtAq5KEzCuTn4_Tc3_asG2dhzRR5f6S_CBLYGAHzwNODWp19EUCSPZHMJXQ6HfVlXXJTBQhdCS_SalhiThy1dsQhz_iVtxJC9xtNj5kNbxdWk9UN9NE1-Y5mkmOXX/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-12-08+at+07.16.25.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="635" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGFjrdLJUOkYLVtRDtAq5KEzCuTn4_Tc3_asG2dhzRR5f6S_CBLYGAHzwNODWp19EUCSPZHMJXQ6HfVlXXJTBQhdCS_SalhiThy1dsQhz_iVtxJC9xtNj5kNbxdWk9UN9NE1-Y5mkmOXX/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-12-08+at+07.16.25.png" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ever Dundas • photo by Graham Clark</i></td></tr>
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It's been an amazing week for Edinburgh Napier MA Creative Writing graduate Ever Dundas: she won the prestigious Saltire Society First Book of the Year Award for her debut and, six days later, the prize-winning novel <i>Goblin</i> was republished by Saraband Books.<br />
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'For every world-be writer it is fantastic simply to get your book published,' Ever says. 'But for it to also win a major literary award... it's an absolute dream.'<br />
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'Writing may seem like a solo effort, but it takes a
lot of people for a book to come together,' Ever says. 'Thanks to
everyone who's helped - family and friends, my agent and publishers,
fellow writers and inspirational artists. <i>Goblin</i> wouldn't be here
without you.' <br />
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Ever started work on <i>Goblin</i> while a part-time student on the Creative Writing programme at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland. Indeed, it was her Major Project on the MA, the creative capstone of all her endeavours with us.<br />
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She paid a special tribute to the Edinburgh Napier MA on Twitter not long after winning her award: 'I couldn't have done it without the support, guidance, expertise, and raised eyebrows of doom of @davidbishop and @SamBoyceEditor.'<br />
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The novel was originally published by Freight in May but escaped that company's demise to be reborn by Saraband Books - just in time for Christmas. Publisher Sara Hunt is full of praise for the book and its author.<br />
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'Ever ... so richly deserves this award. The book itself has echoes of Jeanette Winterson and Angela Carter: it is a superb piece of writing. In <i>Goblin</i>, Ever has created a character to die for.'<br />
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The <i>Guardian</i> newspaper made the novel its Book of the Day on Wednesday, with reviewer Peter Ross describing it as a terrific debut full of reckless joy: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>It is a celebration of freakery, of creating one’s own family; a
meditation on trauma and loss and abandonment (in both senses of that
word) which, somehow, is never bleak</i>.</blockquote>
<em></em>The MA programme team couldn't be prouder of Ever's achievement. Like all good writers, she's already hard at work on her next narrative, <i>Hell Sans</i>. We can't wait to read what she writes next!<br />
<br />DAVID BISHOPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.com0