Insight into Creative Writing is a four-session programme open to Oxford University students. It provides an introduction to creative writing careers, explores the writing process, and offers tips on how to get published, as well as inspiration from guest speakers.
Applications for the Michaelmas term Insight into Creative Writing programme are now closed.
Session details
Session 1: Introduction to Creative Writing Careers
- When: Thursday 14 November, 16:00-17:30
- Where: In person at the Oxford University Careers Service, 56 Banbury Road
- Session lead: Callum Buchanan, Creative Careers Lead at Oxford University
In the first session, we will dive into the exciting world of Creative Writing and explore the many career paths available within this field. In this Creative Careers Lead Callum Buchanan will provide an overview of the different roles a writer can take on, whether it's as an author, editor, scriptwriter, or content creator. This session aims to inspire and inform, providing a solid foundation for the rest of the programme. To wrap things up, we will have a fun, free writing exercise, giving you a chance to let your creativity flow.
Session 2: The Writing Process: Top Tips and Tricks
- When: Thursday 21 November, 16:00-18:00
- Where: In person at the Oxford University Careers Service, 56 Banbury Road
- Session lead: Barney Norris, Writer, theatre maker and Creative Writing Lecturer at Oxford University. His novels include Five Rivers Met on A Wooded Plain and Undercurrent. His plays include Visitors, Eventide, Nightfall, The Wellspring and adaptations of Lorca’s Blood Wedding and Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford.
The second session is all about the nuts and bolts of the writing process. Writer and theatre maker and Lecturer in Creative Writing here at the University, Barney Norris, will lead this session. Barney will focus on the top tips and tricks to remember when you are writing, providing invaluable advice on everything from brainstorming ideas and developing characters to plotting and staying disciplined. To wrap things up, we'll have another fun free writing exercise, giving you a chance to let your creativity flow once more.
Session 3: How to Get Published
- When: Thursday 28 November, 16:00-17:30
- Where: In person at the Oxford University Careers Service, 56 Banbury Road
- Session lead: Callum Buchanan, Creative Careers Lead at Oxford University
In the third session, we will tackle the all-important question of how to get your work published. We will look at the different publishing options available, including traditional publishing, self-publishing, and digital platforms. In a practical group exercise, you will get to practise pitching your work. This hands-on approach aims to help you develop compelling pitches and query letters, giving you a real taste of what it takes to succeed in the publishing world.
Session 4: Expert Panel (Literary Agents and Authors) and Networking
- When: Thursday 5 December, 16:00-18:00
- Where: In person at the Oxford University Careers Service, 56 Banbury Road
The final session will bring together a fantastic panel of literary agents and authors who will share their journeys into the industry and what they look for in submissions. This is a unique opportunity to hear first-hand from those who know the business inside out. After the panel discussion, we will have a networking session where you can mingle with the panellists and the other attendees. This is your chance to ask questions, exchange ideas, and make valuable connections that could help you on your writing journey.
Who is eligible to apply?
Current, matriculated University of Oxford students (undergraduate or postgraduate).
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If you cannot find the answer to your question, please get in touch on hello@careers.ox.ac.uk.
