Insight into Creative Writing is a three-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 open until 30 October 2025.
Apply for Insight Into Creative Writing
Session details
Session 1: The Writing Process - Top Tips and Tricks
- When: Thursday 13 November 2025, 16:00-18:00 (5th Week, MT)
- 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.
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 a fun free writing exercise, giving you a chance to let your creativity flow.
Session 2: Pitching Your Work and Getting Published
- When: Thursday 20 November 2025, 16:00-18:00 (6th Week, MT)
- Where: In person at the Oxford University Careers Service, 56 Banbury Road
In the 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.
Session 3: Q&A with a Publishing Agent and Author
- When: Thursday 27 November, 16:00-18:00 (7th Week, MT)
- Where: In person at the Oxford University Careers Service, 56 Banbury Road
The final session will bring together a literary agent and an author 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. 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.
