EL7054 - Creative Nonfiction

The module is taught through a combination of tutor presentation introducing critical consideration of different forms of published creative nonfiction; individual critical reading; creative writing exercises to encourage experimentation; tutorials; and group workshopping of draft work. Tutor presentation will introduce some of the range of creative nonfiction possibilities and the conceptual, ethical and creative challenges associated with them. The presentation will often be followed by a short creative exercise brief, in which students will explore the nonfiction form presented. Reading of a range of creative nonfiction texts will allow students to interrogate the boundaries and creative possibilities forged by published writers, and to critically consider examples of good practice; and group discussion will offer a workshop group the benefit of the “hive brain” in the collective shared interrogation of a piece of creative text. This interrogation will also help students to gain a broader understanding of how their own writing might benefit from critical reflection and workshop discussion.

Advice and support will be provided in lectures, seminars and individual tutorials and through tutor and peer feedback in groups on the development of creative and critical projects. You also have access to specialised services provided by central university departments and close and effective links have been developed with student’s services, the career service, the library and information services and the students union. You are encouraged to meet and discuss your work outside the module with your peers.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between creative and reflective critical work
2. Develop ability to reflect upon and refine creative practice in ways which accord with academic definitions of research


Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Produce effective creative work in the light of critical reflection
4. Research a real subject and use creative writing techniques to produce an effective piece of creative nonfiction


Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

5. Take account of ethical considerations in writing about the real world

Formative feedback: is offered in two individual half hour tutorials as well as through feedback in seminars and written feedback on draft materials.MLO4

Summative: The module will be assessed by a Writing Portfolio which has a creative element and a critical-reflective element. Together these elements should total 6,000 words (or equivalent for non-prose forms), with the creative element comprising 5,000 words, and a critical-reflective commentary of 1,000 words. The creative work should be a piece of original creative writing, exploring creatively some of the issues raised in the critical-reflective element. MLO1-4

1,000 words of prose will be treated as equivalent to 5 pages of script or 40 lines of poetry.

Feedback on summative work will be delivered according to the existing protocols of the Department of Humanities: all assessments are moderated with feedback (with comments on feedback sheets) returned to the student with the final moderated grade. Feedback will encourage and facilitate reflective learning through the feedback sheet grid which pinpoints particular areas of strengths/weakness and the narrative comments which encourage students to consider how they have succeeded and how they can improve.

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“Tell all the truth, but tell it slant –“
Emily Dickinson

Creative nonfiction employs elements of creative writing to present a factual, true story. Because it uses artifice and fictional techniques but claims nevertheless to tell a true story, it poses questions about what we mean by ‘true’, and invites readers to reflect on their own knowledge and experience and on what is at stake when any story is told. Creative nonfiction has enormous potential to explore emotion, unlock experience and create knowledge; it is also an increasingly popular genre among readers and editors, making it an attractive choice for aspiring writers.

The module aims to develop your understanding and practice of creative nonfiction across a range of possible forms, such as memoir, travel writing, science writing, biography, eco/nature writing, personal essay, sports writing, auto-fiction.

You’ll analyse texts by creative nonfiction writers, and discuss the creative and factual limits and possibilities of creative nonfiction.

You’ll experiment with a range of creative nonfiction forms and will also be encouraged to look for publication opportunities for your work.