New Creative Writing Course Comes to Bucks

Could you write a best-selling book?

Fancy your chances as a successful published author? You're in luck. Bucks is launching a new creative writing course, a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing for Publication. The goal is to nurture the next generation of successful authors, writers who will create imaginative content for books, plays, film and Television.

Who is running the new course?

Bucks lecturers Tammy Riley-Smith and Allen Stroud are in charge. On Saturday 21st February they ran the first open day masterclass session for the department's new degree, with a demonstration of the new Oculus Rift.

Allen and Tammy show how it's done

Why this course?

Tammy, Dr Catriona Craig and Allen Stroud have been developing this course for the last year, looking specifically at incorporating the same industry focus from our BA (Hons) Film and Television Production degree. They have researched the ways other universities teach the subject and they feel that they have something to offer that is innovative and different.

Lave Revolution by Allen Stroud

What does Bucks know about Creative Writing?

Plenty. Bucks has a good track record for Creative Writing courses. The last iteration of a degree in this subject closed in 2011, with the final graduates completing in 2013.  BothBA (Hons) Performing Arts (Film TV and Stage) and BA (Hons) Film and Television Production existed then and have now strengthened their recruitment numbers. These degrees incorporate some of the writing skills needed to devise work in both areas, so Bucks retains teaching expertise which is ideally suited to the new course.

Delicious - written, directed and produced by Tammy Riely-Smith

What is the focus of the new degree?

The new degree has a new focus. 'for publication' means what it says. Students will look at all aspects of the writing industry and be picking the brains of professionals across the different writing media, such as script, stage, book, audio and more besides.  The plan is to become an inquiring critical and creative engine of staff and students sharing professional opportunities and drafts of stories throughout the three years.  The staff team are all practising writers with current commercial engagement, which means advice and contacts are up to date and focused on the business of bringing drafts to publication and production.


What else is new?

There are also plans to reach out. Alumni from previous creative writing courses at Bucks will be welcome to discuss work with staff and students. We are already engaged in talking to schools and colleges who are running the AQA Creative Writing A-Level and we want to provide support material to teachers delivering this programme. 

Bucks is currently working on this and delivering a series of masterclasses to those we have contact with. If you're on (or teaching) that A-Level programme in your school/college, or an English A-Level programme and have an interest in writing stories professionally, email us. We're happy to pop down and talk about the next step you can make towards making writing your career.


For more on the experience of studying at Bucks New University, come and visit us at one of our Open Days, take a virtual tour of one of our animation studios, check out what our students think of our course, and see why we're ranked in the top 12 creative universities in the UK. Find out why we're giving free laptops to all our students, and why we give all our students free access to videos at Lynda.com. Also, see what financial assistance might be available to you. Learn which is better for animation, a PC or a Mac? Get hold of a copy of a map so you can find your way around campus, and learn aboutmotion capture at Bucks.