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Children's books

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Original poster

My daughter (14) wants to study English at university

50 replies

cymruoddicatref · 09/02/2011 14:06

My lovely daughter wants to study English at university - her ambition is to be a screen writer. She has always been a voracious reader, and writes stories and poetry in her spare time. But nothing she does in relation to her writing comes with any sort of "external accreditation" - it is all done purely for her own personal pleasure - and although it feels thoroughly ghastly and counter-intuitive, I have suggested to her that given the competition for places, she needs to begin thinking about looking for writing opportunities that will "show" how interested she is - the tyranny of the personal statement etc. I wonder if anybody (especially university teachers) has any ideas as to what makes for an attractive candidate to study English.

OP posts:

RobynLou · 09/02/2011 14:10

does her school produce a newspaper? essay competitions? newspapers sometimes run journalism competitions? read everything she can get hands on...

try not to get too specialised, english requires an interest in history/philosophy/allsorts!

SandStorm · 09/02/2011 14:11

I have no idea really but my immediate thought was is there a school paper where she is that she could write for? Or, if not, could she start one for her school - think how good that would look, writing experience, initiative, team work, independence of thought, freedom of expression etc.

munstersmum · 09/02/2011 14:28

Isn't there a young writers competition being run on Radio 2 at the minute? Sure I heard Chris Evans mention something.

Original poster

cymruoddicatref · 09/02/2011 14:33

Thanks for these great ideas - keep them coming - there is also an essay competition for the Charles Dickens 2012 bicentenary for ages 10 to 14 that we are looking at.

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FerociousBeast · 09/02/2011 14:35

local newspapers usually have a young reporters club.

notcitrus · 09/02/2011 14:40

Loads of essay/poetry competitions for kids.
Also if there's issues important to her, writing in to the local newspaper, and writing to councillors/MPs with her views.

Writing a script and trying to film it/put it on as a play? Even a mobile phone can be used to film now and if she does stuff she's proud of she can stick it on YouTube. Filming her friends acting and editing it using free editing software would give her insights into how the scriptwriter fits into the process.
(Dn1 is probably going to uni to do English of some sort this year, and the places he applied to loved him thanks to the above)

JoanofArgos · 09/02/2011 14:42

Is it English Lit she wants to do though, or Creative Writing? Because most degree courses would be more interested in what she'd read than what she'd written, I would think.

seeker · 09/02/2011 14:45

If she wants to study English Literature at a traditional university, it's reading she needs to do,I'm afraid, rather than creative writing!

FerociousBeast · 09/02/2011 14:49

Good point. What is the best thing to study if you want to be a screen writer ?

RobynLou · 09/02/2011 14:51

answering notes and queries in the guardian? I used to do this as a hobby

RobynLou · 09/02/2011 14:52

english lit at a good uni. DON'T LET HER DO FILM STUDIES OR SIMILAR!!!!

JoanofArgos · 09/02/2011 14:52

Dunno!
Eng Lit probably as good as anything non-vocational - but I wouldn't expect necessarily to impress with stories you've written, rather than books/poems/plays you've read, or critical stuff you've written about them, that's all.

I teach it but don't do admissions, though.

RobynLou · 09/02/2011 14:54

I only know one successful screenwriter to be fair, but she did Eng lit at Cam then a masters in writing at Royal Holloway.

if you're going to anything like film studies/creative writing etc then best leave it till masters level.

SnapFrakkleAndPop · 09/02/2011 14:54

English lit followed by an MA in film. DH's sister is doing that the moment.

FerociousBeast · 09/02/2011 14:54

English is not my subject. Maybe one of those 1001 books you should read would be good then you could work through all the books you should have read IYSWIM

WimpleOfTheBallet · 09/02/2011 14:58

look on bbcwritersroom.co.uk there are links and one is for their young writers area. Lots of help, advice and competitions.

RobynLou · 09/02/2011 14:58

getting into a good uni requires lots of interests that surround the subject, as well as the subject itself, and lots of things which demonstrate commitment, independence of thought, organisation, research etc...

directing a school play? debating society?

CarmelitaMiggs · 09/02/2011 15:04

oh please please don't dissuade her from pursuing her own writing. I can't believe an Eng dep would look down on a candidate with a strong and sustained drive to produce their own work. You've made it clear she's already doing masses of reading.

It's so easy to knock confidence at this point, even if you don't mean to. I stopped writing creatively around 15 when it started to seem a bit ludicrous, and only came back to it a few years ago. My first novel (lit fiction) comes out next year.

I'd suggest a first degree in Eng and then film school for screenwriting.

JoanofArgos · 09/02/2011 15:20

I wouldn't say for a moment dissuade her from writing, though I know it sounds like it.

But if you're looking to go the extra mile and do what will impress most, I'd say prioritise reading over writing.

Original poster

cymruoddicatref · 09/02/2011 16:24

Yes she has always read very widely and this comes across in her writing - she likes all kinds of material but she has read Gaskell, Austen, some Bronte, some Dickens, lots of Louisa May Alcott, etc etc. She also collects old fashioned "teen" books, like the Golden Book for Girls, the Wonder Book of Pets etc Now she seems to be moving more towards contemporary fiction.

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FerociousBeast · 09/02/2011 16:59

Would it help to read certain classics and look at the film version. To Kill a Mockingbird. Animal Farm, Fahrenheit 451 for example. There are also sparknotes online to look at books in depth as well.

stleger · 09/02/2011 17:22

Can she have a look at English courses in universities she'd like to attend? My dh teaches history in a 'good university', not in the UK, and they usually have an undergraduate course which includes an element of film. I'd imagine some English BA courses would be similar. (Even good ones )

crystalglasses · 09/02/2011 17:34

English literature degrees courses are incredibly competitive and she will need very strong A levels as well as a very strong PS showcasing her depth of reading and critical analysis rather than any writing skills and achievements she may have. If her strengths don't lie in this area she should probably look at a combined course or a creative writing degree.

Original poster

cymruoddicatref · 09/02/2011 18:29

Just had a look at the BBC writers room website - thanks very much for that - I think she will be inspired by the idea that all these things are possible - or at least they should seem that way when you are 14!

Also found a super monthly short story competition supported by bill Bryson for aged 17plus - and the national theatre has a special scheme for children 15plus, with back stage tours, which I am going to investigate.

To kill a mocking bird was one of her Christmas books.

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Original poster

cymruoddicatref · 09/02/2011 18:47

www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2011/01_january/31/writing.shtml

FYI here is the link to the Chris Evans writing competition on radio 2. I looked it up - thanks for this tip! My daughter is too old as the top band is aged up to 13 but someone else might be interested. Look at the amazing judging panel...

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