Recommendations for an MA in Creative Writing?

[GrendelsMinim]

I've finished and am self-publishing my first novel, and I'm now wondering about doing an MA in Creative Writing.

I'd like to develop my skills in a critical and supportive atmosphere, and particularly to work on the aspects of novel writing that are hard to tackle in evening classes - plotting, structure, character development and so on.

Does anyone have any recommendations for MAs in Creative Writing? I'd be potentially interested in part time or full time courses.

Please excuse my ignorance.

What do you actually DO on a creative writing course?

What do you need (qualifications?) in order to be considered?

I know I could google this stuff, but I am interested in hearing personal experiences

(Many thanks if you choose to reply)

I did the sister MA at Manchester Met which was critical theory. The creative writing course there is amazing and always oversubscribed. Carol Ann Duffy teaches on it, amongst others. We shared a few modules and I have to say it was fantastic.

I think it depends on what area of writing you want to specialize in. I think there are a couple of courses that are genre specific - one in London is purely for crime writing. As others have said, some are about producing a finished novel so I would look at individual courses rather than location.

Writing Magazine and Writers' Forum often have adverts/info on this type of thing. I have thought about it but slightly worried about paying for a course and still not getting published. I'm sure it would definitely improve your writing though (and in my case, actually make me write something!) Good luck.