Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Creative writing

Whether you enjoy writing sci-fi, fantasy or fiction, join our Creative Writing forum to meet others who love to write.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

MA Creative Writing

41 replies

elfycat · 11/05/2016 10:38

The brand new Open University course for October... I just signed up.

I took my literature degree (50% CW) with them and I've been searching for a distance learning MA.

I'm a bit fed up with people who don't understand that writing can be an academic hobby. They think I should just write a book and why bother with time, effort and money studying it. But I love the learning bit and really missed it once I'd finished the undergraduate courses. One of the main reasons I would want to write a book and potentially publish it, is to prove my study skills.

This MA is going to be all of my birthday and Xmas gifts for 2-3 years, plus my portion of disposable household income for hobbies DH had just taken up cycling and has spend hundreds on a bike. This is a bonus as when he's out for hours I'll have time to study At Xmas DH gave me a card with a IOU amount towards the course

Now I need to start filling up a notebook with potential source material for the assignments. I'll have to buy a new one of course

Just needed to share. Haven't told anyone in RL yet. DH knows I'm going to but he works at sea also a bonus on evening writing time and is out of contact range.

OP posts:

siucra · 25/09/2017 11:50

I'm on the course too and I'm terrified. Ridiculous really but desperately trying to think of reasons why not to do it. It's the work load, along with everything else I have to do, and then exposing one's creativity. Oh God.

FaFoutis · 12/10/2017 09:33

How is everyone on the OU MA getting on? Have you done the first week? I like the look of my tutor.
What Gingermum said came back to me when I saw that we have to post responses to activities on the forum. That's a huge amount of forum moderation for the tutors.

I posted a bit of writing for the icebreaker activity on my TGF and it was agony!

clahay · 16/04/2018 15:15

Hi all. I hope you are well and that you are enjoying your courses. I am enrolled to start the MA in October this year. How are you all finding it if you don't mind me asking? Is it what you expected? Thanks so much.

MAWYP · 08/08/2018 07:09

Hiya, I’ve just signed up for the OU MA Creative Writing course (starting in October). I noticed several of you lovely people started in 2016/17 - what’s your experience? Would you recommend? Thanks

buttybuttybutthole · 08/08/2018 17:20

I haven't done this but I did undergraduate degree with the OU and although it was pretty solitary it helped me with writing ( studied Lang/lit with creative writing)

I'd like to do the MA but not sure about funding it :(

MAWYP · 08/08/2018 19:47

Thank you.

AlphaNumericalSequence · 04/06/2019 15:29

Sorry to resurrect a zombie thread but I am thinking of doing a creative writing course with the OU and wondered if there were people on Mumsnet who have experience of any of their courses/modules in creative writing.
I'd be grateful for any comments, especially as the MA in creative writing doesn't seem to have very high student satisfaction ratings on the OU website.

I'm considering doing the MA part one module or an undergraduate course. I'm very new to the OU so haven't really sussed all the options yet.

I'm not a practising creative writer so perhaps the MA wouldn't be suitable? However, I write and edit various types of non-fiction for a living and have won a very low-level online short story comp in the past.

I have a BA and a BPhil so am experienced in studying. I guess I am a combination of utter newbie in some respects and relatively advanced in others. So it is hard to know what level course to consider.

AlphaNumericalSequence · 05/06/2019 06:57

Ah, it appears that I haven't managed to resurrect it.

Or, in short, ... bump.

Walkiria57 · 06/06/2019 18:12

Hello Gingermum.

I am a new writer. I have written a memoir. My mother was dying at the time. I found writing her story helped me cope with her inevitable departure. It was my first attempt at writing a book. To me, the process was very therapeutic. I have received heart warming feed back on it. I feel I have done her story justice. She was a very courageous indigenous Brazilian woman and her story is one that I felt had to be told. I am now writing a fictional novel centred on a young green activist. My question to you is:- I am looking for a mentor. Now that you are no longer teaching, would you be looking to take on board private students?

Walkiria

OrangeCinnamon · 17/06/2019 19:55

@alphanumericalsequence are you on Facebook there is probably a group you can join. I'm starting the advanced creative writing module in September...wish me luck !

OrangeCinnamon · 17/06/2019 19:56

Note that it is an undergrad not masters module

Jemimaaa · 24/06/2019 22:58

Has anyone done a part time MA whilst still working full time? I can’t afford to give up working full time so am planning on doing an MA on a part time basis. It’s with MMU who are flexible in terms of teaching times etc but am just a bit worried I won’t have enough time to actually do the work! Has anyone managed it? I could poss go down to 4 days at work

AlphaNumericalSequence · 07/07/2019 08:40

Sorry, @orangecinnamon, only just seen your post. No, I'm not on Facebook (I think I'm the last person left!)

Very good luck with your module in Sept. Hope you find it inspiring!

PSJ1 · 05/08/2019 15:08

I did 3 undergraduate creative writing modules with the OU and really enjoyed them and learnt a lot. I felt that a large part of the experience came from the willingness of other students to participate in the forums. It only takes a few committed students to make a massive difference in this regard. The teaching was generally great and the courses were structured well.

I'm planning to start the MA this Sept.

Writersblock2 · 17/02/2020 21:37

Hey all. Trying to breathe life into this thread. I am finishing off a level 3 creative writing module at the OU and I love it despite my forum being dead. Wanting to do a Masters after and I am considering either MMU or OU but like someone said above, OU reviews for this MA are putting me off.

Anyone doing a MA/completed one? What did you think?

Original poster

elfycat · 28/02/2020 20:30

It's my thread and I allow the zombie to rise... and go feasting on the brains of writers (which I think must be more delicious than other brains)

I passed BTW. I took a year out in the middle of the 2 modules. Social media, hobbies and many other things went into a dormant phase as it took up all my time. Soz Mumsnet, I've neglected you.

I've enjoyed the OU MA. The materials were good (as they ever are) but I think the main issue I saw other people have (and had a smidge) was that the feedback seems to be much more subjective and down to personal preference of the tutor. For example my tutor clearly preferred short stories, or had a problem with partial manuscripts - as demonstrated by feedback that two characters seemed superfluous to the scene - despite my note saying that they would later turn out to be key characters who would do XYZ. Other feedback was spot on for me so I was prepared to let that go and I wrote short stories for the rest of the second module - the point being to pass the MA and demonstrate skills, and not get feedback on as much of a novel as I could.

I had a dead tutor group, but the genre forums were alive, and the workshops - you review 3 pieces, and get 3 reviews in return - were great, even the criticism part of the critique.

I'm not sure what to do next with it all. Probably should have a go at writing with the aim to publish something

OP posts:

Flip

1 2