On Campus or Online MA Creative Writing for mature student?

[NormaSnorks]

I'm mid-50s and I've been thinking about doing a Creative Writing MA for some time. Done tons of research, attended open days, spoken to people etc.
Originally I assumed I'd do an online one to fit in around things, but after 15 months of the pandemic and being stuck at home doing everything online I'm now beginning to think an on campus one which forces me to LEAVE THE HOUSE for the next two years may be a good thing!

I'm lucky in that I can get to both London and another SE university, so have several potential options.
But I'm now wondering how I'll cope with the idea of face-to-face seminars and workshops, perhaps with lots of people very much younger than me. Sometimes I like the idea of traipsing around a campus, perhaps with other mature students, and at other times I find myself thinking 'don't be so stupid'.

Any thoughts/ advice/ experience?

I'd very strongly suggest the campus / concrete experience. Learning with fellow students of different ages is an education in itself - and a vitally important part of re-positioning yourself as a erm ... contemporary voice. (I know that sounds wanky.) You may not want to write like a twenty two year old - but it's important to know what they think, and how they articulate their thoughts.

Are any of your possible courses more specific than simply 'Creative Writing'? Only because millions of people are fighting in that field. It might not be a bad idea to carve out a more defined bit of space ...

But, anyway - you could not be doing a better thing. You'll have the more fun than you ever thought possible.

I do actually speak English. Ignore random typos.

Are any of your possible courses more specific than simply 'Creative Writing'?

I'm not sure I understand what you mean? The MA would be in Creative Writing, but depending on where I chose to go there would be a variety of modules to choose from including things like screenwriting, sci-fi writing, poetry etc

I think your comment about being around young people is very true - and perhaps is exactly why I SHOULD do it, but also what I think will find hardest

@Edmontine - have you done something similar yourself? You sound like you're speaking from experience with your 'having fun' comment!

Defo on campus. I did the same in my 40s and I wasn't the only older student. It was lovely to sit in cafe discussing things etc and browsing the academic library etc. Get out there!

I did one on campus in my thirties and it was lovely. There was a huge age spread amongst the cohort, it wasn’t like undergrad at all. Go for it!

Aww thanks for these messages - I think they are what I need to hear!
In October both my kids will be at uni and I think if I don't have a new focus and direction I am going to feel very 'lost', especially after the last year we've had!

It's actually a brilliant thing for teens to see their mother embarking on an exciting new challenge like this. I'm sure they love and respect you already, but they'll be so impressed ...

And it's fabulous if you find you're studying similar topics. Makes for the sparkiest conversations when they're home on vacation.

I'd go for on campus and think the UEA might only be an afternoon a week? but you might want to consider which year will recommence face to face? Most academics (non-creative writing) I've met are talking about remote or hybrid persisting into 2021/22.

Good luck.

Thanks. UEA isn't really an option for me. Yes, the discussion about whether things will still be hybrid learning is an interesting one and definitely worth considering.

@NormaSnorks I've been considering one for years too, and I turn 50 this year. I was looking at one at Oxford Brookes and an author was published from there after her MA, and she was much older, in her 70s I think.

I think it's quite common for Creative Writing MAs to have some older people join as it's obviously a topic that has appeal across a wide range of ages.

Which London MAs look good? I haven't started researching London ones yet.

Some of the doctoral and postdoctoral research at Central School of Speech and Drama is quite impressive ...

It's worth considering writing for performance as a subject to study, rather than something more general. There's no shortage of places to do that in London. (And it's one of the few areas of life where talented women gain respect as they age ...)

@YellowSunshineSky has a good point. It depends what you want but if you don't have strong industry connections or are not famous, a courses' links with publishers and agents and publication success might be a helpful dimension. Some of the non-MA publisher or agent courses like Curtis Brown Creative? might be helpful.

Good luck.

Yes, I've looked at Faber and Curtis Brown courses too. I also did a 6 week CBC course a couple of years ago - I was a bit 'meh' about it to be honest.

If I do an MA I will be able to get a post-grad loan for it, which I may or may not end up paying off in the future!
A non-accredited course will be £6k out of savings instead.

But I know an MA is more about the academic side of things, rather than preparing a novel for commercial success. I know of a couple of published authors who did the Oxford Bookes MA @YellowSunshineSky mentioned. At least one of them says she wishes she had done a publisher/agent led course instead!

Glad you've considered all the angles, OP.

Good luck.

@zilla1 has good points too - that it depends on what you want to get out of the period of study.

I'm a bit of a course junkie and like the idea of doing a masters so I can go to in-person classes for a period of at least a year, meet other writers, and spend a lot of time learning and talking about writing and writers and writing methodologies, alongside actually writing as well (of course).

Curtis Brown and Faber both have very good courses that are focussed on supporting you while you write a novel. I'm currently studying with The Novelry which has a slightly different approach to CB and Faber, you don't have a specific cohort that studies all together for 3 or 6 months. Instead you join them and are part of a community of writers all at different stages of writing a novel and you can dip in and out of video masterclasses, author Q&A sessions. Also you can have mentoring sessions with an author.

Yes - I'm a bit of a course junkie too!

Sorry, NormaSnorks I can see that we posted around the same time so hadn't seen your message re CBC and Faber before posting mine.

Interesting that the Oxford Brookes person said she wished she'd done a publisher led course!

They probably all have their pros and cons.

Have you found any good London Creative Writing MAs?

I've not looked recently but did the author of the Essex Serpent study at Goldsmiths though I think that might have been part of a creative and critical PhD? If so, it might be linked to an active creative writing Department?

Would be good to have some of you on this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/4327788-Is-there-a-specific-Mature-Study-Retraining-board?msgid=110096218

Pretty please!

Did you end up going for it? I'm 50 and I'm looking to do a creative writing MA myself. I've been looking at online and on campus courses that are part time over two years. Wondering if I'm crazy at my age to go back to uni.

Go on campus. And I’ve recently taken up a London based MA in CW in my late 30s- very mixed ages. There are some 22yr olds but most people are older and I’m actually one of the younger older ones! It’s been a great experience. Don’t want to reveal too much as it’s outing but if you want advice re a UoL colleges CW course and my experience, feel free to DM.