MA Creative Writing

[slfk3]

I have been thinking about going back to studying and am drawn to an MA in creative writing, I'm in East Anglia so have narrowed things down to Cambridge, UEA or OU. Has anyone any experience of juggling this type of MA with three primary aged children and part time work? Or ideally of these programs?
I read English literature and history for my first degree in the states so have a reasonable background but I feel like I probably wouldn't get accepted to the programs(lack of confidence) but am working through one of the workbooks the OU suggests on their website and am really enjoying it.
Thank you!

HI OP isn't the UEA MA in Creative Writing 'the' gold standard one in the UK? Many famous writers studied the course, including Kazuo Ishiguro.

I can't offer any more advice except that you're brave but what an opportunity. Do you have a lot of support with your DC? I'd think it essential if you're going to keep on top of assignments etc.

Good luck.

Not sure about brave, I keep leaning towards the OU option as I think it will be more manageable and I don't want to get put off by being rejected by UEA as they are supposed to be the best.
My husband works from home and would help more if I did an MA.

I did an MA in creative writing with the OU with three children and working part-time. It was exhausting and I have to say I probably didn't work to my full potential because it was impossible to with the needs of everything else, including normal household chores as well as the other things that have been mentioned.
Having said that, however, the day I graduated was the best feeling in the world. My children and family came and the feeling of achievement was immense.
The only trouble for me though is that once you don't have deadlines to stick to etc, it is incredibly hard to find the time to write afterwards with such a busy life.
Good luck though! I absolutely loved doing it!

You do also have to be very disciplined. I used to get up at four in the morning so I could have a couple of uninterrupted hours of working before the children got up.
I didn't have a lot of support with the children tbh, but found ways to work round it.

Thank you comfyslippets, I am generally able to choose what I do between school runs, so I think as long as I was firm with using that time for the work and keeping on top of house/work etc., I think I can manage it. Glad to hear you enjoyed it, I'm hoping to use it for pleasure and to just learn write regularly and see what comes of it having been out of the habit for many years!

I have heard mixed reviews about the OU one - along the lines of limited feedback from tutors and being a bit 'old-fashioned' these days.

I would definitely go for the UEA one if you can - it has such a great reputation! Might be worth asking the average age of the students though as a friend of mine did an MA Creative Writing recently and it was mostly 21 year olds who had just finished English Lit degrees and all their creative work seemed to be fantasy adventure and fairies and dragons, which she said was a pain to critique and not her genre at all!

That is interesting whippet, that's my worry with the OU that it might be a bit hollow. I'm just worried I will apply for UAE, not get in and lose a year as they are closed for the September intake.
Bleh, I don't know which to go for or how to find out!

Did you rule of Lancaster University MA (Distance Learning)
or
Uni of York PG Diploma (also distance)

Both well-respected.

Do it part time and you'll walk it, especially if it's in something you love. Good luck!

@LlamaDrama20

Did you rule of Lancaster University MA (Distance Learning) or Uni of York PG Diploma (also distance)

Both well-respected.

Hadn't heard of those, shall check them out, thank you!

@slfk3

That is interesting whippet, that's my worry with the OU that it might be a bit hollow. I'm just worried I will apply for UAE, not get in and lose a year as they are closed for the September intake. Bleh, I don't know which to go for or how to find out!

Why don't you apply for more than one and see what choice you have?

To be honest I think you will find you will get offers from them all!

I hate to say it, but the CW MAs are money-makers for the universities!

@LlamaDrama20

That's interesting you think I would get offers from all, in reading each of there course descriptions they seem very different from one another, I'm trying to sit back and work out which I think would be the best fit.

I was really impressed by Lancaster as they have a Facebook group for the English and Creative Writing program and the last post was about a forum to encourage women with caring responsibilities to return to postgrad study.

Lancaster has a brilliant reputation for Creative Writing - I think it is rated in the top 3 for the subject at uni level.
I did a CW course and my tutor was an alumnus and spoke really highly of it.

When comparing courses, the things to look out for are:

• whether it's all creative writing modules, or whether some are more about analysing literature
• whether there is a 'big project' (e.g. beginning your novel as part of a dissertation length project)
• what feedback you get - is it all from fellow students or will you get any staff feedback

None of these are good/bad necessarily - just depends what you want to get out of it?
I've been looking at them too for a while (as you might guess :-) )

If all you want to do is sign up for something to give you regular accountability and deadlines to write a novel then you might prefer a Faber Academy or Curtis Brown course?

Hi slfk3! Well done so far - so brave! Don't worry about where the MA is - just keep working as best you can. My daughter is at Cambridge on her MPhil and she has course mates of all ages, including some parents.

Your wider experience will make you stronger where ever you do your MA. That should give you extra confidence. 'Mature' students usually do very well after they settle.

As you may know, Cambridge has short formal teaching Terms - only 8 weeks each. So a lot to cram in. And you will have to rely on yourself a lot; Supervisors will support, but the culture is of self-driven and extremely hardworking Masters students. Rich seminars and amazing academics, though!

I echo earlier comments about the UEA course being preeminent, a lot like the Uni of Iowa Writers' Workshop in the US.

I admire you!

@LlamaDrama20

That is really good to hear, I really like the vibe they have, at least their online info is really encouraging, they seem very international and aware of students from all walks of life, particularly women. Can't see info re the modules they teach so have emailed for more detail, I had noticed that they vary a lot. Cambridge seemed to have a crime and live performance focus, while UEA felt a bit more academic and artsy although the East Anglian module sounds interesting. I think in my heart of hearts I would like the qualification of an MA, won't help me with work and I won't shout it about but I would rather like to have it.

@JBX2013 Thank you! I like the idea of Cambridge but there program has regular residentials, I had thought I might manage it as I live 30ish minutes away but they seem to start at 8 and run till 8 in the evening, and there were four in the first year, not sure how that would work with the children. Lancaster's optional five day seminar at the end of the first year seems easier to fit around life than four of them. Funny about Uni of Iowa as I grew up in the states and its one of the few Universities I have visited there as we have an international competition in high school that was hosted there.

Thank you both for the support, really appreciate it!

Just checking in to this thread as I'm about to finish an undergrad degree in English with the OU, and the 2 CW modules have really inspired me to write.

I am now thinking of doing an MA and was automatically thinking of the OU again, but this has opened up my eyes to some other institutions. I only want to do distance learning and the Lancaster course sounds really interesting, particularly with the 5 day residential...food for thought.