Student and tutor module reviews

This module was very different from Creative Writing (A215) which I also enjoyed, although it did build on the skills taught in A215.

The biggest difference was this module was largely aimed at writing plays for the big screen, tv, radio and stage. This medium is much more technical than other mediums and as you develop your technical skills in this area it also helps you view your story writing in more depth.

I did not think writing plays was going to be something I enjoyed but found I loved writing tv plays and I was good at it.

This module was less time consuming than A215.

I would highly recommend this module.

Course starting: October 2020

Review posted: March 2022

When I enrolled on this module, I wondered what writing techniques could be improved upon after studying Creative writing (A215). However, I was pleasantly surprised.

For starters, there was an introduction into stage, screen and radio drama. Although, I was keen to get that part over with; I have to say that many enjoyed it.

Prose drama and poetry techniques were studied as follows: Playing with genre; conflict and contrast; voices in fiction; rhetoric and style; using analogy; time and timing; and finally, theme and sequence.

There were many practical exercises. Many of which involved forum postings for peer review. Valuable lessons on the postings were gained through discussions and critiquing from peers and my tutor.

Seven assignments had to be submitted with the final one consisting of whatever choice the student desired to specialise in. The choices were as follows:

A sequence of poems, totalling between 140 and 160 lines

A complete passage of life writing in prose - 4000 words in length

A complete, one-act stage play - 30 minutes performance time

A complete radio play - 30 minutes performance time

A complete film - 30 minutes performance time.

Overall, I completed the course with the confidence that I could write professionally.

James McCrory

Course starting: October 2018

Review posted: July 2019