Student and tutor module reviews

Fully enjoyed every moment. It has given me a better understanding of the creative process - structuring, editing, and how important research can be. The module has caused me to branch out and fully test my skills in different genres and mediums - I'm not a poet, but the challenge broadened my range of sensory language and perception. If you're aiming to be an author or editor, then this module is perfect. Tutors are helpful and understanding.

Course starting: October 2021

Review posted: July 2022

This is a great module, with some excellent tutors.

There is plenty of good material in the coursebook to help you think about how to write, and all three genres covered (short story fiction, poetry and life writing) are presented well.

There were no physical tutorials or day schools, but the tutors did a great job with the online replacements (tip: sign up for and attend as many as you can, and not just those with your own tutor, as this will help a lot).

Your tutor group forum, and the async tutorials, are the key to getting the maximum out of the module. All it takes is two students, and the forum will be worth an enormous amount because you get to know and appreciate the feedback that is being offered.

My strong recommendation would be to steer clear of Facebook or Instagram or WhatsApp groups that some students will inevitably set up, and focus on the tutor group forum.

My excellent tutor oversaw the tutor group forum, and I received invaluable feedback from other students on my tutor-marked assignment (TMA) work, that would simply not have been possible through any other medium (at least, within the OU regulations). The async tutorials in the forum were fun and extremely useful.

By my estimation, the feedback that I received was worth at least one grade boundary. Not only that, but the feedback also helped enormously when writing the process/learning review portions of each TMA and the end-of-module assessment (EMA). Additionally, I found the act of commenting and providing feedback on other students' work improved my own writing, and helped me to edit my TMAs to a much higher standard than I would have believed possible at the outset of the module.

A final tip: don't wait until the last minute for the EMA. Instead, jot down ideas as you go along, as the TMAs come thick and fast after the festive break, and it will help to have some ideas in the bag.

Overall, I would rate this as an excellent introduction to creative writing. It is enormously enjoyable, and with the support of a great tutor and the encouragement of my fellow students, I even managed to write some half-decent poetry, which was a welcome surprise. (I was dreading poetry, but it was fine.)

I highly recommend it.

David Wheeler

Course starting: October 2020

Review posted: July 2021

I really enjoyed this module, the tutor-marked assignments were nicely spaced out, and the module materials were good giving you step by step instructions to get your creative juices flowing.

This module is not designed to make you a writer but it will improve your writing greatly. I have learnt a lot of small things which together have improved my writing immensely.

I thought the module was fairly easy but I enjoy writing. A lot of people don't realise there is still an academic element in the module in the way of commentaries. Also some people thought you would be able to write what ever they wanted, this is not the case. You do have options to choose from but you have to write to show you have learnt from the module materials and tailor your writing to show the techniques you should have learnt.

I also believe that marking on this module is subjective as although the tutors have to follow a marking criteria the tutors still interpret it differently as was proven when one tutor told me to alter a part of my work which I did and then another tutor didn't like that part and I got a low score.

If you like to write this is a great module with the potential to get good scores as long as you tailor your writing to your tutor and the module materials.

Course starting: October 2019

Review posted: July 2021

I signed up for this module with a degree of trepidation; it's one thing learning how to write an academic essay but quite another to write creatively and I wasn't sure I would be up to it. However, the big red course book takes you through everything step by step in an engaging and manageable way so that you build your skills as you go along. My tutor, was efficient, encouraging and supportive and I was surprised and delighted to pass the module with distinction and to have a small piece published online. I absolutely loved the module and was sorry when it finished. I would recommend anyone to give it a go even if, like me, you are worried about your abilities. I will definitely be doing the Advanced Creative Writing module at Stage 3. But before then I have to get back to writing academic essays!

Course starting: October 2018

Review posted: July 2019

I loved this module, which opened up a whole new field to me. The exercises and assignments were fun, well paced and fulfilling to complete. The workbook was excellently put together. I had a very good and attentive tutor. The module opens up your creative abilities, and boosts your self image! But it should be noted that it is quite hard to get really good marks, the subject matter and the result of the assignments is fairly subjective. I would recommend it to everyone, a great source of satisfaction.

Caroline Vidican

Course starting: October 2017

Review posted: January 2019