MA Creative Writing Crime Fiction (Part Time)

Key details

MA CREATIVE WRITING CRIME FICTION (PART TIME)

Start Year

2023

Attendance

Part Time

Award

Degree of Master of Arts

Duration (years)

Imagine writing an innovative full-length novel under the guidance of award-winning crime writers and experienced creative writing tutors. All without relocating or giving up work.

UEA’s part-time, low-residency MA Creative Writing Crime Fiction gives you unique flexibility with a distance-learning course supported by residencies. You’ll take the course via a specially designed, highly inclusive online platform, with three 2-day residential periods per year, circumstances permitting.

Our residencies have involved visits from literary agents and editors as well as professional writers such as Lee Child, Ian Rankin, Arne Dahl, Denise Mina, Dreda Say Mitchell, Cath Staincliffe, and Yrsa Siguroardottir.

By the end of the course, you will have a draft of a full-length work, a stronger self-awareness as a writer and critic, and a greatly increased chance of publication.

About

The Creative Writing programme at UEA was the first of its kind in the UK and is distinguished by the unrivalled success of its alumni, who include the 2017 Nobel Laureate Kazuo Ishiguro, and his fellow Booker Prize-winners Ian McEwan and Anne Enright. We introduced the first MA in 1970, the first PhD in 1987, and students now join us from all over the world.

The MA Crime Fiction builds on our world-leading expertise, presenting you with the unique opportunity to further your knowledge and skills within the highly dynamic crime genre. We have now embedded critical crime fiction and non-fiction modules across most levels of taught study within the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing, and doctoral research and supervision in the area is also growing at UEA. Plus, we’re a founding partner of Norwich’s annual crime writing festival, which takes place in September, coinciding with the September residential period.

The principal aim of the course is to help you develop a deeper understanding of the craft and context of producing exceptional crime writing, and have an enhanced critical awareness. By the end of the course, you’ll have become more adept and more self-aware in your own practice, and you will have completed a draft of a full-length novel.

You’ll become fully conversant with all aspects of being a professional writer, and – like all UEA creative writing students – will enjoy greatly enhanced prospects of publication on graduation. Our course builds on our extensive connections with publishers and agents.

Clearing and Admissions Live Chat

#NEWWRITING.NET

For a window onto the exciting new writing coming out of the UEA Creative Writing programme, visit our website NewWriting.Net

FIND US HERE >

Black and white chalk outline and quill pen

Home Truths

The troubled little sister of crime fiction, domestic noir has seen an explosion in popularity in recent years.

LEARN MORE >

TWITTER

Follow us on Twitter for all the latest news about the UEA Creative Writing programme and the achievements of our alumni: @NewWritingNet

UEA Live

The University of East Anglia's first literary festival took place in 1991 and over the last twenty five years we have welcomed a host of award-winning authors, journalists, illustrators, scientists, economists, broadcasters and more.

LEARN MORE >

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Assessment for Year 1

Your work will be assessed formatively throughout the first year through a combination of presentations, projects, exercises, and creative submissions. Feedback will be both written and verbal.

You will also have to complete three summative assessments at the end of the year: a 5,000-word essay for both ‘A Theoretical and Practical Approach to Crime Writing’ and ‘A Critical Approach to Crime Writing’, and the opening 10,000 words of your crime novel for ‘A Creative Approach to Crime Writing 1.’

Structure

Our MA in Crime Fiction comprises modules designed specifically for the course, ensuring our teaching has the same creative and academic integrity as UEA’s other Creative Writing MAs.

The first year will look to build upon your existing knowledge of crime fiction, offering modules that will not only develop your creative practice, but encourage you to think critically about the genre’s conventions, traditions, and modes. You’ll take three modules, each of which will develop a different approach to crime writing. In ‘A Creative Approach to Crime Writing 1’, you will begin to plan and write your own crime novel, guided by one-on-one tutorials and group workshopping. This module will encourage a thorough engagement with your creative practice, as you work in collaboration with both your tutors and peers.

In ‘A Theoretical and Practical Approach to Crime Writing’, you’ll examine specific elements of your own craft, all the while developing a thorough understanding of the constituent formal mechanisms of crime writing – including plot, suspense, pacing, setting and characterisation. Finally, in ‘A Critical Approach to Crime Writing’, you’ll read and analyse a range of crime fiction novels, developing a critical understanding of the genre’s traditions, forms and literary-historical underpinnings. This module will encourage you to think critically about your own work, about its intentions and preoccupations beyond the machinations of plot.

Teaching and Learning

Much of the teaching in year 1 will be asynchronous and delivered through a specially designed, highly inclusive online platform. This technology, along with Teams and Zoom calls, enables you to participate in seminars, workshops, online discussions, and tutorials.

The teaching is broken down into three-week ‘Chapters’, where you will alternate between each of the three modules week-to-week as follows:

Chapter 1:

Week 1: Creative

Week 2: Theoretical and Practical

Week 3: Critical

Chapter 2:

Week 4: Creative

Week 5: Theoretical and Practical

Week 6: Critical

Etc.

For the module ‘A Creative Approach to Crime Writing’, you’ll submit your work-in-progress, including outlines, to the close scrutiny and constructive criticism of your peers and the tutor. This gives you an insight into the reception of your work among a community of engaged readers and will in turn contribute to the development of your classmates’ work. Following each submission of your work-in-progress to the core workshop (A Creative Approach to Crime Writing 1), you will have a one-to-one tutorial with your class tutor (via Teams or Zoom) for a more detailed discussion of your work.

The module ‘A Theoretical and Practical Approach to Crime Writing’ involves online exercises and discussion boards, while ‘A Critical Approach to Crime Writing’ is focused around the study of core and recommended texts, and student presentations on these subjects.

Clearing and Admissions Live Chat

Open Days

This is the first year of your part-time course.

Assessment for Year 1

Your work will be assessed formatively throughout the first year through a combination of presentations, projects, exercises, and creative submissions. Feedback will be both written and verbal.

Compulsory Modules

A CRITICAL APPROACH TO CRIME WRITING

Code LDCC7014Y

Credits 20

You will study key crime fiction texts and accompanying critical essays and papers. These will include the modern genesis of the genre, from authors such as James M Cain to Gillian Flynn, allowing you to formulate your own critical response. Formative work, largely comprising of online presentations (for example, Powerpoint, or a Word document, and are not ‘live’), will be assessed throughout the year and you will have a summative piece of work which will be a critical essay.

A THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL APPROACH TO CRIME WRITING

Code LDCC7016Y

Credits 20

You will study the theoretical and practical study of devices employed in the writing of crime fiction (such as suspense, pacing, characterisation, purpose, structure and prose style), while looking at a variety of fictional and critical texts and extracts. Formative work, largely comprising writing exercises, and discussion boards, will allow you to experiment, and solidify positions, and will be assessed by the tutor and your peers throughout the year. Summative work will be a contextualising essay, on an aspect or aspects of the craft and theory of writing crime fiction, while it could also situate your creative project.

A CREATIVE APPROACH TO CRIME WRITING 1

Code LDCC7018Y

Credits 20

This is your opportunity to write the beginning of a crime novel, including the planning and plotting. You will be directed throughout the year to the formation of this proposal, and work, through online group workshopping, residential workshops, and one-on-one tutorials. Discussions will also focus around genre and public and critical expectation. Formative work, largely comprising of draft outlines, research plans and early chapters, will be assessed throughout the year and the summative work will be the first 10,000 words of your novel.

A PUBLIC APPROACH TO CRIME WRITING 1

Code LDCC7019Y

Credits 10

Writers are readers as well, and increasingly operate within the public realm. Attendance at literary events and festivals, profile raising and networking, are now often expected activities of the professional writer. During this module there will be three brief residential periods. You will attend masterclasses (conducted by visiting writers), the obligatory seminars, plus informal readings (from tutors and visiting writers), and events featuring industry professionals (during the annual agent and publisher evening).

Clearing and Admissions Live Chat

Open Days

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring and review of modules. Where this activity leads to significant change to a programme and modules, the University will endeavour to consult with affected students. The University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. Availability of optional modules may be restricted owing to timetabling, lack of demand, or limited places. Where this is the case, you will be asked to make alternative module choices and you will be supported during this process.

This is the second year of your part-time course.

Assessment for Year 2

Alongside continuous formal assessment, in your second year you will complete a full-length work of crime fiction (60,000–90,000 words).

Compulsory Modules

A PUBLIC APPROACH TO CRIME WRITING 2

Code LDCC7021Y

Credits 10

Writers are readers as well, and increasingly operate within the public realm. Attendance at literary events and festivals, profile raising and networking, are now often expected activities of the professional writer. This module will comprise the attendance of three brief residential periods annually. Students will attend masterclasses (conducted by visiting writers), the obligatory seminars, plus informal readings (from tutors and visiting writers), and events featuring industry professionals (during the annual agent and publisher evening).

A CREATIVE APPROACH TO CRIME WRITING 2

Code LDCC7022X

Credits 100

Through close supervision during the year, by a primary supervisor, you will have the opportunity to complete a full length crime novel. There will also be numerous formative assignments, online supervisions, tutorials and peer workshopping opportunities, along with residential workshops.

Clearing and Admissions Live Chat

Open Days

Important Information

Entry Requirements

Degree classification

Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent

Degree subject

Any subject

Additional entry requirements

Candidates will be expected to submit a portfolio of writing for assessment of between 3000 and 5000 words, which could be part of a novel in progress or a piece or pieces of short fiction. This does not have to be crime writing focused but must be prose fiction.

Students for whom english is a foreign language

We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:

IELTS: 7.0 (minimum 7.0 in writing and 6.0 in all other components)
PTE (Pearson): 76 (minimum 76 in writing and 64 in all other components)

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests

INTO UEA also run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk

Interviews

Promising candidates will be invited for an online interview with a member of the Creative Writing faculty and we aim to inform candidates of the outcome within five working days. Unsuccessful candidates are welcome to re-apply, though not within the same academic year. Successful candidates will either be offered a place for the forthcoming academic year or a place for the following academic year (if it is felt that they need more time to develop as a writer). Once the forthcoming year is ‘full’ candidates will be offered a place on our reserve list with the option of a place for the following academic year if a place does not become available.