Write your first novel in a year with the supervision of industry experts. Two evenings a week full or part time
Why study Creative Writing: First Novel?
Our Creative Writing: First Novel Master's degree works with a very small cohort. This means you'll receive one-to-one tuition on a far more regular basis compared to many other Creative Writing postgraduate courses. Here, you will be personally guided through the journey of your first draft, rather than being another student at the back of a large class.
Teaching is practical and focused on developing the tools needed for the production of a first novel draft. No short stories, no poetry, no screenplay, just your novel.
Your novel deserves a tutor that understands all - not just some of its parts - and you deserve a tutor who will coach not just the first draft of your novel, but also the development of your creative process.
Why St Mary's?
Our tutors are all published, practising writers. Drawing on our connections with the industry you'll also have seminars with some of the most sought-after agents and publishers in London.
When you have finished the degree, you can choose to continue workshopping and drafting with the dedicated cohorts we establish every year. We are passionate about our craft and about your craft too. That's why our first PhD student in Creative Writing struck a major two-book deal with Canongate and sales in multiple foreign territories.
Students receive visits from high-profile industry experts from the publishing world. These include talks, Q&As and masterclasses from writers, editors and agents. Recent years have seen visits from representatives of Conville and Walsh, Picador and Gollancz as well as writers such as Christie Watson, Claire Fuller and Lavie Tidhar.
We want to hear about your novel – the one you know you have to write. Pick up the phone or email the Programme Director: jonathan.gibbs@stmarys.ac.uk or call 020 8240 4380.
Key facts
- Faculty of acclaimed, published, practising writers
- Guest visits, seminars and masterclasses from writers, agents and publishers
- Draft your novel in a year
- Full-time places can be studied over two evenings a week
- Friendly tutors offering regular one-to-one tutorials to help shape your novels
- Taught on our historic Strawberry Hill campus