Writers' club

Ideal if you have already completed a writing course or two and are uncertain how to continue. You should be producing fiction on a regular basis and be prepared to read aloud and deal with constructive criticism.

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Key course information

Dates
19/04/12 - 21/06/12

Day(s)
Thu

Duration
10 weeks

Time
19:40 - 21:40

Fees
Full fee: £113
Senior fee: £113
Concession: £33

Venue
KS - Keeley Street

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Course code
HW059

Availability
Available
(status updated every 15 mins)

Enrol now

» See other dates.

Call enrolments: 020 7831 7831

Still got questions?
humanities@citylit.ac.uk or call 020 7492 2652

Course outline

What is the course about?

It will help you produce work of a reasonable to high standard on a regular basis; combat writers’ block (sometimes
by writing about someone who cannot write); develop a consistent style; learn to edit.

What topics will we cover?

You will be made aware of genre writing, the literary market place, competitions. A lot of work is read aloud and
there is a follow through in terms of sending the work out so that a writer gains the habit of what a writer’s life is all
about. The tutor suggests themes for writing but only to those who are floundering and there is very little evidence of
this in this class. Short stories are, at first draft, reckoned to be completed in two or three weeks; the same applies
to a chapter of a novel.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

- respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity
- complete several short stories, or three chapters and synopsis of a novel
- apply critical faculty, clearly and honestly, to personal work
- edit your own work
- receive acceptance or rejection slips from a variety of publications
- have the stamina and power to continue writing.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

You must have done at least one writers’ course before so that you are acquainted with and able to deal with
positive and negative criticism. You should also have some awareness of terms such as 'unreliable narrator' and
'tautology', and you should have tenacity.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Mostly through discussion of work, a movement from the particular to the general. The tutor brings in works such as
David Lodge’s The Art of Fiction to illustrate a point by reading a chapter. Practical work involves tape-recorded
stories from the BBC, BBC manuscripts; illustrations of the proper presentations of scripts (tutor brings examples);
study of some published work relevant to genre, word-length or market place.

The Tutor
Philip Sidney Jennings has an MA degree in Creative Writing and PhD in Creative Writing from Lancaster University.
He is a well-known writer of short fiction. His stories have appeared in magazines and newspapers as diverse as
Bananas, Encounter, Iron, Penthouse, Punch, South-East Arts Review, The New Writer, and The Evening Standard.
From 1985 to 1987 he was editor of Jennings Magazine, a quarterly that was started by a group of short story
writers in order to encourage new writing talent. His novel, Dome, was published in 1993 by Unicorn. In 2003 he was
a visiting lecturer at Roehampton University and Moscow State University (Russia) in Dystopian Fiction.

City lit reserves the right to change course tutors or venues from those advertised in this outline. In line with our
refund policy we are unable to grant a refund on the grounds of a change of tutor/venue.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Paper and pen.

Do I need to have an interview before I can enrol?

No.

What feedback will I get?

You will receive regular feedback from your tutor throughout the course, as and when appropriate. At the end of the course you and your tutor are asked to assess the progress you have made.

How will I be able to give my views on the course?

Please complete the evaluation form at the end of your course. These are monitored and help us to continually improve our courses.

How do I find out if I can get some support for my learning?

You may be interested in: education and careers advice; financial and childcare support; disability support; support for Deaf and hearing-impaired students; dyslexia support; English and maths support; counselling, and library services (supported learning centre). To find out what may be available to you, and how to apply, see page 213 of the 11/12 course guide, or visit www.citylit.ac.uk/students

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Information and Advice Shop, open Monday to Friday 12:00 – 19:00 during term time, and Monday to Friday 12:00 – 17:00 out of term time. See the course guide for term dates and further details.

Who can I contact for further information?

Tel: 020 7492 2652

humanities@citylit.ac.uk

Advice times:

During term-time Monday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30 and 17.30–18.30

Non term-time Monday 17.30–18.30 Thursday 12.30–13.30.

To enrol on a course, call 020 7831 7831.

Select another date / day / time

Dates	Day(s)	Time	Duration	Fees	Snr	Conc	Code	Availability
12/01/12 to 22/03/12	Thu	19:40 - 21:40	11 weeks	£124	£124	N/A	HW058	Full	» Select
19/04/12 to 21/06/12	Thu	19:40 - 21:40	10 weeks	£113	£113	£33	HW059	Available	» Select
22/09/11 to 08/12/11	Thu	19:40 - 21:40	12 weeks	£136	£136	£39	HW057	Finished	» Select