What is the value of contemporary fiction in a publishing milieu saturated with 'content'? And how can those who wish to write fiction navigate a landscape where the novel has been declared dead, and the study of literature is allegedly in a state of crisis? Advanced Creative Writing examines and enters into discourse about the significance of literary and genre fiction, and disputes about the category of value in interpretative methods. Students discuss a series of texts which engage with ideas about literary value, including independent literary journals, and read fiction that dramatises questions about the novel's status, or makes arguments about creative work's restorative powers in times of crisis. The course requires students to write a creative piece about a subject, and in a genre, of their own choice, and a response to a novel or theoretical text. Together, the creative piece and the response will constitute a position statement about literary value. The course will culminate in the design, editing and publication of a literary journal composed of students' revised work, and edited by peers.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- research and critically analyse literary and theoretical texts which address questions about literary value and interpretative methods;
- create, experiment with, and revise one critical and one creative piece of prose;
- reflect on your own creative work in relation to its context, sources and formal qualities, and discuss your writing with respect to published work in a similar style or genre; and
- collaboratively discuss, design, edit and produce an online literary journal, drawing on students' disciplinary expertise in fields including design, literary studies, music and others, based on the work of peers.
Indicative Assessment
- Draft creative work: fiction, memoir, graphic novel, suite of poems, play or screenplay, libretto etc (2000 words) (10) [LO 2]
- Portfolio of creative and critical work of approximately 5000 words, with drafts and a rationale (60) [LO 1,3]
- Literary journal: project produced through collaboration (20) [LO 4]
- Ten-minute solo or group presentation on a literary or critical text (10) [LO 1]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 24 hours of seminars.
b) 106 hours of online material, independent student research, editing, reading and writing.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Christine Smallwood, The Life of the Mind
Ali Smith, Companion Piece
Zakiya Dalila Harris, The Other Black Girl
Selected critical readings
Assumed Knowledge
This course has assumed knowledge of 12units of ENGL courses.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
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