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Accessibility statement
A image to illustrate MA Creative Writing part 2 module
This module is the second part of the MA in Creative Writing (F71). You'll build on skills that you have acquired in part 1, while at the same time being challenged to develop those skills further in your primary genre specialism. Throughout this module, you'll specialise in one of four writing genres: fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction or script for film, radio or stage. The module is organised into four teaching blocks and a further section of independent study, where you'll develop your ideas into a sustained piece of creative writing produced to a professional level for your dissertation.
This module further develops techniques and approaches introduced in MA Creative Writing part 1 (A802) and allows for more in-depth discussion of writing topics and work in progress.
You'll be able to consolidate and build on the writing, editorial, analytical, critical and research skills you've previously acquired, and to develop more sustained pieces of work, as well as gaining greater critical and editorial awareness in the analysis of your own work and the work of your peers. By the end of the module, you will have undertaken a sustained piece of individual work for your dissertation. You'll choose a genre specialism from fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction or scriptwriting, and your exact study path will depend on your specialism. However, all genres will follow a path leading to a period of independent study and the production of a substantial piece of writing.
In Block 1, you will:
In Block 2, you will:
In Block 3, you will:
In Block 4, you will:
Interspersed throughout the first four blocks of the module, you'll encounter The Writer in The World. These sections explore how writers make a living from their craft and suggest ways for you to engage with the professional world of writing, such as how to go about contacting agents, producers and publishers. The Writer in the World sections also consider online writing as a mode of self-promotion and as a form of publication.
Block 5: Independent study
During this part of the module, you'll work primarily on producing a substantial piece of creative writing for your dissertation (15,000 words of fiction or equivalent in other genres). Depending on your specialism, this will either be a substantial extract from a larger prose work or a collection of poems, stories or complete scripts. You'll be expected to produce this work to a professional standard.
This module will help you:
Studying creative writing will equip you with an adaptable set of skills that can give you entry to a vast range of occupations and career directions. You'll develop sophisticated writing, communication and editorial skills, and you’ll learn to evaluate and assimilate information when identifying and solving problems. Creative writing will help you to increase your critical and analytical abilities. Often, you’ll work independently as a creative thinker, but you’ll collaborate at times, too. You’ll also acquire fluent, flexible, and sophisticated research and IT skills.
All of these are skills greatly valued in the workplace – whether you’re already working, volunteering, planning to work freelance or changing careers.
Tuition on this module is provided entirely online, with a strong emphasis on participation in online forums. You'll have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work in assessments, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. Your work will focus initially on your tutor group forum, but you'll also benefit from having access to module-wide forums, co-moderated by other tutors – who, like your tutor, will be writing practitioners and experienced teachers of creative writing. There will be four online tutorials on this module, one delivered by your tutor and three delivered to the whole cohort by the module team.
Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Course work includes:
In this module, you'll be assessed on:
All teaching material for this module is delivered online via the module website, which includes:
You may find it useful to have access to a large public or university library, but this is not essential.
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
A803 is a compulsory module in our:
MA Creative Writing part 2 starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2030.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
To register for this module, you are required to have successfully completed the MA in Creative Writing part 1 (A802).
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
This module is delivered entirely online. The materials are provided as a series of web pages via the module website. Some online material may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader, and some external reference materials, such as poetry or scripts, may be particularly difficult to read in this way.
You should also be aware that this module demands a high level of independent study, including reading widely in the genre you wish to study. Where certain activities are not accessible for your particular need, we will provide suitable alternatives. However, some activities, for example studying certain poetry or script layouts, may not be available in different formats. This module requires you to engage with other students and their work in online forums and other online tools.
Please be aware that there will be:
If you think you will have difficulty in completing these tasks you should contact us for advice before registering for this module.
If you’re using printed materials as part of reasonable adjustments to support your studies, note that printed versions of online materials are unavailable for this module.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.
StartEndRegister byEngland fee
03 Oct 202631 Oct 202717 Sep 2026£5,550
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in England.
Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.
Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module.
We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
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