During Creative Writing you will write, experiment and reshape texts. You will make choices, look at earlier work with fresh eyes and take subjects from different learning pathways. These include Transmedia Storytelling, Poetry & Performance, Prose (fiction, non-fiction, script, editing), Curatorship and Theory.
You will discover how to write prose, poetry and non-fiction. You will learn to think and talk about writing, and to apply editing. You will practise performing and working with different media. You will also take theory and philosophy subjects, read and discuss many texts, give each other feedback and, above all, create a lot yourself. You will start with around thirty students, but you will often work in smaller groups for more focus and exchange.
The first-year subjects will be explored in more depth. You will begin by choosing at least one of the five majors:
- Prose
- Sound
- Poetry
- Mixed media
- Stage
You will also take supporting and elective subjects to shape your direction further.
You will start projects such as a manifesto, research, podcast or poetry collection. In the Creative Writing Lab you will choose a theme together with fellow students, invite guest lecturers and work on an individual project. You will do an internship at a place that suits your ambitions. This could be a publisher, a literature festival, a podcast or a newspaper. This allows you to apply your literary skills in practice.
You will also complete an internship at an organisation that aligns with the programme. Here, you apply your writing practice in a professional environment. You learn how the literary field operates and what role you can play within it. This may involve contributing to programmes, editing or communication. Where you end up depends on your interests and ambitions. Whether it’s a festival, broadcaster, publishing house or another platform, your internship is an important step towards your professional practice.
In the fourth year, you graduate with three components: an artistic research project, a final work, and a start-up. By then, you are not only a qualified writer, but you will also have gained experience in skills relevant to other professional practices within the literary field, such as editing, teaching and programme development. The graduation work in the fourth year is what you present to the outside world and the professional field. These are often short stories, poetry collections, performances, documentaries or other works that express your unique voice and show what you are capable of.
The final works can be found at ArtEZ Finals. Take a look at the website and visit the presentations if you are considering this course. Through the stories, you will discover what the students are working on and what their final projects look like.