Overview

This is an entry-level course for anyone with an interest in exploring their potential for creative writing.

Description

Your tutor is Dr Sarah Ekdawi who is a Faculty Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and the Reviews Editor of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. She was educated at the Universities of London, Oxford and Dublin (Trinity College), and holds degrees in Greek, French and Applied Linguistics, as well as diplomas in theology, teaching and translating. Her teaching career spans twenty years and includes syllabus- course- and materials-design, school management and teacher training. She is a qualified technical translator and practising literary translator.

Writing has been Sarah's passion since she first held a pen in her hand and caused despair to her primary school teachers by consistently and deliberately using capital letters where these 'looked prettier' in the middle of words. Many years of punishment for poor handwriting produced very little improvement, and although she can now spell and no longer uses capital letters inappropriately, she is regularly reproved by students for her board-work (or 'hieroglyphics', as they call it). Sarah spends2-3 months every year in a remote part of Greece, writing.

Email: sarah.ekdawi@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk  http://www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk/staff

Objectives

The objectives of this course are threefold, and can be summarized as follows:

(1) Analysing Texts (looking at the ways in which texts are structured, focusing on a variety of areas including genre, style, plot and character-portrayal)

(2) Using Texts Creatively (examining examples of existing texts and making creative use of them through imitation, parody, updating and other forms of inter-textuality)

(3) Producing Texts (producing a range of original materials, in a series of guided and free assignments)

Outcomes

All students will be expected to produce the following substantial pieces of work:

(1) A writer's diary, to be kept throughout the course

(2) A portfolio of prose pieces

Course Structure

2 weeks x 15 hours' tuition per week (3 hours per day)

Students will be expected to do written assignments

Each session will be structured around one or more of the key objectives listed above (i.e. talking about texts, utilizing texts and generating texts). The basic session format will be: read – write - read back / feedback. The first and third stages will involve group discussion.

Materials

The course will draw on a wide range of texts from different periods, but with a strong focus on the work of recent and current authors. All texts and extracts will be provided by the tutor.

There is no advance reading for this course; it is assumed that students will be avid readers and will be keen to discuss whatever they have been reading recently.

Course Outline

The course comprises a total of ten 3-hour sessions, each of which will provide opportunities for reading, writing and discussion. Below is a summary of session contents.

(1) Focus on sources of information / inspiration for a fiction-writer

In this introductory session, students will be asked about their reading preferences and the type of fiction that they want to write. There will be a discussion about the sources writers use for fiction (personal experience, observation of everyday life, other texts, etc.)

The opening lines of some novels will be analysed and students will participate in a discussion about what constitutes a writer's diary. Sample extracts ranging from the Diary of Samuel Pepeys to contemporary weblogs will be read and discussed.

(2) Autobiography as Fiction

This session will focus on creative uses of 'real lives' and how far (auto)biographers are to be believed. Extracts relating to the Ted Hughes / Sylvia Plath story will be analysed. There will be a discussion of 'Confessions' as a genre (with extracts from de Quincy to William Boyd)

(3) Genre

After an initial examination and discussion of book reviews and blurbs, a variety of exemplars of different genres will be read and discussed. Students will identify and defend their own likes and dislikes. Students will the produced brief samples of writing in unidentified genres for the group to identify. Stylistic markers of genre will be discussed.

(4) Style (i) – imitation and parody

The notion of intertextuality will be explored and various examples analysed.

(5) Whodunnits

In this session, the enduring popularity of crime fiction will be discussed and a wide range of sample-extracts (from Wilkie Collins to Ian Rankin) read and analysed. The prevalence of female authors in this genre (Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh, Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendell, Paula Gosling...) will be discussed; different styles will be compared, and Agatha Christie's spoof formula for a whodunnit will be read. Students will plot the perfect murder!

(6) Fiction / Faction

The current trend in cinema as well as novels to fictionalize real (often living) people and events will be the focus of this session. Pat Barker's Regeneration and Julian Barnes' Arthur and George will be among the texts discussed, and students will read how Alexander McCall Smith put Ian Rankin in the jacuzzi.

(7) Plot

This session begins with the ingenious re-creation by students of the missing part of a story. Various plotlines will be examined, in the light of Christopher Booker's notion that there are only seven basic plots in the whole of literature. Students will produce a plot-outline and publisher's blurb for their own novels.

(8) Character

Convincing and unconvincing character-portrayals will be read and discussed. The importance of clothes and dialogue will be explored. Students will produce descriptions and mini-dialogues. 

(9) Style (ii) – a voice of one's own

The group will engage in further stylistic analysis of a range of texts. Students will then produce short pieces of writing and attempt to identify their own stylistic tics / devices / preferences ...

(10) Romantic Fiction, cautionary tales and fairytales

In this closing session, the conventions of romantic fiction and fairytales will be explored. Students will update a well-known fairytale and produce a cautionary tale for our times. The tutor will offer advice on how students may continue to develop their writing.

Notes

This is one of our adult courses, which constitute part of the Academy's continuing education division. We offer summer courses in literature, science, philosophy, psychology, music, art. film, and architecture. New courses are frequently added to the website, so if this course does not match your requirements, keep checking the website. In addition, we can make tailor-made courses to suit your requirements - just email us at admin@oxford-royale.co.uk, and let us know what you are looking for.

Accommodation

Students stay in Wadham College, one of the most traditional Oxford University colleges. Located right in the centre of city, Wadham is near all the famous colleges and museums, which makes it ideal for an inspiring study break! The Wadham College website contains practical information about your stay.

Excursions – Oxford Based

Included in the course fees, is a full schedule of sightseeing activities and social events in the city of Oxford. For a sample timetable go to www.oxford-royale.co.uk/tours2007.html and view the Corpus Christi timetable.

Excursions - Outside Oxford

Students wishing to travel outside Oxford, can visit places of historic interest, such as London, Hay-on-Wye, Bath and Blenheim Palace. These tours are an additional cost to the standard programme.

Application

You can either book online or you can download a paper application form and send it back to us.

If you require any support, please either email us or give us a call on +44 (0) 845 130 60 21.

Deposit

There is a booking deposit of £395.00 to accompany your application. Confirmation of your place will be sent to you once your application form has been processed.