As part of Open the Door 2020, Open University Scotland provided two films to be screened during the festival. Here we share the films (this will be updated as the festival progresses) and information about The Open University courses.
Braemarnia: A Village’s Story of Nature and Myth
As Writer in Residence for the Braemar Creative Arts Festival, Open University tutor Rachel Marsh is working with the Highland village of Braemar to develop the first community-written novel, Braemarnia. Much of the village’s history is attached to its surroundings, with the mountains, the river Dee, and ever-changing environment acting as a character. The novel Braemarnia has followed suit, with the environment playing a key role in the plot.
Crossing Borders – Writing and Environment
How do you go about writing about the environment, whether wildlife, landscape or what’s right on your doorstep? Do you need to be a naturalist or expert? Do you need to head out into the hills? No! Borders writer and Open University tutor Jules Horne shares ideas for expanding your knowledge by interviewing others and working in collaboration.
Get inspiration for creative non-fiction in this online session.
Explore Creative Writing and more with The Open University
Our undergraduate Creative Writing modules offer an inspiring and practical way of developing your writing skills. You can study them on their own, or as part of our qualifications such as BA (Hons) Arts and Humanities with Creative Writing or BA (Hons) English Literature and Creative Writing. Using a combination of exercises, assignments and feedback from your tutor, and we’ll help you to find your own direction and style.
A215 – Creative Writing
Suitable for both new writers and those with some experience, this course allows you to experiment with fiction, poetry and life writing. You’ll study through an engaging mix of practical exercises, activities and readings, all designed to sustain your writing.
A363 – Advanced Creative Writing
For those who have completed A215, this course encourages further experimentation with form, showing you how to write for stage, radio and film. You’ll explore how these new scriptwriting skills might enhance your prose style, improve your writing across the range of forms, and further develop your individual style and voice.
No qualifications are required for most Open University undergraduate modules and you can enrol for one module at a time. If your personal income is £25k or less, you may be eligible for a part-time fee grant to cover OU course fees. More info at www.openuniversity.co.uk/scotland. You can try Creative Writing course content for free, on the OU site OpenLearn, such as Writing what you know or Start writing fiction.
MA in Creative Writing
Our two-year MA in Creative Writing offers students the exciting opportunity to develop writing in a personalised and fully-supported way. Organised around four distinctive genres – fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction and scriptwriting – the course will enable students to work intensively within their chosen medium while experimenting in one other. It’s perfect for writers who have already identified their chosen genre, as well as those looking to discover their true specialism. The course supports students every step of the way. Because it’s taught completely online, you will have access to workshops and forums wherever you are. Supportive tutor-groups of fellow writers will provide students with the framework and expertise needed to develop their writing in ambitious and rewarding ways. Our MA in Creative Writing is the ideal next step for writers with experience of creative writing at undergraduate level, or for those with a first degree in a relevant subject and appropriate prior writing experience.
For more information, check out http://fass.open.ac.uk/creative-writing
