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Underground > Books, Criticism & Writing >

Query

slinkyvagabond

22:17 / 26.04.04

I've been offered a place in U of Man in said MA Novel Writing. Aside from the validity of pursuing creative endevours through a structured academic course (believe me, I have my reasons), I was just hoping to get some info on this particular course itself. I haven't been through the academic system in the UK and while I have had a thorough look at the departmental website, prospectus etc. and spoke to one of the tutors who seemed very nice and rather honest, all these sources are attached to the uni who, at the end of the day, want my money. I'm looking for some outside opinions of the place in general and the course particularly. I don't know Manchester (I would obviously visit before makig a formal acceptance) and I haven't a notion of what the uni might be like. I'm not British so all those stars and ratings from 1 - 5 and league tables? Ye-ah...what...

Oh, and if this is an inappropriate forum I do apologise. Do move this if it's just not right.

Whisky Priestess

14:45 / 28.04.04

Google for the course title and "former student" "opinions" "shit" "great" etc. and that should throw up something interesting.

I think I've heard of it (which would indicate quality) but I'm not sure. Ask where their former students are now, who the tutors are and how long the course has been going.

How much is it? Could you get what you need anywhere else?
Who are the tutors? Who are the tutors? Who are the tutors?
The quality of teaching is the single most important thing IMHO.

slinkyvagabond

07:54 / 29.04.04

Well, the tutor I spoke with is called Martyn Bedford. The other tutor is a woman, Susannah something. They're both published authors and stuff.

Sax

08:52 / 29.04.04

I know Martyn Bedford. He's a really nice chap - his last book was, I think, Black Cat. Managed to get himself plucked off the slush pile by Jonny Geller at Curtis Brown.

Icicle

09:40 / 30.04.04

I think it's supposed to be pretty good, and don't they have a prize of £1000 pounds awarded every year, to one student on the course, judged by Curtis Brown, so at least you are guaranteed to be read by an agent. I read a book by one of the graduates, Cold Water by Gwendoline Riley, it was quite well written, though a bit to understated and unemotional for me.

Whisky Priestess

20:53 / 30.04.04

Oh fucking hell, I'm sick of hearing about Gwendoline Riley's lightly-disguised diaries. First book, written while she was a student working in a bar in Manchester, was about a student working in a bar in Manchester. Much-anticipated second novel is about being a creative writing student. Where does she get her wacky ideas?!

As the Self-Righteous Brothers might yell:
"Much as I admire Riley's youthful dedication and undoubted talent for self-promotion, if she came round here and bored me with her opportinistic faux-edginess and lazy solipsism, I'd have to say OI! RILEY! There's a *reason* they call it fiction, love! Take your recently published bestseller Notes to the Milkman and shove it where your head's been for the last three years!"

I am *not* bitter. Sulk.

Icicle

10:13 / 04.05.04

Oh my god, a novel written about being a creative writing student, that is the most ridiculous idea ever!

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