Has anyone done a Creative Writing MA?

seahorse

I'm considering doing one and would really appreciate anyone telling me how they found the experience. Also I'm curious as to what other Creative Writing options there are in Dublin, other than the two I know of; Trinity and UCD.

I'm also wondering, does anybody have opinions as to which of those two would be the better option? I've checked them out fully on the internet and in the prospectus's, but it'd be interesting to hear someone else's views.

If anyone reading this has done/is doing a Creative Writing MA, what I suppose I am asking is; have you found the course to have affected your writing in a markedly positive way? And would you recommend the course at any particular college?

The one thing I found out that shocked me was that there are only 14 places at Trinity and 12 at UCD! :eek: Not good odds... Could anyone hazard a guess at how many people apply each year?

Also, how demanding are you finding it/did you find it; i.e. it is feasible to fit in around full time work?

Of course I'll be lucky if any Creative Writing MA people happen to be reading this, so for anyone else, please feel free to express your views!

Esmereldina

All I know is the course in Trinity has been running a lot longer than the UCD one...
I was looking into applying to the TCD Masters years ago but in the end I never applied. Both look like great courses though!

bigslick

OP the UCD MA in creative writing is a full time course so it cannot be fitted around a full time job.

I believe you would have to attend lectures/seminars etc for 2 full days a week, and their are quite alot of projects and side work.

I think that the UCD creative writing is taking in 16 places a year, and the course is really gaining in popularity.

The applicants own creative writing is taken into account in relation to a successful application

seahorse

Thank you both. I think I've pretty much decided against applying to UCD as it'd be very impractical in terms of getting to from where I live (wouldn't be into fighting my way from dublin 13 through both sides of town; at least with Trinity it'd only be half the hassle!) I'll be keeping my fingers crossed anyway as the odds are very much against me! :eek:

beautiful

Im currently doing an MA in london Goldsmiths college and have found, since Ive moved here, that there is so much opportunity! Your looking for a creative writing MA, I can guarantee that Goldsmiths Uni will provide you with the best course.
I thought the move to London from Dublin would be tough but it was so easy and I am loving living here... so many people dont look further than Ireland but really London is the place to be especially for people trying to do something unique...:)

seahorse

Thanks for the advice beautiful, I'm glad to hear you're enjoying your course over there, but that wouldn't be an option for me because I am a mother and wouldn't be into uprooting my son. Anyway tbh I think the courses at Trinity and UCD are as good as anything you'd find overseas; people come from all over the world to study literature in those universities. It'd be tough going to get a place on the course I have my eye on, but sure here's to hoping!

Chocolatier

Have any of you done an MA in creative writing? Did you find it worthwhile? What is required to complete it - a number of short stories, a novel? All info appreciated.

iguana

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121648919#Comment_121648919

It's been a while since you posted but I've done an MA in CW and found it overall to have been the best thing I could have done for my writing. (I'll qualify that by adding that I got the full SUSI grant and am local to the university so I'm coming at it from the perspective of someone whose only cost was my time.) My initial motivation for doing the it was to put myself into a writing headspace and get some accountability to make me write. I didn't really think of writing as something that could be taught but I was wrong. I have honestly never written as well, nor did I think I was capable of writing as well, as I have since doing the MA. I also learned a huge amount about the industry and steps along the way that I didn't know existed, such as novel competitions, bursaries, residencies, etc.

The practical side is that you will usually do two semesters of around three months each if full-time, or four half semesters over two academic years if part-time, during which time you will write a number of pieces and possibly get teaching experience depending on the MA/your elective choice. Then a dissertation semester through the summer where you will write somewhere between 10,000-20,000 words (university requirements vary). Usually you can choose if you want that to be part of a novel, a collection of short stories or maybe creative non-fiction. There may also be a poetry option but that is more lines of poetry, rather than such a large amount of words.

It is quite a lot of work but, ime, very worthwhile if you really commit to it. It is however worth thinking about it as a step on a journey to publication rather than it being something that will lead to publication by itself.

Chocolatier

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122298021#Comment_122298021

Thanks so much, iguana. Great to get such positive feedback on it.