Chinese Arts Centre

Crossing the Professional Threshold a 14 week course for creative writers of Chinese descent developed by University of Bolton in conjunction with Chinese Arts Centre.

SUMMARY
This 14-week course will provide an opportunity for new and developing writers to explore different forms of creative writing, to develop a personal project with professional supervision, and to locate their project within the writing industry.

STRUCTURE
The Course will begin in February 2010 with a five-day residential which will include taster sessions across the different forms. On the basis of their experience during the residential, participants will develop an outline for a personal project.

Over the next few weeks the project will be developed, through e-learning, to at least second draft stage. The course will conclude with a weekend event including a selection of speakers from across the writing industry and a showcase of students work.

WEEK ONE – THE RESIDENTIAL (22nd February – 27th February 2010)
The course will begin with a five day residential course at the Arvon Foundation’s Lumb Bank Centre near Hebden Bridge. Lumb Bank is located in a peaceful and attractive setting and offers writers a chance to focus entirely on their writing in the company of fellow writers, with the support of experienced professionals.
Accommodation and meals are provided.

During this time participants will be introduced to a range of creative writing. There will be taster sessions on writing prose, poetry, radio drama, short film, television drama and writing for the stage. Each session will include a writing exercise. Over the five days participants will develop three short complete pieces of writing. They will be given detailed feedback on each of these pieces and, with the help of their tutor, begin to formulate their own creative writing project.

WEEKS TWO~TO FOUR – DEVELOPING THE PERSONAL PROJECT
The writer can choose to write:

- A short film of up to 15 minutes/a number of short films totaling 15 minutes.
- A 15 minute radio drama or ten minutes of a 45 minute radio play and a scenario for the complete play
- A 15 minute stage play or ten minutes of an hour long stage play and a scenario for the complete play.
- A short story of up to 3000 words
- At least five complete poems’ lengths to be agreed with project supervisor.

An outline of the personal project should be submitted by Week Three and agreed with their supervisor by week Four.

WEEKS FOUR TO TWELVE – COMPLETING THE PERSONAL PROJECT
From Weeks Four to Eight the students will work on their personal project with e-supervision from their tutor. A first draft of the complete project should be submitted by Week Eight. An in-depth on-line tutorial will take place in Week Nine.
The second draft of the project should be submitted by week 12 for feedback in Week Thirteen.

WEEKS TWELVE TO FOURTEEN – INTRODUCTION TO THE WRITING INDUSTRY AND SHOWCASE OF WORK
During the final weeks of the course participants will plan with their tutor how their work might best be showcased; for example, through a reading by the writers themselves, perhaps with professional direction, or a reading by professional actors.

They will discuss with their tutors how to place their writing within the industry and be encouraged to consider the future progress of their writing.

The final residential weekend of the course will provide participants with a chance to meet representatives from across the writing industry, likely to include the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, Bolton Octagon Theatre, BBC Writersroom, an independent television company, a publisher and a literary agent.

Following this the participants work will be showcased at the Bolton Octagon Theatre in front of an invited audience.

The programme is highly subsidised with funding provided by the University, with the final course fee being only £186, it would be an excellent opportunity work to develop your career.

Places are limited, and deadline is 29th January 2010, therefore get in touch soon, if you are interested.

For more information click here or to book a place contact Rebecca – R.A.Albrow@bolton.ac.uk