Oh, Matthew... I was rather hoping that you, with a successful novelist/academic for a brother, might have had some inside information you could share with the rest of us!
It is important, isn't it, that Creative Writers establish that 'research' can refer to the process, techniques and strategies of writing, not only to the factual content? Is there an analogy with other disciplines and research into methodology? In the social sciences, it's accepted that research might consist of a new theoretical model to re-interpret existing knowledge in original ways. Aren't we doing that in a successful novel or poem?
Philip
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From: Creative Writing in Universities and Colleges on behalf of Matthew Francis
Sent: Tue 19/07/2005 14:59
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Research Leave Grants
While I am posting queries, here's another one. I am thinking of putting in for an AHRC Research Leave Grant to help me to write a novel. My impression of the regulations suggests that, like many aspects of the academic world, they are not well adapted to the requirements of creative writers. I am quite comfortable with the idea that it is a research grant, not a creative one, and my novel will have a significant research element. All the same, I think I am going to have problems filling in the form when I get round to doing it. What kind of 'research questions' do novelists ask? In my case, for a historical novel, they are likely to be along the lines of 'what would my characters have eaten for dinner?', which I am afraid the panel will not find very impressive. I'd be grateful for any thoughts you may have on this, and particularly for any experiences you may be able to share.
Best wishes
Dr Matthew Francis
Lecturer in Creative Writing
Dept of English Literature
University of Wales Aberystwyth
Hugh Owen Building
Penglais
Aberystwyth
SY23 3DY
Wales, UK
Phone: 01970 622469
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