Dear all
There was a seminar on Postgraduate Research in Creative Writing at
Birkbeck in December 2004. I couldn't attend but have a report which I
can attach to send to the list if this is allowed.
Regards
Jackie Gay
Creative Writing Lecturer
University of Central England
Birmingham
-----Original Message-----
From: Creative Writing in Universities and Colleges
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gross P (HLaSS)
Sent: 19 July 2005 15:59
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Research Leave Grants
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
________________________________
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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