Critical-Creative Writing

The rapid expansion of creative writing courses in higher education, from undergraduate to MA/MFA and PhD level, has generated its own literature and pedagogical practices. All students, at all levels, are asked to supply some kind of 'reflective commentary' on their creative writing. All students also participate in workshops, where student writing is subject to peer and tutor criticism. There is no agreed, standardised way in which either of these practices is approached. While this variety of approaches is one of creative writing's strengths, it is also a serious, and sometimes confusing limitation. Providing a historical, literary and theoretical resource for creative writing students and their teachers, Critical-Creative Writing offers secure grounding for critical commentaries and provides material for workshop use and clarification of the critical process itself. Critical-Creative Writing is the first of its kind to offer a unique support for students dealing with criticism and critical commentary as part of their creative writing practice and assessment.