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Success Issue six Autumn 2009 www.mmu.ac.uk
R.R.P £3.50
How to be a winner SIR ALEX FERGUSON PAGE 12
Forward thinking HOW GRADUATES CAN BEAT THE DOWNTURN PAGE 6
Creative spark MMU’S WRITING TALENTS PAGE 16
p16-19 Creative writing
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CREATIVE WRITING
David Oates photography
Food for thought You wouldn’t think a degree in Food Manufacturing Management would lend itself to writing novels, but Nii Parkes has proved otherwise. After graduating in 1998 from MMU he went into the food industry, but didn’t stay long. Now, 11 years later, he has released his first novel. Parkes decided that although he enjoyed working in the food industry it wasn’t what he wanted to do long-term. This change in career path saw him hire his own literary agent and he had already
“The best writers are true to themselves and do not deviate from their own unique style.” published some of his poetry when he signed up to do a Masters degree in Creative Writing at Birkbeck College, London. However 35-year-old Parkes, who lives in Manchester, stresses that an MA doesn’t teach people how to write. “Students should regard creative writing courses as a springboard for their writing careers. They are a fast track to life in literature.” Parkes believes the recession has made publishers more cautious. However in an increasingly competitive market he has managed to break through
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p16-19 Creative writing
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Charlie Hedley photography
CREATIVE WRITING
a work about power and faith. He
A change of direction
describes it as a detective story
An intensive creative writing
which frames a story of abuse
degree at MMU has propelled
within a family. He isn’t scared to
Andrew Forster to his second
throw in some of his own Ghanaian
published poetry collection,
language, which adds to the
Territory, which will be published at
lyricism and authenticity of the
the end of 2009.
with his novel Tail of the Blue Bird,
novel which is set in Ghana where he grew up.
The Creative Writing MA, which he did online while in full-time
His advice for writers is not to
employment, gave Andrew a boost
lose sight of who they are, and that
at a time when, in his own words,
to succeed in writing you need
he was “struggling to find
discipline and a willingness to
direction”.
improve.
“You have to have a good idea of what you want to learn.” Forster is currently the literature
Forster was already a published
working in social care, but his aspirations gradually shifted towards writing. Online courses are proving increasingly popular for mature students like Forster who have daytime jobs. When he did his online MA he was living in a remote part of Scotland so access to a local university was difficult. As he says: “The online course was ideal because you can work
officer for The Wordsworth Trust in
from home. Work is submitted via
writer when he started the degree
Grasmere in the Lake District, a
e-mail while internet chat rooms
sometimes produce work that is
in 2005, aged 41. Fear of Thunder,
role he fills while also finding time
are a substitute for seminars and
formulaic and written in a
his first poetry collection, is a
to write his own poems. His job
you talk to tutors over the phone.”
predictable fashion. The best
largely autobiographical work,
involves organising workshops
Forster has some simple but
writers are true to themselves and
drawing on relationships and
and poetry readings, while also
sound advice for graduates. “You
do not deviate from their own
childhood memories, whereas
working with poet-in-residence
have to have a good idea of what
unique style.”
Territory focuses on landscapes
Emma Jones.
you want to learn and avoid vague
“Creative writing students can
Parkes is currently working on a
such as South West Scotland.
Forster began his career
second novel about a UN soldier.
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ideas,” he says.
Cover
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