module specification

This module will introduce students to the major current forms, formats, platforms and processes of publishing and dissemination of writing in a range of creative genres and media. The module takes advantage of London’s location, both as the hub of UK publishing and as a key node for the multi-directional, global flow of literature. Students will learn about contemporary UK and international publishing markets and typical roles within the sector; identify key factors guiding the industry; investigate a range of challenges, opportunities and innovations in the sector; and thus find ways to place their own writing within it. Students will research technical, legal, and cultural aspects of publishing different kinds of content, such as long- and short-form fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, digital texts and other materials.

Through lectures and follow-up discussion seminars with guest speakers from the industry, students will be introduced to a range of current contextual knowledge as well as practical aspects of contemporary publishing, such as: submissions, queries, elevator pitches, book proposals, self-publishing and crowd-funding - thus providing students with an understanding of the wide spectrum of publishing activities today. These lecture-seminars will be shared with students on the BA Creative Writing and English Literature programme. Through tutorials (MA students only), students will explore how to apply this knowledge to their own professional development values and goals.

Aims

• You will become familiar with contemporary technical, cultural, and economic innovations in the field of publishing;
• You will learn to situate your own creative practice and professional development goals within the context of contemporary globalised publishing industries;
• You will develop transferable professional skills emphasising research, editing, communications and marketing;
• You will plan next steps in your professional development as a writer, taking account of an enhanced understanding of contemporary publishing.

None
Available for Study Abroad? YES

The syllabus will typically include:

• a series of guest lectures and follow-up seminars that relate to the contemporary publishing industry, enabling students to understand conventional, digital and multi-media publishing processes, practices and industry structures, both in the UK and abroad; (LO1)

• discussion of the challenges posed by a lack of diversity in UK publishing and industry-specific innovations intended to address this, such as commissioning, reviewing, grants, prizes and equality initiatives; (LO2)

• a series of tutorials to investigate and develop students’ own values and goals in relation to potential roles, readerships, markets, and publication routes; (LO3, LO5)

• practice of industry-standard communications, such as query and submission letters, elevator pitches and book proposals; (LO4)

• research of the UK and global contexts for disseminating and publishing writing in different genres and media, including poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and scripts. (LO2, LO5)

Scheduled teaching provides the guidance and foundation to ensure that independent study is effective in addressing the module’s learning outcomes and assessment tasks. The module is taught by a programme of weekly sessions over the semester. Students are required to reflect critically on their learning, their personal creative practice and professional goals, through peer and tutor feedback. Independent learning includes weekly reading and research tasks and preparation for and follow-up on classes.

In-class activity makes use of varied student-centred approaches. Information is provided through a range of means and sources to minimise and remove barriers to successful progress. The course team seeks to embed the University’s Education for Social Justice Framework. A blended learning strategy will be employed to enhance the learning experience, facilitate communication between students and tutors and develop collaboration among students. Activities, especially workshopping, will foster peer-to-peer community-building, support for learning, and reflective learning.

The School’s programme of employability events and embedded work-based learning within the curriculum supports students’ personal and career development planning. Through these initiatives, students are increasingly able, as they progress through their programme, to understand the professional environment of their discipline, the various opportunities available to them, and how to shape their learning according to their ambitions.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding
LO1: develop a theoretical, practical and critical understanding of contemporary publishing in the UK, including the challenges posed by technology, economic shifts and demographic changes;

Cognitive intellectual abilities
LO2: research and analyse contemporary UK and global publishing, in terms of terms of historical trends, challenges, interests and participants;

Behaviours and values
LO3: demonstrate ambition, inclusivity and social responsibility in planning their own participation in the future publishing sector;

Transferable skills
LO4: produce industry-standard written communications with proficiency;

Subject specific skills
LO5: identify the range of publishing venues and outlets for writing in a range of genres, critically appraise their suitability, and acquire knowledge and skills for submission of creative writing to appropriate outlets.

Students will produce a portfolio addressing the module’s learning outcomes through the tasks and criteria as set out in the assessment brief. These will be detailed at the start of each academic year.

Normally students will produce a range of items demonstrating their understanding of aspects of the syllabus and their application of this to their own creative and professional goals, as developed in response to formative feedback in tutorials. The portfolio will typically total 5000 words and may include items such as: CV, pitch, submission letter, book proposal, report into a particular publisher or sector within the UK or global publishing industry, plan of action.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/8D35C669-9E9E-6F18-C627-4E4C6D9CDF72.html?draft=1&lang=en&login=1