Short Course Descriptor

COURSE TITLE: How Not To Get Published

DELIVERING FACULTY: FMAS School/Department: Writing & Comms

COURSE DESIGNATION: Non-Credit Bearing Short Course

Course delivery model: Two classroom based weekend workshops. Max & Min Student No.: 6 - 25 COURSE DESCRIPTION The majority of manuscripts are rejected before the reader has gone past the first page due to bad presentation, ill considered opening, poor English and a lack of understanding of genre and market. This course is designed to ensure a manuscript is read in full by an agent/publisher. It will take the student through the correct layout of synopsis, opening chapters and the all important covering letter. The student will leave with a clear understanding of how to get their work into the marketplace and how to make challenging decisions about how to target their creative output appropriately. LEARNING OUTCOMES On successful completion of the course, students should be able to: Knowledge and Understanding: K1 Demonstrate a systematic understanding and awareness of style and genre issues and expectations K2 Develop a critical awareness of current market debates and problems in the publishing world and potential outcomes which are informed by practice and theory.

Cognitive Skills: C1 Analyse, deconstruct and evaluate their own current project in a critical, systematic and creative way C2 Critique published creative output, current research and advanced scholarship in writing for publishing to develop an effective individual and market-driven writing style Practical and Professional Skills P1 To demonstrate originality and self-direction in producing a synopsis for their own creative work Transferable and Key Skills T1 Demonstrate an ability to critically analyse their own and others work autonomously T2 Make effective creative decisions in complex and unpredictable situations AREAS OF STUDY An understanding of market requirements. What makes a good synopsis. A guide to what gets rejected and why. Presentation and layout Marketing and Resources for the writer. LEARNING AND TEACHING STRATEGY This course will take the form of 2 weekend workshops. The first weekend will concentrate on students’ opening 10 pages, formatting, presentation and sharpening up

their prose. The second weekend will work on writing the synopsis and covering letter as well as advice on approaching agents and alternative routes to publication. INDICATIVE READING Blake, Carole (1999) From Pitch to Publication. Macmillan Browne, R & King, D ((2004) Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to edit yourself into print. Harper Collins Corner, Helen & Weatherly, Lee ((2006) How to Write a Blockbuster. Teach Yourself George, Elizabeth (2004) Write Away Perennial Currents Kaplan, David Micheal. ((1997) Rewriting: A Creative Approach to Writing Fiction. A&C Black Newman, Sandra & Mittelmark Howard (2009) How Not to Write a Novel. Penguin Swain, Dwight V. (1965) Techniques of the Selling Writer. Oklahoma Press Course Author: Sara Bailey