Course Overview
Complete a manuscript – fiction, poetry, script or non-fiction – to a standard appropriate for submission to a publisher or equivalent. You’ll receive excellent mentoring and assessment from experienced writers and valuable feedback from workshopping with other students.
You can enrol for the Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing
* As a stand alone one year, full-time Diploma
* As year three of the Bachelor of Applied Arts (Creative Writing)
Course outline
Work with your core tutor on
• craft and technique within your chosen genre
• strengthening the idea
• taking imaginative risk
• understanding the writing process
• planning and research
• reading and critique within your selected genre
• rewriting and editing
• knowledge and appreciation of the publishing/production process
Each genre is delivered in a slightly different way; however all involve structured classes, tutor support, and a large amount of self-directed time for writing.
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Write a Novel
Starting a novel is one thing, finishing it and sending it to a publisher is another. The Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing gives you the opportunity to complete a novel manuscript to a publishable standard. You participate in regular workshops, work with a mentor/reader for up to 10 hours, and are part of a supportive community of writers.
This course combines a thoughtful and thorough approach to the craft of writing, with excellent mentoring from experienced writers. Each month there will be a full weekend workshop, held at the Whitireia NZ Media Training Centre, 107 Cuba Street (in Cuba Mall), Central Wellington. In the intervening weeks you have contact with the tutor by email. There are workshops that focus on the craft of writing, as well as facilitated critiquing sessions of students’ work. There are also a range of assignments to help you refine your manuscript and your rewriting and editing skills, and to enable critical examination of the writing journey you have embarked upon.
This combination of intensive workshops and regular email contact has proved very productive.
Tutor: Mandy Hager
Format: Weekend workshops (Saturday and Sunday 9.30-4.00) once a month; students email the tutor each week.
Start date: 18/19 February 2012.
Credits: body of work = 60 credits, manuscript revision = 20
Write Non-Fiction
You have your draft to a high standard – now for the final surge – getting it to publication standard. This creative non-fiction class builds on what you’ve already achieved and is designed to help you reach that goal. It offers mentor/reader assistance, class workshop sessions, one-to-one discussion with your tutor, online email communication and tutoring, and a programme of steady advancement towards your goal.
Designed to nurture and enhance your talent, assist and develop your writing skills, the Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing helps you make your dream of becoming a published writer in the field of creative non-fiction, a reality.
Tutor: Renee
Format: Thursdays 1-3.30
Start date: 16 Feb 2012
Credits: body of work = 60 credits, manuscript revision = 20
Write a Script
Having a great idea for a movie is one thing, writing a script is another. On the Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing you create a polished, market-ready screenplay. In addition you are required to keep a viewing journal, to carry out research into your chosen genre, attend workshop and critique sessions, and present a seminar on your writing and research at the end of the year.
In this course you learn the art, craft, and business of screenwriting. Short documents such as storylines, treatments and scene breakdowns are a major part of the process. As well as attending classes on Thursdays, you have additional meetings with the tutor at specified times throughout the year. The tutor uses a practical, craft-based approach that produces proven results.
Tutor: Steve Barr
Format: Thursdays 10-3
Start date: 16 Feb 2012
Credits: body of work = 60 credits, manuscript revision = 20
Write a Poetry Collection
Put time into shaping a collection of poems. Work closely with an experienced reader to polish your individual poems in the all important editing process. Stimulating weekly workshops and input from experienced, practising poets and inspired guest poets will enable you to produce a poetry collection suitable for publication.
Tutor: Renee
Format: Thursdays 1-3.30
Start date: 16 Feb 2012
Credits: body of work = 60 credits, manuscript revision = 20
If you are doing this course to gain the Bachelor of Applied Arts (Creative Writing) you will also need to complete the following modules. If you are doing it to complete the Graduate Diploma you only need to complete Research and Presentation II.
Creative enterprise II
Plan a creative writing project that links to your manuscript. Create a personal professional profile, produce promotional material and develop budgets.
Tutor: Janet Nixon
Format: Four x 2 hour workshops
Credits: 20
Research and Presentation II
Identify resources to help in producing your manuscript. Gain skills in reflecting on the writing process, critically evaluating material and in presenting your work to an audience.
Tutor: Mary-Jane Duffy
Format: Workshops (60 contact hours)
Credits: 20
Entry requirements
Based on samples of your writing and an interview. You need to send a sample of writing directly related to your major project. You also need to send in a CV and covering letter.
Overseas students must meet the above criteria plus have IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.
All applicants are interviewed; applicants from outside Wellington may be interviewed by phone/Skype. Interviews are held from late November through to January.
Students say....
Mandy Hager is a terrific teacher: she understands the craft of fiction writing very well and is incredibly generous with her knowledge. I’d been prevaricating about working on my novel and doing the course meant it was an infinitely better story at the end than it had been at the beginning. Kate Simpkins, journalist, currently completing her Masters in Creative Writing at Victoria University
Non-fiction is an outstanding course taught by an experienced author and a gifted teacher – I have learned so much from Renee about the craft of writing. The course is demanding but lots of fun, and most importantly, it has greatly developed my skills as a writer. Jan Bolwell, performer, dance teacher, playwright and creative non-fiction writer.
The most useful thing I found about the course was the discipline - having monthly writing goals was a great spur on the journey to completing a novel. Once I put ‘my hand to the plough’ I couldn’t stop. I not only completed a novel I’d started writing prior to commencement of study, I also edited two other novels I’d previously written, wrote five children’s stories and completed from conception to final draft another novel, Escape From Eden, which I used as my work for the year. It was a bit of overkill really and far more than was required! I started my own publishing business a few months before the course ended and published Escape From Eden, as well as the first in the children’s series. My greatest moment of pleasure was getting up in front of the class with a published copy of the novel in my hand. The following year, both books received finalist awards in the Indie Book Awards, New York and were accepted by the Paper Plus chain of booksellers. Michelle MacKinnon, writer, nurse, teacher and mother
You can also read work by current and former students in the 4th Floor Literary Journal.
for further information
Frequently Asked Questions about the Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing
Overview of Creative Writing Programme
Diploma in Creative Writing [delivered on-campus]
Diploma in Creative Writing [delivered online]
Diploma in Creative Writing (Advanced)
Bachelor of Applied Arts (Creative Writing)
Whitireia Writing Programme Success Stories