Writing

Below is a list of courses you may study in Writing. To view more details visit the program information page for the Bachelor of Arts or Diploma in Arts.
 

Level One

Creative Writing: Narrative Fiction (WRIT1110)       

Introduces students to creative writing and narrative throughout the art and techniques of short-form narrative prose fiction. You will study many examples of short narrative-based fiction, leading into the creation of your own work. This course will assist you in finding ways to develop and improve your creative writing .

Contemporary Literature: Reading and Writing (ENGL1500) 

Introduces students to some of the best cotemporary writing in English, from a range of cultures. You will study a range of genres including the novel, graphic novel, short fiction, and poetry. In addition to providing a grounding in contemporary literature this course focuses on what it means to read and write in the twenty-first century.

Fundamentals of Academic Writing (WRIT1005) 

Covers the fundamentals of reading, writing, and critiquing as an academic. You will be introduced to the skills you’ll need to succeed in your university writing, focusing hands-on, practical strategies to enhance the substance,  structure and style of your academic writing.

Level Two

Writing: Grammar, Syntax, and Style (WRIT2250) 

Introduces contemporary models and applications of English grammar and presents contemporary grammatical and stylistic concepts and strategies that will enhance your ability to revise and edit their writing. Building on your intuitive understanding of how words work, equipping you with a command of sentence structure and style, and provide you with strategies to write, analyse, and edit at an advanced level.

Writing and Editing for the Professions (WRIT2000) 

Covers key theoretical principles and practical applications of writing in a corporate environment. This course will cover a broad range of workplace writing genres, including report writing, speechwriting, presentations, and correspondence. Topics include creating credibility at word, sentence, paragraph, and document levels: and revising, editing, and proofreading professional documents.

Writing the Genre Novel: Heroes, Lovers, and Monsters (WRIT2050)

Considers the kinds of fiction that are usually described as “genre” or “popular” works. It provides a practice-led exploration and analysis of a range of significant genre texts and techniques. The emphasis is on the genre novel, and you will be asked to workshop a synopsis and write an opening chapter in a genre of their choosing. You will also consider the theory of genre fiction, and how genres operate in the literary marketplace.

Creative Writing: Poetics (WRIT2100) 

Studies techniques of poetic expression and develops writing skills and an appreciation of language aesthetics. This course extends the language skills of writers of all genres by focusing on language and how words can be used in innovative, precise, and musical ways. You will get the opportunity to develop your poetry writing skills through inspiring workshop exercises, readings, and discusssions led by expert poets, editors, and scholars.

Creative Writing: Screen Writing (WRIT2120) 

Introduces beginning scriptwriters to the basic skills of writing for the screen using the industrial Hollywood feature film as the model. You will learn the industry-accepted standard format of film scripts and how to work with the shorthand of film narrative. You will also be introduced to the basics of creating interesting and viable screen-based characters; the theory and use of narrative film structure; sustaining the suspension of disbelief: and more.  

Level Three

Writing: Advanced Project (WRIT3000) 

A capstone course in which you will consolidate and deploy writing skills first encountered in other courses in the major in order to complete a significant short work in a genre of your choice. You will also learn how to write a useful, realistic project plan as well as specific documents like a synopsis to help you ‘pitch’ your project.

Playwriting & Dramaturgy: Creative Practice (DRAM3102) 

Studies how to be both playwright and dramaturg during this seminar-based learning program. The first half of the semester you will build your playwriting skills and d10evelop a thorough understanding of the various roles dramaturgs can have in the development of new work. In the second half, you will write your own original short work for the stage; you will also be assigned to a fellow student’s play as dramaturg.

Journals, Repositories & Conferences Internship (ENGL3020) 

Provides a range of opportunities for students to work with UQ-based, or affiliated, organisations and researchers, assisting with project based work, event organisation, and editorial and publishing activities. You will gain practical experience by working within professional organisations involved in literary and historical research, library resource management, writing and publishing, communications, and cultural heritage management.

Creative Writing: Non-fiction (WRIT3050) 

Introduces the skills for writing creative non-fiction in a range of styles including memoir, literary journalism, the personal essay, and experimental non-fiction. You will learn how to turn your own experiences and research into compelling non-fiction writing. This course shows creative non-fiction uses familiar tools from fiction and poetry including narration, scene-setting, dialogue, imagery, and figurative language to tell vivid, real-life stories.

Publishing, Editing, and Authorship (WRIT3700) 

Examines a range of issues in contemporary publishing in both an Australian and an international context. The approach is forward-looking, emphasising the changing nature of publishing, editing, and authorship in the post-digital era. You will be prepared for careers as authors, editors, and publishers: by introducing you to current professional practices and conditions of authorship; by developing fundamental skills at all levels of editing; and by exploring contemporary print and digital publishing practices and processes.

"I hadn’t anticipated liking writing poetry as much as I did. I have always thought poetry was fantastic, but I didn’t imagine myself as a poet. Once you surrender and take a chance you learn a lot about yourself you didn’t know. I thrive when I can section off part of my time to be creative and I think more people should do it. I feel like we can all be many things."

Nuala Beahan, Writing Major

"I am keen to pursue a career in communications with a value-aligned organisation. I believe every person’s story is important, and I want to help them find the tools they need to share it." 

Helen Gearing, Writing Major Graduate

Practical Experience and Professional Networking 

Our students have opportunities to volunteer or gain experience with a range of projects, including AustLit, a resource for Australian literary, print, and narrative cultures, and Corella Press, a UQ run not-for-profit small press committed to making beautiful, collectable editions of recovered nineteenth-century Australian Gothic, mystery, and crime stories. Graduates of the Writing major have found work as professional journalists, teachers, editors, ghost-writers, publishers, science communicators, copywriters, playwrights, corporate communicators, public relations managers, travel writers, arts reviewers, bloggers, columnists, critics, feature writers, fiction writers, poets, publishing coordinators, screen writers, speech writers, and digital content developers.

You will also become part of a network of UQ writing alumni that includes prize-winning writers such as Shastra Deo, Nick Earls, Melissa Ashley, and Jack Dann.

Potential career outcomes include:

• Content writer
• Copywriter
• Corporate communications officer
• Digital content writer
• Editor
• Publisher
• Author
• Media and communications officer
• Proposal writer