MA Creative Writing in Keele United Kingdom | Keele University

At Keele University's creative writing program, you'll become part of a vibrant, tight-knit community of scholars, published authors, students, and researchers united by common aspirations. Together we work to hone our craft, forge meaningful connections, and motivate one another creatively. Our alumni network - affectionately called 'Keelites' - includes accomplished novelists, poets, and biographers, among them Stoke's inaugural poet laureate and a Roy Fisher Prize recipient. These graduates have pioneered literary festivals, artist residency programs, and even innovative poetry outreach through unconventional venues like car boot sales and mobile ambulances. In today's complex, rapidly evolving society, the written and spoken word remains more vital than ever for sharing experiences, processing emotions, and sparking creativity.

Keele's MA in Creative Writing unites established and emerging writers across fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and storytelling - all who, like you, recognize language's transformative power and seek to develop their unique voice.

Your mentors will include published authors and award-winning poets from our faculty, supplemented by visiting literary figures who contribute to initiatives like our biweekly Keele Creative Writing Anthology. Recent participants have included Okechukwu Nzelu, whose debut novel earned a Betty Trask Award and nominations for both the Desmond Elliott and Polari First Book prizes.

The program offers numerous opportunities to engage with campus, digital, and community-based literary activities - from workshops to publications - giving you practical experience in event coordination, public readings, editorial work, and even teaching. These valuable skills often supplement writers' incomes while building professional networks.

Notable alumni include Chris Prendergast (whose Salt-published debut novel received critical acclaim), Deborah Alma (creator of the internationally recognized 'Emergency Poet' initiative), and Liz Lefroy (inaugural winner of the Roy Fisher Prize, endorsed by former Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy).

This MA serves as ideal preparation for doctoral studies globally while equipping graduates with transferable communication skills for careers in publishing, arts administration, marketing, PR, or professional writing.