Creative Writing in the School of English offers a broad range of exciting and challenging options in a dynamic environment of practising writers (see some of our recent publications. by staff and students).

Undergraduate students will be able to study creative writing throughout their time at Leicester.

Honorary Visiting Creative Writing Fellows

The School also hosts a number of distinguished Honorary Visiting Creative Writing Fellows. including the pioneering Jamaican dub poet, Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, Forward prize nominated poet John Siddique, the poet SuAndi OBE, the poet Sean Body, and the celebrated stage and screen writer Jez Simons.

Creative Writing Events

Annual Creative Writing Lecture

The School of English hosts an Annual Creative Writing Lecture, in its first year delivered by Booker Prize-winning author, Ben Okri OBE.

Since the first Annual Creative Writing Lecture talks have been delivered by Laura Esquivel, Jonathan Coe, Edna O’Brian, and most recently, Robert Macfarlane.

Other Events

Throughout the academic year, the Centre for New Writing organises lectures, masterclasses and workshops by staff and visiting authors.

The School is also engaged in a number of dynamic, ongoing creative research projects (an example being Grassroutes: Contemporary Leicestershire Writing ).

The University hosts a number of major literary and creative events, including the Literary Leicester Festival .

More Information

We are connected to all kinds of creative groups, activities, research organisations and collectives in Leicester, the UK and the rest of the world.

The Student Union’s Creative Writing Society is very popular and dynamic with many events and workshops throughout the year.

Affiliations and Associations

Creative Writing in the School of English is in close association with The Centre for New Writing ,

The School of English is affiliated with the The Centre for Transcultural Writing and Research at Lancaster University (CTWR). The CTWR is a key research partner for projects such as Grassroutes: Contemporary Leicestershire Writing and the Trans – Scriptions series in which creative writing practitioners and academics explore issues of writing, culture and location.

News: Dr Harry Whitehead has been awarded a University Teaching Fellowship in recognition of excellent leadership in the development of creative writing teaching in the School of English.