Creative Writing: Writing and Publishing Fiction MA

Apply as Home StudentApply as International Student
Request a ProspectusVisit Us
A student writing on paper

You are viewing Course summary

Course Summary

Our MA in Creative Writing: Writing and Publishing Fiction is a stimulating and rewarding course designed to help you develop the craft of excellent writing, enable you to produce original fiction, and equip you with the knowledge to get it published.

Distinctive and popular, the MA comprises four modules:

  • Writing Short Fiction for Publication
  • Writing Novels for Publication
  • Getting Your Fiction Published
  • The Major Fiction Writing Project

These are taught by a team of highly respected authors, editors, and academics. Their publications include: flash fictions; novellas and novels; short-story anthologies and collections; articles and essays; interviews; student textbooks; and writers’ guides.

Two of the teaching team, Peter Blair and Ashley Chantler, are the directors of the International Flash Fiction Association and editors of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine and Flash: The International Short-Short Story Press.

As a student, you will have access to the Exton Park library, which is well-stocked with creative writing textbooks and houses the Flash Fiction Special Collection, the world’s largest archive of flash-related books and magazines.

For more information, please contact the Course Leader, Dr Ashley Chantler: a.chantler@chester.ac.uk

Why You'll Love It

Learn to Write Original Fiction

Whether you want to write flash fiction or short stories, novellas or novels, our unique programme of seminars and workshops will help you develop your writing to a publishable standard.

Develop Your Inner Editor

Writing professionally requires a range of key skills. Working alongside a supportive community of like-minded individuals, you will learn how to carefully edit and proof your own and others’ fiction.

Librarian with a student

Get Your Fiction Published

With a specially designed programme of seminars and workshops with authors, editors and scholars, you will be encouraged to develop the skills necessary to get your fiction published.

A collection of books photographed from above

What You'll Study

MODULES

  • Writing Short Fiction for Publication (40 Credits): This module is about writing flash fiction and short stories. You will read a wide range of contemporary short fiction and consider key aspects such as: openings; endings; settings; characterization; dialogue; points of view; description; detail; pace; tone; singleness of effect; economy; ambiguity; and implication. From studying exemplary texts, you will gain technical knowledge and an awareness of what makes certain short fictions accomplished and publishable, and you will apply these insights to your own fiction-writing practice.
  • Writing Novels for Publication (40 Credits): This module is about writing novels. You will read a range and consider key aspects such as: narrative; plot; chapters; pace; settings; description; detail; characterization; dialogue; points of view; the representation of thought; ambiguity; and implication. From studying exemplary texts, you will gain technical knowledge and an awareness of what makes certain novels accomplished and publishable, and you will apply these insights to your own fiction-writing practice.
  • Getting Your Fiction Published (20 Credits): This module engages with how research into the world of publication is a key part of an aspiring fiction writer’s work. Authors must consider, for example: literary agents; publishers (print and digital); self-publishing; promotion and publicity; websites; social media; literary magazines and other periodicals (print and online); fiction competitions; literary festivals; readings; workshops; other events.
  • The Major Fiction Writing Project (80 Credits): This module enables you to develop a major work of fictional prose as the culmination of your MA, typically: a collection of flash fictions or short stories; a long short story; a novella-in-flash; an extract from a novel.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Who You'll Learn From

Dr Ashley Chantler

Senior Lecturer
Dr Ashley Chantler

Dr Graham Atkin

Senior Lecturer
Dr Graham Atkin

Dr Peter Blair

Senior Lecturer
Dr Peter Blair

Professor Alan Wall

Professor
Prof Alan Wall

How You'll Learn

done_outline

Teaching is via seminars and workshops

done_outline

Assessment is via coursework

done_outline

This course is designed around in-person study

done_outline

There may be some online learning activities

You will be taught in seminars and workshops and, for the final module, by one-to-one tutorials. You will be assessed by coursework, usually portfolios of your fiction. There are no formal exams. The total full-time weekly workload (including reading, research and writing for seminars/workshops and assessment) is approximately 37.5 hours.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Entry Requirements

2:2honours degree

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree, or the equivalent, in an appropriate discipline is required (for example, Creative Writing; English Literature; English Language; Drama; Theatre Studies; Communication Studies; Cultural Studies; Film Studies; Journalism; Professional Writing). Applicants with lower qualifications, a degree in another discipline or appropriate relevant experience should contact the programme leader for advice.

Admission to the course is subject to an acceptable entry qualification profile, a sample of creative writing (fiction), and in some instances an interview.

In your personal statement on the application form, please give details of the fiction you have written (including any publications), what (if any) fiction-related events you have attended (e.g. workshops, readings), which fiction writers you particularly admire and why, and why you would like to do our MA.

When applying, please upload a sample of your fiction (c. 15 pages of flashes, a short story, or an extract of a longer fictional prose piece).

2:2honours degree

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree, or the equivalent, in an appropriate discipline is required (for example, Creative Writing; English Literature; English Language; Drama; Theatre Studies; Communication Studies; Cultural Studies; Film Studies; Journalism; Professional Writing). Applicants with lower qualifications, a degree in another discipline or appropriate relevant experience should contact the programme leader for advice.

Admission to the course is subject to an acceptable entry qualification profile, a sample of creative writing (fiction), and in some instances an interview.

In your personal statement on the application form, please give details of the fiction you have written (including any publications), what (if any) fiction-related events you have attended (e.g. workshops, readings), which fiction writers you particularly admire and why, and why you would like to do our MA.

When applying, please upload a sample of your fiction (c. 15 pages of flashes, a short story, or an extract of a longer fictional prose piece).

English Language Requirements

For more information on our English Language requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

Where You'll Study Exton Park, Chester

The location

Exton Park is close to the city centre of Chester, a city like no other and an amazing place to live as a student. While it is undoubtedly beautiful and packed with history, Chester is also a bustling 21st-century city balancing big-name shopping, eating and living with a thriving independent scene.

Modern learning resources and library

We have dedicated resources and IT services across campus, as well as our Seaborne Library; home to an extensive selection of books, e-books and e-journals, as well as bookable multimedia rooms, video conferencing space, 24-hour access computer labs, and The Hub; a comfortable two-floor study zone, suitable for independent and group study.

Seaborne library, seating and reception area.

Fitness facilities

Exton Park boasts an impressive choice of indoor and outdoor sports and leisure facilities, which are used for both competitive and recreational sports. Our facilities include a swimming pool, gym, squash, and tennis courts, running track and two floodlit pitches.

A male student wearing goggles is swimming in the training pool between the red rope lane marker lines.

Student Services

Exton Park is home to a number of our central support services, including Disability and Inclusion, Careers and Employability, and Student Support.

Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces

Built in 1847 by former students, the University Chapel offers regular services and a venue to services. The University of Chester also has multi-faith spaces across the campus for prayer or quiet reflection.

Accommodation

Most of our student accommodation is located either on or near Exton Park.

Catering

We have several catering outlets available onsite, offering a wide selection of hot and cold food to students and visitors. Term-time Meal Schemes are also available for those students interested in non-residential catering schemes.

Fees and Funding

£8,775for a full-time course (2025/26)

Guides to the fees for students who wish to commence postgraduate courses are available to view on our Postgraduate Taught Programmes Fees page. Here you will also find information about part-time fees and project/placement year fees.

£15,000for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Postgraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £15,000.

Please note: For MSc programmes where a placement or project year is undertaken there will be an additional charge of £2,750 for the placement/project year (due at the start of the second year of the course).

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships for postgraduate study, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees. 

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships. 

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees and Finance section of our website.

Your Future Career

Job Prospects 

Author. Literary agent. Publisher. Editor. Copywriter. Copyeditor. Proofreader. Project, publicity, sales, platform manager. Journalist. Interviewer. Researcher. Bookseller. Librarian. Gallery, museum, arts curator. Literary festival organizer. Tutor, teacher, lecturer. PhD student.

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Related Courses

Enquire about a course