University of East Anglia (UEA), MA, Biography and Creative Non-Fiction

Literary non-fiction is currently undergoing rapid change and reformation. Instead of the old ‘cradle to grave’ narratives of well-known literary or political figures, our best writers are now experimenting with new forms and subjects. Nature writing, the personal essay, food journalism, art criticism and memoir are all part of this exciting, emerging mix. This MA programme is for anyone who wants to develop their own writing in any of these genres. while studying at the UK’s leading university for the teaching of creative writing.

Teaching is by three-hour seminars during which you will discuss a set text and workshop your own writing. You will take two modules in the first semester and two in the second, and submit a dissertation at the end of the summer.

At the heart of this Master’s programme are three compulsory modules: Writing Lives, The Life of the Book and Writing the First Person. These will allow you to explore the form and function of biography and creative non-fiction, via discussion of a range of influential examples both old and new. As well as examining the many forms that autobiography and biography may take, you will address practical matters such as how to write a proposal, conduct research and take a project through towards publication.

In addition you will take a fourth module, which you may choose from the wide range available within the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing. These include The Theory and Practice of Fiction; The Art of Short Fiction; Adaptation and Interpretation; and Living Modernism. Please note that the choice of modules may change from year to year.

In the summer semester (May–June) you will have one-to-one sessions with a tutor as you work on your dissertation – a 15,000-word piece of non-fiction.

We also invite leading non-fiction writers to give seminars on aspects of their craft. Recent guests include Kate Summerscale, Alexander Masters, Richard Holmes, Olivia Laing and Philip Hoare. These are supplemented by one-to-one tutorials with your module leader. In most years students also choose to set up informal reading and writing groups among themselves. 

We encourage you to take advantage of UEA’s vibrant literary culture. Each year a dozen or so leading novelists, poets and non-fiction writers visit Norwich to take part in our autumn and spring literary festivals. You will also have the opportunity to meet some of the UK’s leading agents and publishers, who make regular visits to the University to give talks.

We publish an anthology of our students’ writing each year and distribute it to a key list of editors, agents and critics. In addition, you will be encouraged to post your writing on UEA’s Creative Writing website, a new platform designed to showcase the best work emerging from students of Creative Writing.