Olivia Brady, UK
MA Creative and Critical Writing
Why did you choose to study at the University of Liverpool?
My initial attraction was due to the course’s focus on work experience. The professional sphere of creative writing can often be very competitive. Having something on your resumé that sets you apart and aids your development of desirable skills is extremely beneficial.
The socially engaged modules were another point of interest, due to my own prose writing focusing on social topics. Engaging with secondary material relating to this and taking part in the assigned tasks each week helped develop my writing significantly.
What’s the best thing about studying your programme?
The breadth of choice amongst the optional modules. They range from sci-fi to contemporary to Victorian Gothic, allowing you to pick topics that benefit your writing specifically, but most importantly allowing you to pick topics that you enjoy.
How do the facilities and/or staff help you with your studies?
As I completed my bachelor's degree in a different university, I was unfamiliar with University of Liverpool’s processes and systems. The administrative staff were unbelievably helpful in instructing me on how to use apps like Canvas and My Liverpool.
A significant amount of my time is spent in the Sydney Jones Library. Likewise, the staff here are great. Every query I have is answered quickly and patiently; they make my time here much more comfortable.
Above all, the teaching staff on the Creative and Critical Writing course have been wonderful. Every piece of writing I have produced has been met with meticulous attention and unwavering encouragement. There is a real sense of motivating you to be as authentic as you possibly can with your writing.
Did you access any of the support services available to you? If so, how did you find the service?
Yes, I was struggling with my stress management in my first semester due to my anxiety. I accessed the wellbeing activities and self-help guides on the My Liverpool app. The anxiety self-help guide provides a comprehensive leaflet of causes, triggers and techniques for managing anxiety – I found this extremely helpful.
What has been your highlight of your time at Liverpool so far?
Meeting likeminded people and feeling the compassion and excitement for each other's work. A concern for me when starting the course was the potential for competitiveness amongst the group when sharing work. However, my peers have been nothing short of kind and positive. It created a beautiful environment where we could share our work without judgment, which I am incredibly grateful for.
How do you believe undertaking postgraduate study will help your career prospects?
As previously mentioned, this course has allowed me to build up a multitude of desirable skills that will benefit my job search in the future. Additionally, the advice and guidance around publishing, getting published and networking is invaluable due to most, if not all, of the teaching staff being published themselves.
What advice would you give to anybody considering postgraduate study at Liverpool?
Take advantage of the university’s connections and keep yourself updated with the opportunities being offered internally and externally; building up experience is key! Also, take advantage of any groups that writing students may be running e.g. writing meetups, workshops, reading clubs, magazines, blogs. Writing outside of your academic work is just as important as writing for it, and activities like this will help.