Creative Writing: Writing and Publishing Fiction MA
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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
Learn to Write Original Fiction
Develop Your Inner Editor
Get Your Fiction Published
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.
Dr Ashley Chantler
Senior Lecturer
Dr Graham Atkin
Senior Lecturer
Dr Peter Blair
Senior Lecturer
Professor Alan Wall
Professor
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
2:2 honours 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).
2:2 honours 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.
The location
Modern learning resources and library
Fitness facilities
Student Services
Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces
Accommodation
Catering
Fees and Funding
£8,775 per year (2025/26)
Guides to the fees for students who wish to commence postgraduate courses in the academic year 2025/26 are available to view on our Postgraduate Taught Programmes Fees page.
£15,000 per year (2025/26)
The tuition fees for international students studying Postgraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £15,000.
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.
If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.
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 & 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.