School of Humanities and Social Science

University of Brighton lecturer and author, Craig Jordan-Baker, draws on walks, foraging, and ordinary life to inspire his fiction. He will celebrate his new novel, Brick Dust, at Waterstones Brighton on 1 October.

Craig’s writing is shaped by his love of everyday life and the natural world. A keen walker, forager, and advocate for nature-based practices, he often draws inspiration from the countryside in both his teaching and fiction. Continue reading “Telling the stories of the everyday: Brighton author Craig Jordan-Baker celebrates new novel with Waterstones signing” →

A former prisoner who turned to poetry as a lifeline during incarceration has published his debut anthology, shaped by his postgraduate studies at the University of Brighton.

Titled Overgrown, the book is written by Will Pendray, a former offender who was accepted onto the University of Brighton’s MA Creative Writing course after his release from jail in 2021. It channels trauma, masculinity, healing and nature into a powerful collection of poetry, highlighting Will’s experience of the criminal justice system. Continue reading “Prison experience inspires Brighton graduate’s powerful poetry anthology” →

Brighton-based author Dorothy Koomson helped inspire the next generation of writers as University of Brighton Creative Writing students marked the end of their degrees with a final-year showcase designed to celebrate their work and kickstart their creative careers.

The event, titled ‘Growing Pains’, brought together graduating students from the BA in Creative Writing and BA in English Literature and Creative Writing courses – alongside successful alumni and bestselling authors. Through performances, poetry, digital storytelling, and more, students explored powerful themes of personal growth, change, and the transition from university to working life in the creative industries, education and publishing. Continue reading “Bestselling author helps Brighton Creative Writing students prepare for careers at final year showcase” →

Taylor Reehag is in the final year of our English Literature and Creative Writing BA(Hons). Read on to find out how they’re getting on and why Brighton is the right uni for them.

How I chose what to study

I have always been interested in storytelling, writing my own since I was about eight or nine, with the goal of eventually publishing. I am a strong believer that you should always do what you’re passionate about, and for me that was this. Continue reading “Studying English Literature and Creative Writing” →

Huge congratulations to Creative Writing BA student Olivia Shaw on her David Thomas Award win.

The annual award is open to second year students in the School of Humanities and Social Science who have a passion for filmmaking. The winner is provided with £500 towards the making of a short film or moving image piece that is aligned to the university’s global challenges of Equality & Inclusivity, Wellbeing, Climate Change, and Creative, Sustainable Economies. David is an alumnus who sadly passed away in 2013 and the award is funded by David’s family in his name.

We caught up with Olivia to find out what winning the award means and how it has helped her. Continue reading “Student wins award to create film” →