Category: Creative Writing

Brighton graduates reunite to launch debut poetry collection

University of Brighton graduate Anila Arshad-Mehmood has published her debut poetry collection with Flight of the Dragonfly, the independent press co-founded and run by fellow Brighton graduate Barbara Kirbyshaw.

The collection – titled Everything I Learned from Your Hands – explores fleeting memories, mental health, unspoken thoughts, family dynamics, and love in all its forms, alongside feelings of disconnection and nostalgia. Continue reading “Brighton graduates reunite to launch debut poetry collection” →

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” →

The piece below was written by Creative Writing BA(Hons) student Erin Bell as part of their Literature in Practice module. Erin dissects AI’s place and impact on academia and explores the ethical and creative dilemmas it presents. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has swiftly laid its claim on the world and the internet over the past few years and with that has come a widespread concern about its development and what it’s capable of as its integrated into society. Siri and spellcheck are one thing, but generated AI programmes like ChatGPT have been given the spotlight and many wonder what this means for students and academia. Continue reading “Artificial Intelligence: What is its place in academia and how can we understand it better?” →

“This role at Little Green Pig taught me that you can help the community with your skills, and as a writer it made me reflect about having no limits on telling a story, no matter what your age, background, and knowledge.”

Continue reading “Geri Oida on what being a Story Mentor Volunteer can teach a Creative Writing student” →

Ever since I was a little girl I have been obsessed with books. I remember walking home from primary school with my nose buried in a book completely oblivious to the world around me. Continue reading “Student view: Why I chose English Literature and Creative Writing” →