News

Stitches and Stories: Transforming Psychology research into textile art
18th January 2022
Inspired by Professor John Dixon’s ESRC-funded Belfast Mobility Project (BMP), The Belfast Quilt, devised by Dr Heather Richardson, is a stunning piece of collaborative textile art - in the form of a patchwork quilt made of upcycled Irish linen.
Creative Writing academic joins the inspiring line-up for Creative Coalition Festival 2022
17th January 2022
Dr Emma Claire Sweeney, Lecturer in Creative Writing for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), will be among the fantastic line-up of speakers for this year’s Creative Coalition Festival.
Creative Writing student Fiona wins major “emerging writer” competition with her module assignment
17th August 2021
Creative Writing student Fiona Monahan has been selected by the inaugural Genesis Jewish Book Week Emerging Writers' Programme as one of ten emerging writers in the UK.
Launch of Creative Writing Handbook for Health Care Workers
28th May 2021
The Creative Writing Handbook for Health Care Workers is the result of The Open University and North Tees and Hartlepool Foundation Trust joining forces on a pilot to establish whether creative writing practice could reduce stress with Health Care Workers.
OU funds Creative Writing research with COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers
30th September 2020
An Open University COVID-19 Rapid Response funding scheme is supporting a series of writing workshops with health care workers in acute care and palliative care in collaboration with the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. The plan is that this research will lead to the production of a new Creative Writing Handbook for COVID-19 frontline workers.
Working on a Creative Writing PhD during a pandemic lockdown: Cold Dark Matter
8th June 2020
Patrick Wright teaches Literature and Creative Writing at the OU and is currently working on a PhD; a poetry collection called Cold Dark Matter. In this piece, Patrick shares his experience of studying for a PhD during lockdown while also grieving the loss of a partner
Books for Travel in a Time of Crisis: the Word Deployed by Ward and Solnit
8th June 2020
In a series by the OU and Institute of English Studies, Professor Sara Haslam highlights the literature of Mary Ward and Rebecca Solnit, two authors who 'simultaneously appreciate the basic connectedness between members of this human race'
Why Christmas Ghost Stories Have Such Enduring Appeal
19th December 2019
Dr Sally O’Reilly, Lecturer in Creative Writing writes for The Conversation about the popularity of ghost stories at Christmas.
World Book Day: Creative Writing Academic Talks About Reading, Delightful or Competitive?
7th March 2019
Dr Sally O’Reilly, Lecturer in Creative Writing, has her article published on The Conversation about ‘competitive reading’, how we should take our time in reading and absorbing books, and not feel the pressure to read the right title.
OU/BBC Co-produced International Playwriting Competition Winners Anounced
23rd January 2019
BBC World Service and the British Council, with co-producer The Open University, have announced the winners of the International Radio Playwriting Competition. The winning play ‘A Broken Heart In A Warzone’ will be broadcast on BBC World Service on Saturday 26th January 2019 at 19:06. The winning script ‘By God’s Mercy’ will be broadcast on 2nd February 2019 at 19:06.