Where innovation meets creativity

The Centre for Creative Writing is a research hub specialising in innovative approaches to the study and practice of creative writing.

Established in 2010 by Philip Terry, Professor Marina Warner, and Adrian May, the Centre for Creative Writing is unique in that it was set up from its inception to develop and explore innovative practices in Creative Writing.

It was the first place in the UK to develop modules on the emergent practices of memory mapping, walking and place – which are now widely imitated – and it was the first in the UK to devote a module to the now highly influential work of the Oulipo (Workshop of Potential Literature).

It is interdisciplinary in its approach and engages with forms of writing which move between traditional boundaries of mode and genre. Key areas of research interest include the Oulipo, Wild Writing, Memory Mapping, prismatic translation, experimental forms of poetry and fiction, and science fiction.

Since our department's inception in the 1960s under the poet-critic Donald Davie, we have nurtured a tradition of distinguished writers, who have shaped literature as we know it. These include Robert Lowell, Michèle Roberts, Ken Smith, Tom Raworth, Ed Dorn, Ben Okri, Pierre Joris, Alice Notley, Marina Warner, Derek Walcott and Ted Berrigan.

The modern-day Centre for Creative Writing consists of writers with a unique breadth of experience across literary genres, from novels, prose and plays, to poetry and song.

Our partnership with Essex Book Festival

In 2014 the Centre for Creative Writing began working in partnership with the Essex Book Festival, which takes place annually in March.

The Centre engages in the Festival on many levels, conducting outfacing writing workshops, showcasing work on our MAs in Creative Writing and Wild Writing, organising public readings for members of the Centre and for Essex students, liaising with the Essex Book Festival to establish work-based learning opportunities, and running residential writing workshops (such as that at the Othona Community, Bradwell, 2017).

Our members

Dr Holly Pester

Senior Lecturer

Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies, University of Essex

Holly specialises in poetry and performance writing.

 Matthew De Abaitua

Senior Lecturer

Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies, University of Essex

Matthew specialises in writing novels.

Dr James Canton

Lecturer

Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies, University of Essex

James specialises in new nature writing.

Professor Jonathan Lichtenstein

Professor

Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies, University of Essex

Jonathan specialises in playwrighting.

Professor Maria Cristina Fumagalli

Professor

Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies, University of Essex

Maria was the recipient of a Leverhulme Major Research Award for work on the poetics of Derek Walcott in 2016-19.

Professor Elizabeth Kuti

Professor

Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies, University of Essex

Dr Jordan Savage

Lecturer

Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies, University of Essex

Dr Mary Mazzilli

Lecturer

Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies, University of Essex

Dr Annecy Lax

Senior Lecturer

Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies, University of Essex

Professor Matt Ffytche

Professor

Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex

Dr Alexei Vernitski

Senior Lecturer

School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Essex

Professor

Department of English, Royal Holloway, University of London

Novelist, Non-fiction writer, Royal Literary Fund

Director, Essex Book Festival

Poet, Playwright, Non-fiction writer, The Royal Literary Fund

Biography in the context of the person module

From left: Karen Rose (producer), Elizabeth Kuti, Philip Selway (composer), Jo McInnes (Director), and Stephen Dillane with their BBC awards for Sea Longing
Professor Elizabeth Kuti wins Best Original Single Drama and Best Actor prizes at the BBC Audio Awards

Read the compelling article about 'Sea Longing', an award-winning play written by Professor Elizabeth Kuti, which told the story of folklore expert Robert Whyman and his encounters with the mythological seal folk.

Read the article
A close-up of a student reading a book at a book sale.
Get in touch
Professor Philip Terry Director
Centre for Creative Writing
Professor Fatima El Issawi Director of Research
Department of Literature Film and Theatre Studies