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What's creative about creative writing?

Updated Tuesday, 12 December 2017
Can creativity be taught? How far can you be creative when translating other people's work? Listen to translators, authors and creative writing teachers as they explore these and other questions of creativity.

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This collection of interviews with writers, literary agents, educators and translators looks at what creativity means in the context of ‘creative writing’. We hear leading figures from the world of literature consider questions such as: Can creativity be taught? In what ways is translation creative? What part do culture and collaboration play in the creative process?

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Andrew Cowan on creativity and creative writing

Andrew Cowan, novelist and Professor of Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, discusses the notion of creativity, and how it’s taught in creative writing workshops. 

Andrew Cowan Andew Cowan

Read a transcript of Andrew Cowan's insights

Toby Litt on genre and creative writing

The writer Toby Litt discusses the short story, how creativity relates to genre and language, and uses of the term ‘creative writing’. 

Toby Litt Toby Litt

Read a transcript of Toby Litt's discussion

Sally O'Reilly & Emma Darwin on the relationship between history and historical fiction

Novelists Sally O’Reilly and Emma Darwin discuss the relationship between historical ‘truth’ and historical ‘fiction’.

Sally O'Reilly and Emma Darwin Sally O'Reilly (left) and Emma Darwin (right)

Read a transcript of this conversation

Jutta Schettler, Jaime Bulloch & Jeremy Munday on the art and craft of translation

Professor Jeremy Munday, and professional translators Jutta Schettler and Jamie Bulloch talk about creativity in translation.

Jeremy Munday, Jutta Schettler and Jamie Bulloch From left to right: Jeremy Munday, Jutta Schettler and Jamie Bulloch

Read a transcript of these insights

Xiaolu Guo on cultural translation and more

The novelist Xiaolu Guo discusses the writing process and issues of cultural translation.

Xiaolu Guo Xiaolu Guo

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Jonny Geller on the role of the literary agent

Jonny Geller, Chief Executive of the literary agency Curtis Brown, discusses the relationship between creativity and commerce in publishing.

Jonny Geller Jonny Geller

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