University News Last updated 18 March 2016
Award-winning author Jim Crace visited the University last month to lead a series of workshops with students from the School of English.
Jim studied at Birmingham City University when it was a polytechnic and is also an Honorary Doctorate of the University. Since his time here, Crace has developed a successful writing career. His first book 'Continent' (1986), won the Whitbread First Novel Award, the Guardian Fiction Prize and the David Higham Prize for Fiction and his latest, 'Harvest', was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2013.
In the sessions Jim gave students feedback on their work and an insight into the world of professional writing and the publishing industry. The students appreciated the opportunity to work with Jim, as Nabiyah Saddique, who is studying for a BA in English, explains: "It was beneficial to students like me who want to write and be an author by career, to see how his experiences have shaped him and how he has created such beautiful pieces of work from these experiences."
Jim too enjoyed the chance to work with the students: "I hope that taking part in BCU's recent three-day fiction workshop was as stimulating for the undergraduates and postgraduates as it was for me, the tutor.
"Everybody tried their hands at pitching an idea, writing the opening paragraphs of a novel, and line editing. It was testing and daunting but nobody fell short. In fact, the level of commitment and ability was astounding.
Dr Gregory Leadbetter, Reader in Literature and Creative Writing and the organiser of the workshops added: "Jim Crace is known the world over as one of the leading novelists writing in English today.
"Given his links to Birmingham City University – as an alumnus, Honorary Doctorate and former Visiting Professor here – it was a delight and privilege to be able to host these masterclasses, in which our students could enjoy Jim’s generosity of spirit, wisdom and insight into the art of the novel."
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