Liz Jones

Humanities Co-ordinator, Lifelong Learning
Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education, Aberystwyth University (2011).
MA Scriptwriting (Distinction), University of Glamorgan (2007).
BA (Hons) English, Aberystwyth University (1980).
Photograph of Liz Jones.

Contact

Email: lzj@aber.ac.uk
Office: Penbryn 5, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3UX
Phone: 01970 622683

Biography

I’ve been teaching creative writing and related subjects since 1998. Before taking up this post in September 2011, my work has also involved - in various combinations - creative writing, journalism, copywriting and community development.

It’s a privilege to work with adult learners; their talents, skills and enthusiasm are always energising - and often humbling. As a lifelong learner myself, I believe that learning and creativity are pleasures which can be enjoyed at any stage of life. With this in mind, in 2007 I embarked on a PhD, researching stage to screen adaptation; a lengthy but exciting project which I hope to complete by the end of 2012.

I also try to continue my practice as a writer – working primarily on plays, features and reviews.

Recent work published

  • ‘Oliver Tate Gets the Girl’ New Welsh Review, autumn 2011, feature on the novel to film adaptation of Submarine.
  • Herb’s Ranch (short psychological horror story), Different Worlds creative writing anthology, Aberystwyth University, 2010.
  • ‘Patriotic Ghosts’, Planet: the Welsh Internationalist, spring 2010, article on the wartime supernatural film, Halfway House.
  • ‘White Socks Central’, Planet, spring 2009 (Feature review of Real Merthyr and Merthyr Writing).
  • Ghost in the Tearoom. Short story in Exchanges anthology, Aberystwyth University, May 2007
  • The Splinter of Ice. Essay in A Bit on the Side, Parthian Publishers, March 2007.

Recent writing for performance

  • The Wild Wild Girls of Musical Terrace (stage play). Rehearsed reading, Travelling Light writers in residence project, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Nov. 2009. (Recently adapted as a screenplay for psychological thriller, titled Broken).
  • Chequered Angel Ninety minute stage play, 2007.
  • Another Old Sea Shanty Site specific monologue performed in Ceredigion Museum, December 2007 and November 2006.
  • The Castle Gates Thrown Open, Monologue, prize-winner, Alexander Cordell Literary Prize, 2006.

Conference presentations

  • ‘Ghostly Propaganda: the “Welsh question” and The Halfway House (1944)’; Association of Welsh Writing in English, Gregynog, March 2012
  • ‘Fade in Mephistopheles: adapting Faust from stage to screen’ (Presented at the Adaptation Studies Conference, Istanbul, September 2011).  
  • ‘Beyond Sex and Drugs and Lyrical Ballads: metatextuality in Julien Temple’s Pandaemonium’ (European Society for the Study of English, Turin, August 2010; selected for publication in a forthcoming collection of essays on the biopic genre).
  • ‘Views and Reflections: creating communities of learning in isolated rural areas’, (Learning and Teaching Action Research Conference, Aberystwyth University, 2009, published in the Aberystwyth University Journal of Academic Practice http://nexus.aber.ac.uk)
  • ‘Fairy Godmothers, Peasant Poets and Wild, Wild Girls: a writer/researcher's journey’ (CCI Postgraduate Conference, 2009).
  • ‘Hokum, Politics and Passion: Casablanca as adaptation’ (War and Film Conference, University of Glamorgan, 2009; CCI Postgraduate Conference, 2008).
  • ‘Raising the Dead: the state of historical drama in Wales’ (Association of Welsh Writing in English, Gregynog, 2007).
  • ‘Dorothea Brande: teaching the ‘magic’ of writing’ (Great Writing Conference, Bangor University, 2007).

Related activities

  • Reviews editor, Journal of Adaptation in Film and Performance
  • Visiting lecturer, Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries, University of Glamorgan.

Awards

  • Screen Academy Wales PhD Scholarship – part time research on stage-to-screen adaptation. (Due to complete December 2012).
  • Research Excellence award, University of Glamorgan, 2011.