Literature

It's widely accepted that Aberystwyth is one of Wales' most important cultural centres, and one of the reasons for this is the increasing profile for literature and creative writing in the town and more specifically in the University's Department of English and Creative Writing.

Literature is very much alive and thriving in Aberystwyth, well you would hope so considering it has been taught here since 1872. If you want to discover all there is to know about literature in Aberystwyth then keep on reading.

Writing

Regardless of ability, creative writing is always encouraged at Aberystwyth. If you are a beginner there are loads of classes and workshops available to you, covering many areas of writing, some include, screenwriting, writing poetry, digital storytelling and introduction to writing a novel; but there are many more.

The scene isn't just set up for the beginner! if you're more advanced you'll be encouraged to develop your writing further, and students in the Department of English and Creative Writing have the chance to win several prizes for their work, including the Luigi Bonomi Associates Prize for Fiction and the Poetry Prize.

You'll also have several opportunities to have your work published: in The Courier, which is a magazine written by students for the students, The Aberystwyth Writing Project, which includes poetry and prose from students and locals, and finally you'll also have the chance to produce and publish an annual literary magazine.

Reading

The Arts Centre and the Department of English and Creative Writing attract some of the best professional writers in study workshops and public readings. Writers who have recently visited are poets David Constantine, Philip Gross, Grevel Lindrop, and National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke; novelists Niall Griffiths, Toby Lint, Kathryn Heyman; and T.V. playwright Nicholas McInerny.

The University Bookshop has fortnightly readings, which prove to be a great way to meet people and discuss the pleasures of literature over a glass of wine; Waterstones also hosts three different reading groups; General, Sci-fi and teenage.

Buying

With so much emphasis on the writing and reading there needs to be somewhere that you can buy some literature... well coincidentally there is:

The University Bookshop which has over 15,000 titles in stock, from bestsellers to the hard to find classics alongside all the University's core textbooks. Waterstones, Julian Shelly Books, Siop y Pethe and Ystwyth Books are a few other places you can get your hands on some literature.