Childhood & Youth and Creative Writing
Childhood and youth studies and creative writing is a combination that brings together the multidisciplinary study of children's and young people's lives with the craft of literary and imaginative writing. Childhood and youth studies draws on sociology, history, social policy, politics, and cultural studies to examine the experiences, challenges, and rights of children and young people in contemporary society. Creative writing develops your voice and craft as a writer, teaching you to work in fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and other forms with discipline and intention.
The pairing has a deeper coherence than it might initially appear. Literature for and about children is one of the most culturally significant areas of creative writing, and understanding childhood as a social and developmental reality makes you a more perceptive writer about young people's experience. Conversely, creative writing develops skills in narrative, empathy, and perspective-taking that are directly relevant to working with children and young people, many of whom use story and creative expression as ways of making sense of their own lives.
At Liverpool Hope this three-year full-time programme develops both disciplines seriously, giving you a thorough grounding in the social and policy dimensions of childhood and youth alongside rigorous creative writing development. A sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement experience are all built into the programme, providing professional experience, international study, and a portfolio of practical work alongside your academic studies.
Graduates move into careers in children's writing, youth work, education, publishing, social care, community arts, arts and literature outreach, and policy. Many go on to further creative writing qualifications or postgraduate study in children's literature, while others pursue teaching or social work training. The combination is also a strong preparation for careers in educational publishing and literary education.