Thanks for being interested - it's nice to be asked about it!

It's completely open. Any style, themes, structure or story. The only constraint is that it must be "literary". A supervisor (usually a writer of some sort as well as an academic) critiques early drafts and raises questions where necessary to help you develop.

As to ideas, well, I did try mapping my novel out in an outline but the story ended up feeling "forced". Consequently, three months ago I (tearfully) threw away five chapters and started again. This time I am writing organically, trying to allow my story to grow. I have a rough direction for the narrative but it's not set in stone and the characters have room to react. It feels a bit like a game of chess in that I have one or two moves in mind ahead of me, but I'm not certain what the final outcome will be.

Hope I haven't bored anyone with all that!

Well, basically it's done in two halves - the PhD is awarded based on the submission of an original literary work (usually a novel) and a thesis. The novel has to be written first because the thesis has to address some question arising from it, then be backed up with research into other relevant literary sources. I also have to provide detailed notes on the writing process in the form of a writing diary, which can be drawn upon later if needed.

It's quite a strange way of doing a PhD, because essentially the creative work informs the academic work. The good thing about it is that it's easy to be original.

Thanks for the comments... you're right, the creative part probably is a lot more fun than the academic writing. However - when you're sitting in the library surrounded by great literature it's also pretty daunting! You should definitely go back to writing as soon as you can, sounds as if you had a talent for it. And good luck when you do.

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone around here is doing a creative PhD, (such as in Creative Writing), and has to complete a piece of creative work as well as a thesis? I am in the middle of one and I have to complete a literary novel in the first half... which I'm finding very tough. I have plenty of confidence when it comes to literary criticism, but less when it comes to writing a work of fiction myself. Any positive thoughts on similar experiences would be more than welcome!