Summer Creative Writing Bursary
Funded by a generous Member, The RF Kuang Writing Bursary offers a £4000 award to pursue a creative writing project over the summer research period.
We caught up with English undergraduate, Joe Wright (2023), recipient of the inaugural bursary, to learn about his love of poetry, his writing plans and how the bursary will facilitate his summer project.
You are studying English at Magdalene, can you tell us a bit about why you chose your course and what your favourite area of study is?
I chose English at Magdalene because of the College’s rich literary history, with the likes of C.S. Lewis, Seamus Heaney and William Empson. I find studying English here so fun – it’s full of different voices, perspectives, and ways of approaching literature. I really enjoyed the medieval paper but my favourite part is probably Practical Criticism, where what matters is your own individual response to a text you know nothing about.
Can you describe your summer creative writing project and how you plan to use the RF Kuang Writing Bursary to support it?
My project over the summer, which the RF Kuang Bursary will fund, is to write the draft of my first poetry pamphlet. I’ve been writing for a few years now and have really enjoyed becoming a part of the writing community in Cambridge, and I’m now ready to put together a longer work. Normally I’d have a job during the holidays, so this opportunity to focus on writing as my number one priority means so much to me!
Could you share some insights into the type of writing you'll be focusing on?
The pamphlet has a clear shape in my mind, around poems I have written which are concerned with the North Pennines (where I am from), and themes such as memory, song/silence, and mythology. These provide the backbone, but I’m excited to see where this project will lead me!
What inspired you to pursue this bursary?
This bursary came at exactly the right time for me, having had some early successes as a writer such as in the Young Northern Writers’ Awards and the Foyle Young Poets of the Year, but now looking to make that next step towards publication. The busy nature of life in Cambridge means it’s hard for me to sustain a writing practice during term, having this freedom to put my writing first and really explore my practice in the summer could not have come at a better time!
How will you structure your writing process to make the most of the bursary?
I’ve divided my time for the project into a few phases. The first will be back at home in the North Pennines, delving into the land and stories that I’ve written about a lot. Then I’m making a trip to Romania, in order to completely distance myself from those places; this will give me the chance to experiment with my writing and break some new ground, as I sometimes find myself repeating the same ideas and patterns in my poems. In September I’m hoping to have some time in Cambridge to use the libraries and have some intense editorial work, seeking out advice from writers I know and maybe going on a writing course for feedback. These phases should help me make the most of the bursary by focusing on different aspects of my writing practice as the project progresses. By October I’m hoping to have a body of work that I feel ready to send to publishers!
How do you plan to balance your creative writing commitments with any other responsibilities, obligations or university work you may have over the summer?
Thankfully, this summer won’t be the most academically intense for me, as I’m still in my first year. The different trips I have planned still allow me off-periods where I can take a step back from writing and change gear back to academic work, which should give me some helpful distance and perspective to then return to the project.
How do you envision your creative writing project will benefit both your academic and personal development as a writer?
It’s so special to be given this opportunity to really focus on my practice at this important point in my journey as a writer. I wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to put together a pamphlet and take that next step. Being awarded the bursary is such a confidence boost – having such faith put in me means a lot!
What would you like to say to the donor who has endowed this unique writing bursary at Magdalene?
I’m so thankful to the donor of the RF Kuang Bursary for their extraordinary generosity. This is such a unique opportunity, especially for someone like me in this crucial early stage of a writing career! I’d like to thank them for putting their trust in me, and I’m really excited to get started on the project!