Scriptwriter Hanif Kureishi launches Kingston Writing School

Posted Friday 6 May 2011

Novelist Hanif Kureishi is a writer in residence at Kingston University. Kingston University's new Writing School has been officially launched at a special event attended by one of its writers in residence, novelist and scriptwriter Hanif Kureishi.

Kingston Writing School brings professionals, such as Mr Kureishi, author of Buddha of Suburbia and My Beautiful Laundrette, together with staff and students from courses in creative writing, journalism, publishing and English Literature. It will also offer new degrees in translation studies and creative writing teaching.

Dr David Rogers believes Kingston Writing School will help the University to continue to grow its community of writers. Dr David Rogers, Head of Humanities at the University, said Kingston had now become a hot-bed for writers to share ideas and network. "The school will serve as the foundation for us to continue to grow and to work with professional journalists, writers, publishers and academics beyond the University," he said. "It will allow us to enhance our links with a wide range of organisations as we continue to establish as inclusive and open a community of writers as possible."

The school builds on Kingston's existing work with internationally-renowned authors, novelists and poets. The University has a prestigious list of published professionals who work as writers in residence - supervising students' dissertations and speaking at University workshops and conferences. These include novelists Rachel Cusk and Paul Bailey and playwright Barrie Keeffe. Recent distinguished signings also include globally-recognised author and academic Dr Eva Hoffman, best-selling Turkish author Elif Shafak, poet and critic Dr Fiona Sampson and Alexander Masters, who has won numerous awards for his work.

Mr Kureishi said: "The Kingston Writing School has become one of the most dynamic places for students and writers in the United Kingdom. People there are full of talent, energy and bright ideas. It´s a pleasure to be part of it and to have seen it grow so much in such a short time."

The School is a hot-bed for writers to share ideas and network. Kingston Writing School will work closely with the University's commercial publishing arm, Kingston University Press (KUP Ltd), which has brought out books on a wide variety of topics ranging from human rights to memoirs.