Explore how technology is changing the way stories are told, from AI-assisted writing to interactive fiction and immersive experiences.

  • Learn how algorithms can open up new ways of writing.
  • Explore stories that respond to readers, including interactive fiction and narrative games.
  • Develop your own writing ideas and discover how to turn your vision into a plan someone else can help you build.

This four-week Writing with Technology course is for writers who are curious about digital storytelling but aren't sure where to begin. You won't be learning to code or wrestling with software. Instead, you'll spend time thinking, imagining, designing and developing the ideas and vocabulary you need to bring ambitious digital projects to life, whether on your own or alongside future collaborators. 

Each week, we'll explore a different part of the digital storytelling landscape, including:

  • How algorithms can open up new ways of writing
  • Stories that respond to readers, including interactive fiction and narrative games
  • Writing for space, place and atmosphere
  • Digital literature and screen-based forms
  • Virtual and augmented reality as storytelling environments
  • How to turn your vision into a plan someone else can help you build

Drawing on real examples from games, digital literature and immersive art, and rooted in current research from the NET Lab's Writing with Technologies series, the course gives you both the inspiration and the practical tools to move forward.

By the end of the course, you'll have a project concept you're excited about and the confidence to know what to do with it next as well as have had an individual 30-minute tutorial session with Amy to explore your ideas in depth.

This beginner-friendly course is for writers who are curious about digital storytelling but have no idea where to start and aren't looking to learn to code. No technical knowledge needed for this course, just bring your imagination and your writer's instincts. To get the most out of this course you should have past writing experience before taking part in this course.

Overview

This course takes place online.

Writing with Technologies starts Thursday 7 May for four weeks, Thursdays 6pm – 8pm.

You are also expected to do around two hours of independent work between each session, and will have one individual 30 minute tutorial session during your course with Amy to explore your ideas in depth.

This short course costs £100 per person.

You’ll need a laptop, pen and paper for this short course.

Meet the team

Dr Amy Spencer is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Centre for Cultural and Creative Industries. Previously, she worked at UWE Bristol as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow on the two-year Ambient Literature project, a collaboration between UWE Bristol, the University of Birmingham and Bath Spa University.

Her research interests include digital writing, ambient literature, collaborative authorship and do-it-yourself cultural production. Amy is a writer of both fiction and non-fiction and is the author of DIY: The Rise of Lo-Fi Culture.

Terms and conditions

Read the terms and conditions for taking part in this short course.

Contact us

For more information about the course please email your enquiries to shortcourses@bathspa.ac.uk .