Using Setting and Fiction: A Journey Through Time and Place



Overview

The judicious choice of setting infuses a story with meaning. This course investigates how might we write our present, our past, our real and speculative worlds, in order to most effectively frame our story and investigate our chosen themes. We will explore ideas and write fiction together, in our actual setting of beautiful historic Oxford.

In this course we will deeply explore different elements of the setting (such as people, systems and the natural world) and how each these can enrich and inspire our work. We will consider how the use of setting intersects with other elements of fiction, such as characterisation, pacing, and dialogue, and we will particularly consider the impact of setting on different genres of fiction.

We will engage in practical exercises as well as classroom discussion, creating maps and ephemera from our real or imagined worlds. We will also build in time for writing and feedback exercises. We will have the opportunity to explore Oxford as a springboard for our descriptive work, with field trips to the Pitt Rivers and the Botanic Gardens.

This course is for students with some experience of writing fiction who want to more deeply engage with their settings.

This course is part of the Oxford University Summer School for Adults (OUSSA) programme.

Programme details

Seminars

Participants are taught in small seminar groups of up to 10 students, and receive two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor. 

Sunday

Seminar 1: The elements of setting. We will discuss the different aspects of setting, and how each of them can influence the work as a whole. We will also share examples of favourite settings and the role they play in their story.

Seminar 2: Topography of a setting. In this practical workshop we will devise a setting to work on throughout the week, drawing maps and using them to consider all the aspects that make up a setting. We will compare the various features of our real and fictional worlds.

Monday

Seminar 3: Settings and their systems. In this session we will delve deeper into the systems that make up our settings, from political systems to public transport. We will create ephemera to accompany our fictional systems and consider the influence they can have on plot.

Seminar 4: Settings and their people. In this seminar we will explore the type of people that inhabit different settings, looking deeply at their historical and cultural contexts, whether real or imagined. We will work towards developing a cast of characters to populate our settings.

Tuesday

Seminar 5: Settings and the natural world. In this seminar we will consider the way nature intersects with and informs our settings. We will discuss climate fiction and survival fiction, and consider how this might impact genres like sci fi and fantasy.

Seminar 6: Sense and setting. In this workshop session we will look more deeply at the role sense plays in setting description. This seminar will be followed by a  self-guided field trip to Oxford Botanic Garden.

Wednesday

Seminar 7:  Workshop check-in. To mark the middle of our week, this session is given over to discussing works in progress in a warm and supportive environment.

Seminar 8: History and historical context. In this seminar we will look at how the historical context of a story influences it. We will consider how differently stories are presented when given alternative time settings.

Thursday

Seminar 9: Research and working with detail. In this session we will discuss strategies when approaching researching settings. We will also consider how to work effectively with detail, keeping our settings relevant and ensuring they don’t overwhelm the plot.

Seminar 10: The role of objects. In this seminar we will look at the ability of objects to invoke their entire setting, and what their close description can add to our narratives. This seminar will be followed by self-guided field trip to the Pitt Rivers Museum.

Friday

Seminar 11: The role of memory. In this seminar we will look at how the description of memory can differ from scenes set in the narrative present. We will also discuss the impact the use of memory can have on a reader

Seminar 12: Conclusions - looking at your own time and place. In this closing session we will consider our own real-world settings and how we can use what we have around us to further our writing.

Programme timetable

The daily timetable will normally be as follows:

Saturday

14.00–16.30 - Registration

16.30–17.00 - Orientation meeting

17.00–17.30 - Classroom orientation for tutor and students

17.30–18.00 - Drinks reception

18.00–20.00 - Welcome dinner

Sunday – Friday

09.00–10.30 - Seminar

10.30–11.00 - Tea/coffee break

11.00–12.30 - Seminar

12.30–13.30 - Lunch

13.30–18.00 - Afternoons are free for tutorials, individual study, course-related field trips or exploring the many places of interest in and around Oxford.

18.00–19.00 - Dinner (there is a formal gala dinner every Friday to close each week of the programme).

A range of optional social events will be offered throughout the summer school. These are likely to include: a quiz night, visit to historic pubs in Oxford, visit to Christ Church for Evensong and after-dinner talks and discussions.

Fees

Description Costs
Fee Option 1 (Single en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) £2050.00
Fee Option 2 (Double en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) 1 person £2100.00
Fee Option 3 (Twin en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) per person £1680.00
Fee Option 4 (No Accommodation - inc. Tuition, Lunch & Dinner) £1250.00

Funding

Concessionary rates are available on a non-residential basis for those that qualify, more information can be found here

Unfortunately we do not offer any specific scholarships or funding opportunities for OUSSA programme, but you can visit our departmental funding webpage, where you may be able to find a particular source of funding that matches your requirements alongside meeting the funding criteria.

Payment

All fees are charged on a per week, per person basis.

Please be aware that all payments made via non-UK credit/debit cards and bank accounts are subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.

Tuition and meals are included in the programme fee, with both residential and non-residential options available.

Course change administration fee: Please note that course transfers may be permitted in exceptional circumstances; however, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions, an administration fee of £50 will be charged.

Payment terms

  • If enrolling online: full payment by credit/debit card at the time of booking
  • If submitting an application form: full payment online by credit/debit card or via bank transfer within 30 days of invoice date

Cancellations and Refunds

1. Cancellation by you

Participants who wish to cancel must inform the Programme Administrator in writing: by email to oussa@conted.ox.ac.uk or by post to OUSSA, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, OXFORD, OX1 2JA, UK.

The following cancellation and refund policy applies in all cases:

  • Cancellation within 14 days of online enrolment / payment of fees – full refund of all fees paid.
  • Cancellations received up to and including 30 April 2025 – OUDCE will retain an administration fee of £100 per week booked; all other fees paid will be refunded.
  • Cancellations received between 1-31 May 2025 – OUDCE will retain 60% of the fees paid; the remaining 40% of fees paid will be refunded.
  • Cancellations received on and after 1 June 2025 - no refunds will be made.

2. Cancellation by us

Where there is good reason, OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course by giving you notice in writing at any time before the course is due to start. In these cases, we will endeavour to offer a transfer to another available course if practical and acceptable to you, subject to payment or refund of any difference in the course fees. Alternatively, we will refund the course fees that you have already paid. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred. The status of this course will be reviewed on 1 May 2025. If it is likely that the course may be cancelled, anyone affected will be notified by email within 7 days; if you have not heard from OUDCE by 8 May 2025, you should assume that your course will be running. You may wish to delay finalising your travel arrangements until after this date.

OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course at short notice in exceptional circumstances that would prevent the course from being delivered e.g. tutor illness. In these rare instances, we will notify you as soon as possible and arrange a transfer to another available Oxford Experience course. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred.

Where course fees have been paid in currencies other than pounds sterling, refunds will be subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.

3. Travel insurance 

The Department cannot be held responsible for any costs you may incur in relation to travel or accommodation bookings as a result of a course cancellation, or if you are unable to attend the course for any other reason. You are advised to check cancellation policies carefully and to purchase travel insurance.

Tutor

Ms Lucy Ayrton

Tutor

Lucy Ayrton has an MA in Creative Writing from Warwick University, and is a novelist and performance poet. She has two novels published with Dialogue Books, and a third will be released in 2025. She wrote and performed two full-length spoken word shows at the Edinburgh Festival, which were respectively turned into a poetry pamphlet and a radio play. She also competed as a national finalist at the UK Poetry Slam. Lucy is a Departmental Lecturer at the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education.

Course aims

This course aims to provide you with the skills you need to create and develop rich, fully realized and immersive settings for use in a variety of literary forms, primarily prose fiction.

Teaching methods

The teaching methods used during this course may include:

  • Short lectures/presentations
  • Physical handouts
  • Seminars/group discussions

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be expected to be able to:

  • Write a short piece of prose fiction featuring a clearly presented and well realized setting
  • Explain the decisions they made in creating this setting and the intended effect on the reader
  • Be able to give feedback on the effectiveness of the use of setting in a peer's writing

Assessment methods

Participants are required to undertake preparatory reading and complete a pre-course assignment of 1,500 words. Although this does not count towards credit, it is seen as an important way of developing your ideas and is mandatory. The pre-course assignment is typically due in the first week of June.

You will be assessed during the summer school by either a 1,000 word written assignment or a presentation supported by individual documentation. To successfully gain credit (10 CATS points) students should attend all classes and complete the on-course assignment. Participants will attend two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor during the week.

OUSSA is an accredited summer school taught at undergraduate level; each one-week course carries 10 CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme) points at FHEQ (Framework for Higher Education Qualification) Level 4. Learn more about CATS points.

Certificate of Higher Education

Credit earned from OUSSA can be transferred towards our flexible Certificate of Higher Education.

Study when and where it suits you by gaining credit from short courses, including short online courses, weekly classes and OUSSA, and build your way to an Oxford University award. This part-time undergraduate programme lasts between two and four years depending on how intensively you want to study.  

Find out more about the Certificate of Higher Education.

Application

Most courses fill quickly so early registration is strongly recommended. If your preferred course is fully booked, you may wish to add yourself to the waiting list and the Programme Administrator will contact you should a place become available.

Please note, the programme is only open to those over the age of 18.

Single accommodation, double room for 1 person and non-residential places may be booked online by clicking on the “Book now” button in the “Course details” box at the top right-hand side of the course page.

Those requiring twin, double or accessible accommodation should complete an enrolment form as these rooms cannot be booked online. Please send the completed enrolment form to the email address below. Both the PDF and Word option of the form below are editable, so you can complete them online before saving and sending to us as an email attachment. You do not need to print and scan them. (Please use these forms only if you are making a twin or double booking for two people.)

Online enrolments require payment in full at the time of registering.

Those who do not wish to register online or who have specific requirements (eg an accessible bedroom) should contact the Programme Administrator directly at oussa@conted.ox.ac.uk or OUSSA, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA, UK.

Accommodation

More information about our accommodation can be found here.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support