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Story Posted: 27 February 2007

Royal Literary Fund Fellows on hand to help students with one-on-one advice on written work.

 

Students from all schools are urged to make the most of the hidden talents found on the top floor of the Fincham Building. Royal Literary Fund Fellows and well-respected authors John Fullerton and Simon Louvish are on hand to help students with one-on-one advice on written work.

The Royal Literary Fund fellowship was established to provide universities and colleges with established professional writers of literary merit who offer writing support to all students.

John Fullerton has more than 30 years of journalism under his belt, 19 of which were with Reuters, and Simon Louvish joined the University in September, following the release his biography Mae West: It Ain't No Sin.

Fullerton, author of five novels one work of non-fiction, says he has seen some students make huge strides after just a couple of tutorials.

“We see really bright students who usually receive marks in the 60s getting up into the 70s just by improving presentation and organisation of their essays and this applies to both freshers and postgrads. The steps taken can be very simple and the improvement very rapid indeed.”

Then there are those who are petrified at the notion of trying to write anything at all and overwhelmed by the prospect of having to tackle 1,500 or 2,000 words.

“Here it’s often a matter of confidence,” Fullerton says. “We help students from all departments develop ideas by brainstorming, setting out an argument in some sort of order and showing them how to write the introduction and conclusion after they've mastered the main body of the essay. Our tutorials are free and the student can return as often as he or she wants and of course it’s completely confidential.”

Head of learning and teaching enhancement, Julie Hall, said: “I am so pleased that we can offer students help and advice from real writers. Any student who wants to improve their writing should have no hesitation in booking in to see Simon or John.”

Both ‘fellows' offer a 45-minute one-to-one slot in Fincham 303and advise students to come along with work in the early stages where possible so there is an opportunity to discuss the essay title and develop the planning.

For more information please contact Simon on s.louvish@roehampton.ac.uk or j.fullerton@roehampton.ac.uk.