The Royal Literary Fund (RLF) Fellowship at the University of Bath
Sarah Duncan and Jeremy Seal are the University’s RLF Fellows seconded to the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Office. They are employed part-time by the Royal Literary Fund and their remit, first and foremost, is to help students to enhance their writing skills, whether composing reports, essays, papers, proposals, dissertations or other written assignments. In most cases, this assistance will take the form of one-to-one coaching. They may run occasional workshops or other activities for students on specific writing issues.
Sarah will be at the University on Wednesdays and Thursdays and Jeremy on Tuesdays during Semesters. They will be available to students and staff by prior appointment. To book a free session visit the Writing Coach webpage.
Benefits of the Fellowship to undergraduate and postgraduate students
- Students will benefit from having a friendly face who is there to listen and respond constructively to their writing concerns. RLF Fellows can help raise students’ confidence while improving their skills in writing with force, clarity and precision.
- Jeremy Seal and Sarah Duncan are professional writers with many fiction, non-fiction books and newspaper, magazine and journal articles to their credit. They have both been awarded and short-listed for many publishing prizes.
- They have considerable experience in providing writing coaching and teaching.
- RLF Fellows are employed independently and are not members of the University staff. Their support is impartial and confidential.
Benefits to University staff
- RLF Fellows are able to spend time working one-to-one with students on specific writing issues, which staff might not otherwise have time to do.
- They are able to bring their experience of writing for a wide range of audiences to bear in helping students to plan and craft their writing more effectively.
- Sarah Duncan and Jeremy Seal are keen to work harmoniously with members of staff, so that their contribution enhances the learning experience of students in line with the needs of University departments.
- Although students have priority, Jeremy and Sarah are happy to work with staff members on a confidential basis to address their own writing issues.
What the Fellowship is not
- Coaching by an RLF Fellow does not seek to replace or offer an alternative to the existing University services that are designed to help students with specific learning difficulties e.g. dyslexia, or language needs e.g. English as a second language.
- Sarah and Jeremy will assist students to improve their writing by helping them analyse and better fashion their own work. They are not providing an editorial or rewriting service.
Students or staff members of any School or Faculty can book a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday session by visiting the Writing Coach website.