Dr John Ballam has a PhD in English Literature from the University of Bristol. He is the author of two collections of poems, six stage plays, four screenplays, two novels (one of which includes 72 short stories) and numerous reviews, articles and academic works. His best-known title is his memoir The Road to Harmony (1999; newest edn. 2013). For ten years he was a member of the American Dramatists’ Guild and Society of Authors, The Alliance of Resident Theatres (New York) and Playwrights’ Platform (Boston). He has been a script consultant/screenwriter for several major agencies and film producers in Hollywood, London and Mumbai. Since 2004, he has taught English Literature and Creative Writing at over half of the colleges at the University of Oxford. He has been Course Director of the Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing since 2008.
Dr John Ballam
Course Director of the Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing
I am particularly interested in developing the potential of students from unusual, uncustomary or disadvantaged backgrounds. As a tutor, I have always sought to make learning a dynamic process, wherever possible incorporating elements of surprise, experiment, diversity, and an outlook easily capable of ranging from quotidian humour to high-minded literary endeavour. That is, a typical class of mine might include film extracts from Buster Keaton alongside prose from Dostoyevsky. I seek to foster nimble minds. To this end, I oversaw the creation of the Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing’s Blended Pathway for learning – that is, teaching the course principally online. We now proudly welcome students from every continent, ranging in age from over 17 to over 80, some of whom possess numerous academic accolades, while others are new to higher education. We seek to bring ALL of these people together to form a flourishing and supportive community. Being able to contribute to their individual and mutual success has been my privilege for more than 20 years.
