On manoeuvre: Navigating practice-led methodology in a creative writing PhD for the first time

Supervisors and their PhD students in the social practices often deal with unfamiliar epistemologies and methodologies. To progress they have to broaden their understanding of ‘new’ methodologies. This chapter explores how both a supervisor and student (the authors of this chapter) have approached a PhD involving a historical romance novel and accompanying exegesis. The student is employing a practice-led research methodology. Using the grand tour question (Leech, Political Science and Politics, 35, 665–668, 2002) of how researchers maneuver through the maze of methodology to make meaning for their research project, the chapter divides going on maneuver into five stages concerning this practice-led methodology (visioning, planning, journeying, reflecting, and evaluating). The insights on how they charted this new territory from their novice standpoints can assist other students and supervisors when going on their own unfamiliar methodological maneuvers.