The author discusses the two components of a doctoral thesis in creative writing, a creative work and an exegesis drawing upon a literary theory that must relate to the creative work. She concludes that: "The concept of the exegesis needs to be reshaped until it is more compatible with the creative component of the thesis, and assessment of whether or not a compulsory exegesis can be enforced justifiably should continue. But with imagination, an optional theoretical component can be used powerfully by a creative writer".