Degree gave us chance to follow our dreams

May 7 2010 by The Journal

Two final-year undergraduates on the BA (Hons) English literature and creative writing course at Northumbria University share their thoughts.

CLEMENTINE HOLLISTER: I HAVE always wanted to be a writer.

As a child, I thought that I was terribly artistic and poetic, acting out plays with my toys, writing stories and poems, expecting (as you do when you are 10) that I would automatically become what I wanted to be.

Of course, things aren’t that easy, but 14 years and a reality check later, I am about to graduate from a degree in creative writing and English literature at Northumbria University.

Does this make me a writer? No. The degree has, however, fostered any talent that I might have had and, far more importantly, it has taught me to work extremely hard, to edit, constructively criticise my own work and to actively seek opportunities.

AMY ETKINS: I am currently on a three-month voluntary internship with Mslexia, the magazine for women who write. The placement has allowed an insight into the workings of a literary magazine, an opportunity few writers get.

Dealing with magazine submissions and mailings have been my main responsibilities, but I have been incredibly lucky and allowed the opportunity to research and write pieces for the magazine also. For the next issue I will be writing a book review.

There are so many aspects to the running of a magazine such as Mslexia that a writer wouldn’t even consider, be it keeping up to date with literary releases through publishers’ websites and catalogues or managing the subscribers’ database.

Being able to discuss literature and up-and-coming writers with my colleagues has also been brilliant. I am incredibly grateful to have been given the placement and know that following graduation it will act as a significant plus point on my CV.