Loveday Writing

Writing has always been a part of me. I liken it to another limb – it’s not natural for me to not write. I love getting caught up with the characters and worlds I create. Every character I create is like a family member. I know what they look like, sound like, act like, when their birthdays are and what job they have. Sometimes when writer’s block hits me, I don’t see them for a while. But when inspiration hits me, it’s like a catch up.

Growing up, I knew writing was meant for me, but I also knew that career prospects weren’t secure or high. So in my senior high school years when I had to start thinking about uni and jobs and the future, I explored other career prospects.

I couldn’t help myself though. I did two days work experience at my local newspaper. Then, on an excursion to the University of Wollongong, I discovered the creative writing program.

After working full-time for a year after school, I decided to apply to study creative writing and journalism at the University of Wollongong. After spending three months working on two portfolios and undergoing two admissions interviews, I was accepted. My dream was finally coming true.

The course turned out to be different to what I expected: I had to do group work for the first time in two years and I also had to face constructive criticism and feedback on my writing. I grew to have a love-hate relationship with feedback as there were so many people in my class that I never really knew what feedback to take on board. A good rule of thumb was that if there was a general consensus on something that was the best thing to go with.

I eventually learnt how to write prose, poetry and scripts and also to write professionally. I learnt that I wasn’t just restricted to creative writing career opportunities.

Along the way I had doubts about my abilities, every artist does, however I did learn with the right university, the right support and the right opportunities, that anything is possible.