Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your career/published works or work-in-progress, including your University project(s)?  

I was born in Cornwall in 1996, and moved to London when I was eighteen. In 2017 I graduated with a First in Creative Writing and English Literature from the University of Greenwich, and went straight into publishing. Starting off at W. W. Norton, and then to Thames & Hudson, it was always difficult planning to start an MA (something I’d always wanted to do). I was impressed by the MA Creative Writing programme at Manchester Writing School not only because of the number of published graduates and the breadth of the courses, but by the flexibility. 

I signed up for the distance learning option, starting in January 2019. I studied over the next two years while working full-time, and it was completely manageable. I met a wealth of kind, talented writers and tutors, with courses designed to really equip you with the skills you need for a writing career. Without this course I wouldn’t have written my debut novel Isaac, publishing with VERVE Books in November 2024. 

How do you think being part of the Manchester Writing School community has helped your writing career? 

Being taught by working writers was always inspiring – learning about what being an author is actually like. Being able to drop a member of the faculty an email with a new piece of writing and receiving thoughtful and honest feedback. If something didn’t work you were told it didn’t work, which was valuable.  

What did you find was your most valuable experience as part of the Manchester Writing School? What were the highlights? 

We were always encouraged to let go of our inhibitions in the workshop sessions with an emphasis on kindness, trust, support and constructive feedback. 

What advice would you give to students looking at studying at the Manchester Writing School, or just starting out on the course?  

Don’t be coy! Everyone on the course is feeling the same apprehension and perhaps even embarrassment, but you’re all there for the same reason, which is to hone your craft and to learn from each other. Sharing your work with other writers in a group setting is an extremely rare and valuable opportunity – take advantage of it!