University of Strathclyde

Writing like a Writer: a self-reflexive analysis of visible & invisible enhancers & detractors to progress within the research-to-creative-writing process

Academic History:

2013-present PhD in Creative Writing - University of Strathclyde

2009-2013 BA in Journalism & Creative Writing & English with First Class Honours - University of Strathclyde

Supervisors:

Dr Beatrice Colin

Prof David Kinloch

Research Interests:

• Creativity (specifically ideas around 'flow' & creative processes
• Narratology (specifically in relation to themes of intimacy & empathy in 1st person narrative voices)
• Genetic Criticism
• Authenticity
• Literary linguistics
• Metamodernism
• The everyday/ordinary
• Creative writing in education

Previous Research Projects:

• September 2014-Ongoing. Founding Editor and Designer for Quotidian. Quotidian is an online and print literary magazine publishing short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry written by students across Scotland on the theme of ‘the everyday’. Edited by Melissa Reid and Stephen O’Shea (also from Strathclyde), the magazine launched its first issue online in February 2015 (at www.quotidianmag.com), and in print in May 2015. It has been extremely well received to date, with a wide online readership and distribution of the print version across Scotland. Issue 2 will be launched online in February 2016. Full details can be found on the website.
• February-September 2014. On the organising committee for ‘Oscillate! Metamodernism & the Humanities’ Conference (a one-day interdisciplinary conference/symposium at Strathclyde University for PGRs & ECRs on the theme of ‘metamodernism’). The conference took place on 16th September 2014, consisted of 3 panels (with a total of 12 speakers from a range of disciplines), & included presentations from guest speakers Dr. Timotheus Vermeulen & Dr. Allison Gibbons.
• January-June 2014. Co-Facilitating Anderson's Oddities Creative Writing Competition. ‘Anderson's Oddities’ was a new creative writing competition at Strathclyde set up by Professor David Kinloch, Dr Beatrice Colin, Gordon Hodge, Mary McDonough Clark & myself (among others) where students & staff wrote creative responses to objects from John Anderson’s scientific instrument collection.

Scholarships/ Awards

2015. Strathclyde Alumni Funding (for Quotidian Literary Magazine)

2014. AHRC DTP Studentship 

2013. English Studies Prize - for ‘the Honours Student with the highest overall average (English Studies or Journalism & Creative Writing)’. Awarded by the University of Strathclyde

2013. S&K Miller Trust Award -for ‘a student deemed to be the most outstanding due to their efforts in studying creative writing, poetry or similar'. Awarded by the University of Strathclyde

2013. Keith Wright Memorial Literary Competition Award (3^rd Place) -for a short story submitted as part of an annual writing competition for Strathclyde students. Judged & awarded by Ewan Morrison, Keith Wright Literary Fellow (2012-2013)

Publications include:

Fiction:

• 2014. ‘Egg & Cress’, a short story, broadcast on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Scottish Shorts’ series 09.02.2014.
• 2012. ‘A Quiet Song’, a short story, published in Octavius Literary Magazine, Issue 1

Non-Fiction:

• 2014. ‘The Kindness of Strangers’, a creative non-fiction piece, published on Oh Comely Magazine’s website
• 2014. ‘Home: a Soundscape, a Story, a Sentence’, a creative non-fiction piece, published on The Scottish Book Trust’s website as part of the ‘Stories of Home’ series
• 2012-2013: was Feature's Editor for the Strathclyde Telegraph during which time I wrote a number of feature & arts articles including a review of Carol Shields novel 'Unless', a feature on the benefits of politeness on public transport & a number of reviews of Scottish Ballet productions
• 2011-2012: a series of eight columns (‘Something I’ve Noticed’) for the Strathclyde Telegraph’s Features Section

First published: 1 October 2014