Questions

How is studying at Birmingham developing your creative practice?

Studying at the University of Birmingham has given me a chance to really spread my wings and experiment with forms of writing that would not have otherwise been on my mind. I’m also delving into different genres such as literary fairy tales, ekphrastic poetry, hybrid writing, etc. This course has given me a richer understanding of writing as a creative endeavor and I’ve found new ways to tell the stories I feel are often overlooked. I’m also grateful for all my professors here, who are not only super nice, but also gracious with their time. I enjoy discussing my ideas and getting useful advice and recommendations from them even outside of class. Also, studying at Birmingham means that I can engage with the city’s wider literary community through either local poetry and speakeasy nights or literary events at the Midlands Arts Centre or The Exchange. This way, I’ve met a lot of writers from across the world and from all walks of life, as well as industry professionals from London or the West Midlands. Plus, I got to volunteer at the Birmingham Literature Festival, which was a great experience.

Do you have a favourite module?

So far my favourite module has been Intertextuality. I’ve always been an intertextual writer, but I didn’t realise it until I started studying here. Going week to week and learning about all the different ways a writer can riff, remix, retell, or recreate already existing art is a wonderful experience. Not only does it give you a solid foundation on which you can build interesting new stories, but you can also lend your unique voice and add new dimensions to existing media. We also had guest lectures from published authors who gave us insight into how one can create a piece of intertextual writing by citing their own works as examples. Learning this module has given me a sharper understanding of my goals as a writer and a wider variety of sources from which to draw inspiration.

What's your career goal and how is Birmingham helping you reach this?

My primary career goal is to be a published author. I chose Birmingham because it is at the heart of the West Midlands publishing industry. Also, my course has given me the necessary exposure to published authors, literary agents, editors, and other professionals working in different parts of the publishing industry. This has helped me get a better understanding of how the industry works in the UK and what I need to do to be a part of it.

What do you think is unique about the University of Birmingham?

The unique thing about studying Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham is that, unlike a lot of other universities that offer this particular course, here there are fewer restrictions on what you can or cannot do. The flexible structure of the course combined with the expansive library means that you can choose what you want to study and write. Also, unlike other universities, my programme is not in the Literature department but combined with the Film department, which offers me more opportunities to collaborate in different mediums. On a macro level, I love the university’s dedication to diversity, both in terms of people and education. I regularly meet diverse people who could be studying anything from Business Analytics to Egyptology, and that’s just wonderful.