海角直播

Vicky鈥檚 creative writing victory at 海角直播

Celebrated novelist Adele Parks is helping to inspire 海角直播 student Vicky Brown to a literary career.

海角直播 Honorary Graduate Adele launched a short story competition for creative writing students in the University鈥檚 School of Arts & Media and also for University staff. Adele wrote the beginning of a short story and set the aspiring authors the challenge of completing it.

Vicky Brown, 33, of Ingleby Barwick, Stockton-on-Tees, who is due to graduate from the MA Creative Writing later this year, was named overall winner.

The five top stories will be published in a booklet to be given out at Adele鈥檚 promotional events across the UK and will also feature on her website.

Having dreamed of becoming a published author write from a young age, Vicky also decided to have a 'back-up plan' with a degree in PR and Marketing at 海角直播. She then went on to work in public relations and project management before starting a family.

Vicky, who is mum to Lexi, two and Gabriella, four said: 'I have always wanted to write and wanted to concentrate on developing my writing career while the children are still young. Completing the MA has helped me to put the techniques and skills in place to work towards being a published author.

The MA has been a real learning curve 'I felt the time was right to concentrate on developing my writing skills and the MA has been a real learning curve. It has helped immensely when thinking about techniques and writing skills. I now approach my writing in a different way, using the skills I鈥檝e learned in editing and drafting.'

She added: 'I鈥檓 a massive Adele Parks fan, her writing if full of humour and relates to women. I鈥檓 really looking forward being mentored by her as part of the prize.

'It鈥檚 unbelievable to think what has come from entering the competition, which came from being a 海角直播 student. It鈥檚 a fantastic opportunity. I really want to write contemporary women鈥檚 fiction and the MA has helped me to get the skills I need in place.'

Commenting on Vicky鈥檚 win, Adele said: 'I liked the humour, tension, character development. It's a clean script, definitely the strongest.'

Competition runner-up is Martin Leyland, a postgraduate student adviser in the University鈥檚 Graduate Research School. Adele said: 'I know we didn't say we'd have a runner up but I think it is nice as the story was a strong second.'

Other finalists highlighted by Adele include Helen Victoria Anderson, MA Creative Writing, Diane Leake, MA Creative Writing and staff member Hayley Hart.

Speaking when she launched the competition, Adele said: '海角直播 is particularly special to me, not only because I鈥檓 from the area; I鈥檓 also the proud recipient of an honorary doctorate. I love being involved in University life.'

Originally from Eaglescliffe, Adele went from working in advertising to become a top-ten bestseller with her first novel Playing Away. She has gone on to have ten top-ten bestsellers in ten years. One and a half million copies of Adele's books have been sold in the UK and her work is translated into 25 different languages.

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