I've completed MA Creative Writing (Online) at AUB after my career as a magazine journalist, web content writer and editor. I have enjoyed immersing myself in the creative modules of the course, pouring all the words I've ever written for work into one giant melting pot to see what's bubbled up.

Having attempted flash and short fiction in the past, I have stayed with the format while taking the MA, presenting a collection sample for my final assignment. These short stories are inspired by travel, friends, family and adventure; I loves the tiny glimpses this genre gives into much bigger worlds.

Blackbird, the sample short story in this presentation, appears in the collection. The other samples featured here are a section of a poem from the Advanced Poetry module and a snippet of notebook scrawls from the Writing in the Anthropocene module.

Shortlisted for the Bath Short Story Award in 2025, I hope to bag myself a spot on more shortlists, learn Spanish and finally crack rollerskating.

When not editing and proofreading for work, to complete my short story collection. Write another. Write a novel. Write a recipe book. Write more poetry. Just write.

As MA Creative Writing (Online) students we've collaborated on forums and for some projects, like the Publishing unit's Tendrils anthology, produced by us over one busy module. We continue to collaborate via groups that have sprung up as a result of the MA – friends and fellow readers for life.