While it may sound like a pipedream, the Applecross Senior High School student recently earnt the judge’s praise in a national fiction and non-fiction writing competition.
Alison’s 1500 word story Smile took out the Judge’s Encouragement Award for Youth aged 12-18 years in the 2014 Trudy Graham-Julie Lewis Literary Award for Prose.
The judge, highly regarded director, writer and dramaturg John Senczuk, said the story was ‘handled eloquently for someone of her years’.
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READ NOWAlison wrote the story as part of her assessment for Year 11 English Literature and said it was a reflection on her current life, and the contrasting nature between her home and school life.
A creative writer since childhood, Alison said she was trying to spend more time on the pursuit, and used science fiction and news of scientific advancements as inspiration.
‘I like asking ‘what if’,’ she said. ‘I like the process of words and how they create emotion in people.’
She said she hoped to embark on a double degree in business studies and creative writing at university after Year 12.
The competition was conducted in WA by the Peter Cowan Writers’ Centre and administration officer Alex Mackay, present on the Gala Day when Alison read out her story, said it was moving and poignant.
For more information about writing courses, workshops or writing groups, contact the Peter Cowan Writers’ Centre Inc. via email at cowan05@bigpond.com or call 9301 2282.