Class of 2019
MA Creative Writing
Country: United Kingdom
IF YOU STUDIED YOUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME AT YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES, DID YOU GO ON TO POSTGRADAUTE STUDY?
No.
WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THIS PHOTO AS YOUR YSJ SNAPSHOT?
One of these photos was taken at my graduation in 2019 – it was such an awe-inspiring experience getting to graduate in York Minster!
The second is a professional headshot taken in advance of my novel coming out in April.
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND YSJ TO SOMEONE?
I found YSJ to be such a warm, welcoming and supportive environment to learn in. The campus is small, so you really feel like you get to know everyone on campus, which really contributes to that sense of belonging. My MA gave me the encouragement and knowledge I needed to pursue a career as a writer.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES?
I loved that YSJ was in the city centre and part of wider city life, as I like to feel part of a thriving community. It meant getting to experience York, as well as a postgraduate degree. I also loved the idea of the university being fairly small, and it didn’t hurt that the campus is beautiful! I only found great things about the uni wherever I looked, and there seemed to be plenty to get involved in beyond my course.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE COMPLETING YOUR STUDIES?
After completing my MA, I continued my career in freelance copywriting while also pursuing a career as a published writer. I have since been fortunate enough to have been shortlisted for and won a number of writing awards, including a Northern Writers Award and the Mairtín Crawford Award for Short Story. I signed with my agent, Marilia Savvides at the Plot Agency, in 2022, and gained funding from Creative Scotland in 2023 to complete my debut novel, a feminist horror fairytale called Hex House. I signed a two-book deal with Titan Books in May 2024, and Hex House is being published 28/04/26. During this time I’ve also read for literary prizes, co-edited a short story anthology, signed with a book-to-screen agent and had a little boy – so it’s been quite busy!
It was my tutors at YSJ who encouraged me to submit a short story I’d worked on during the course to the Bridport Prize in 2019, and I ended up winning a Highly Commended Award. This gave me a massive confidence boost and inspired me to go for other opportunities that eventually led to me getting my agent. If it wasn’t for my MA at YSJ, I wouldn’t have even be writing short stories in the first place, so I really do credit it for getting me started.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC COURSE?
When searching for a Creative Writing MA, I was looking for a course that offered strong links to, and opportunities to get involved with, the publishing industry. To me, finding routes into a career in writing was just as important as developing my craft. All the tutors are also published authors whose works I admire, so that was a big factor in my decision-making process too.
WHAT WERE THE BEST FEATURES OF YOUR COURSE?
I loved workshopping writing in a room full of like-minded people. I gained friends for life from the course, who I still speak to every day!
We were encouraged to read widely, and to write in mediums that may have been beyond our comfort zones. Both of these things helped me to figure out who I wanted to be as a writer.
We were offered invaluable opportunities to attend writing retreats and book events, as well as have one-to-ones with literary agents.
HOW DID STUDYING AT YSJ HELP IN YOUR CAREER SEARCH/SUCCESS/CURRENT ROLE?
The workshopping sessions during my MA prepared me to receive constructive criticism on my writing without taking this personally. This is an invaluable skill when it comes to being a published author, as agents and editors will constantly give feedback, and it can really help to know how to apply this without taking it to heart!
My time at YSJ also taught me other ways to get into the industry, that weren’t just emailing agents (which never worked for me!). Knowing about these alternative ways to attract agent interest is ultimately what led to me having the opportunity to be published.
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A CURRENT STUDENT, OR ONE ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
I would say be open to doing things differently, and taking on advice tutors give you. Being receptive to feedback might take you in completely unexpected directions that end up teaching you more than you could have imagined.
Also – it sounds cliche, but enjoy every minute. It really does go by so fast.
To read more about Amy’s debut novel and order a copy, click here.
Want to hear more from Amy? Read our blog post from 2021: Amy Stewart: From Copywriting to Writing the Circus – York St John Alumni