Meet Debra: Debra recently graduated with a Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) from Deakin.
Why did you choose your particular course at Deakin?
Debra: After a long legal career I decided to explore my passion for creative writing. I chose to study at Deakin because it offers a number of different streams of literature and it is possible to choose subjects in cross-disciplines. I started with the Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing and enjoyed my studies so much I decided to continue my studies by undertaking the Master of Arts (Writing and Literature).
Can you tell us about your experiences in your course.
Debra: My tutors were very experienced and offered practical insights into the competitive world of writing and publishing. The staff tutorials are recorded so I could catch-up if I missed a real-time tutorial. While writing my final minor thesis I needed greater Library access for my research and the Library staff offered fantastic support. My studies introduced me to literature from a wide variety of genres and authors both well-established and contemporary.
Apart from studying my areas of creative interest (short stories and personal essays), I also studied subjects which gave me practical skills (such as editing and research methods). I thought these practical subjects might be less interesting but the opposite is true. They helped me gain valuable skills which have enhanced my skills as a writer and as a researcher. This has lifted my confidence for my future writing career.