A Leap into the Literary World
An interview conducted by Nazeeha (Year 9)
Despite having a rather dimmed spotlight on it these days, writing has always been one of the things that’s distinguished human kind from other creatures. Ever since humans developed the ability to write, they have used this talent to store information, share stories and pass down other’s ideas.
However, throughout our history, some were able to use this skill to extraordinary levels like composing stories and fables that could open up a door to the vast wilderness of human mind. Or poems and songs that could manipulate the heart and mind of its readers or make the pointless seem pivotal.
Today, I sat down with Isabella, one of the most talented writers here at MacKillop, to learn more about this extraordinary world of writing.
Is there any reason why I specifically chose her?
Isabella is a young story-writing aficionado who’s already received a plethora of recognition for her works from many and I, for one, couldn’t agree on anyone else more best suited for this interview.
Isabella made her big debuts after she came first enrolled in the cross campus elective writing course Writer’s Collective last year. Impassioned and full of hope, she applied for a grant that was on offer by the Central Coast Bouddi Foundation, where among numerous exceptional participants, she was selected for the 2024 writing award.
Here’s what the judges at the scholarship competition said about her:
“We were impressed by the effort you’ve already put into writing - and your stamina in tackling Dostoevsky! We felt that the commitment you’ve already shown will stand you in good stead in the future….”
Alright, enough of the introduction, let’s get into the Q&A! We hope that Isabella’s story helps to inspire other writers out there to pursue their passion and to believe in themselves.
Nazeeha:
Could you please share with us what/who inspired you in your life to go into writing?
Isabella:
I think that storytelling of all forms whether it be through, literature, music, art, cinema, theatre or dance have always made me want to tell stories. Aspects of theatre, music, art and history have influenced what I write about pretty strongly.
Nazeeha:
I heard that good writers are classic readers. Isabella, do you enjoy reading?
Isabella:
Yes! I have always enjoyed reading a wide variety of books and I think that everything I've read has inspired me in some way. My personal favourites which I think have had a big impact on my writing are the brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, and all the children's books I read growing up.
Nazeeha:
Where do you find your inspiration from?
Isabella:
I find that music and art is helpful when it comes to coming up with new ideas, as well as learning about folktales, legends and myths from a variety of different cultures and beliefs and certainly reading just as I mentioned too.
Nazeeha:
So… Why writing ?
Isabella:
Writing has been something I have held an interest in for a long time, and I can't really remember a certain thing that made me want to write.
Nazeeha:
Do you plan to do something with your talent in the future?
Isabella:
I would love to be able to publish a novel or a collection of short stories, and I also have an interest in journalism. I have many interests so I'm not super sure what I will end up doing, but I know that writing is something I'm very grateful for and will hopefully end up pursuing.
Nazeeha:
I’ve seen great writers often stick to specific genres in their writing. Take Arthur Conan Doyle for example, he never even thought of writing anything other than detective stories. Isabella, what about you?
Isabella:
Well, I read pretty much any genre, but I mainly like to write historical fiction and horror. I feel that historical fiction expresses that people have always been people, just in different ways, and horror allows you to present things symbolically, using more vivid, dramatic imagery, which can be a lot more entertaining to write.
Nazeeha:
What advice do you have for the aspiring writers of today and the ones out there that want to start writing ?
Isabella:
I'm still learning and aspiring myself, but I would say to anybody who wants to get more into writing to find something you are passionate about and start writing from there. Writing is different to other art-forms as you don't really need to have any money or lessons to start, so you don't have much holding you back. You should also find your own unique style. You can learn a lot from looking at other writer's styles, but I think to express yourself and your ideas authentically you should figure out how you write.
While sadly, writing isn’t considered by many to be a skill worthy of honing in today’s world of tech and AI, Isabella comes into this as a beacon of hope for all of us. Her incredible talent and interest in writing are nothing short of inspiring for all the aspiring souls out there. Who knows? Maybe there’s still hope after all!
To read some of Isabella’s extraordinary pieces, simply type Isabella into the search bar!