THE WRITERS BUREAU
STUDENT STORIES

“As a child I read a lot and engaged my active imagination, writing plays and stories as fast as they came in. Then I got older and put it all behind me.

“After graduating from the university in 2004, I had no desire to use my degree, nor engage in any regular nine-five job. I decided to face what I believed I always had in me – writing. I entered a couple of writing competitions but never won any. Still not discouraged, I read up about writing on some websites and teach yourself books, but I still felt I wasn’t getting anywhere. It began to look like I didn’t know what to do with my life.

“In 2006, while surfing the internet, I came across The Writers Bureau. I did find other websites offering tutoring in writing, but something about The Writers Bureau just felt right. A few months later, I enrolled.

“A few assignments into the course, I was confident I was born to write, even though I had only one reader’s letter and an opinion article published in the newspapers – with no payment – I believed it could only get better.

“A year after I enrolled, and five assignments later, I wrote a comic article on life between newlyweds which was published in the reader’s column of True Love West Africa Magazine – a women’s lifestyle magazine, written in my country, but printed in South Africa. I won the prize of £26. I was greatly encouraged by this and started sending ideas to the editor. She was impressed with the format and manner in which I went about presenting my ideas, saying she hardly saw such professionalism – thanks to The Writers Bureau again!

“I was now a freelance writer, but after sending in three articles (Watching What Kids Watch, Hit and Miss and Virginal Monologues) – two were course assignments – the editor made me the job offer of being the staff writer for the magazine! This was very big for me, I almost couldn’t believe it. I started off writing six interview columns. It was a bit challenging for me, because I had never conducted major interviews before. But continuously reading the handbook on conducting interviews, as well as being in the field, helped me improve and a couple of months later, I was writing all 14 interview columns in the magazine. Not to mention a gross salary of £700 per month. As the staff writer, I also get promotional copies of books from authors and invitations to movie screenings and above all get to meet so many interesting people in my interviews.

“Now, lots of people know me as a writer, and based on that, a movie director approached me to come on board the editorial team for her website, where she’d like me to write an interview every week. I also write and edit scripts for a radio show. The fee is a mere token but I’m enjoying the experience. The greatest satisfaction comes from being able to make a difference in people’s lives through my work.

“With a full time job as a new mom and staff writer I’ve been stuck on my sixth assignment. Nevertheless, apart from successfully completing the course, I’d like to delve into screenwriting and, of course, write all those stories that I dream about!”

Syreeta Akinyede, Nigeria.