The Creative Writing Representative role has unexpectedly become available and we have two new candidates, Petra Buchner and Justin McReynolds whose details can be found below. Voting will take place on the Creative Writing discussion forum and will run from 1st August to close of day on the 10th August. Please vote for your fellow students here.
Petra Buchner
Background Bio:
I was always fond of books as this love was “inherited” by my mother who is a real bookworm to date. I was always fascinated by the magic of what stories can evoke in human-beings. With 17 years I wrote my first novel, then still in the German language. Others followed in English over the years. Although I gained a lot of experience with book writing, print and TV media, as I am also a trained media manager, nonetheless I never had the feeling of being a proper writer. It always bothered me how literary agents thought about you if you haven’t studied literature. I thought, if I want to make it as a real writer, I need to go one step further and decided to study Creative Writing. As I am a very ambitious woman, right before I started my study at OCA, I bought some books about Creative Writing. It enhanced my wish to study Creative Writing as I realized that I still need to learn a lot more how to write books. And it was not only the techniques I wanted to learn. The idea to also learn Creative Writing as art fascinated me. I have started in May 2016 my Creative Writing study and now have just finished my first-course Writing Skills. Presently, I am in the middle of my preparations for my first assignment what is exciting as this is the first time I will be sending material to an art college and university and see how much I developed during my study. It’s a very important moment for every artist. How much have you grown with your art? Or have you grown at all?
After having finished my assignment, I would like to take the course Scriptwriting, as movies simply spellbound me and how to create a story for movies. To have the chance learning this, it’s a fantastic chance for every Creative Writing student. I have realized not to study only for the sake of Writing but also to feel blessed to use my creativity in the best possible way.
I was born in August 1978 and work as a translator beside my study. I live in South Bavaria in the beautiful Bad Tölz with my soon-to-be husband. Presently, I am in the middle of finishing a novel. And thanks to OCAs course Writing Skills it now also works with the literary agents in London. As the saying goes, things will fall into place.
Election statement:
There are different important aspects of being aware of to be a rep for Creative Writing. One of the most important ones is to get as much feedback as possible from the students to make constant improvements in the field of Creative Writing. Only with knowing what students think about different aspects of this particular field of study, to know their concerns or anxieties or wishes in regards to the field of study or the study in general, improvements can be guaranteed and thus the enjoyment of the study. With me as a rep, I would like to be seen as a kind of mediator who tries to improve the communication between art college and student.
Justin McReynolds
Background bio
Creative Writing and Writing in general has always been a part of me. From a young age I was obsessed with pens, paper and typewriters and the written word. This propelled me to study English Literature up to A-Level and then I decided to look at other aspects of Language by pursuing a Marketing Degree and looking at how language can be targeted. After spending a few years Writing Articles for Magazines and Speeches for Award Shows, I changed direction again and moved towards Language Teaching. I Gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. I have since been working as an Academic Manager in a large school on the South Coast of England. I started my degree with the OCA in late 2016 and I can honestly say it is the best decision I have ever made.
The fine detail: I was born and raised in Belfast and for the past four years I have been living and working in Poole, Dorset. I am currently in the process of relocating to France to take up a Primary School Teaching Position. I’m 28 years old and I live with my Partner and our cat, Curious. Asides from Studying with the OCA my interests include, Sketching, Art, Languages and Culture.
Election statement The OCA is a fantastic place to study and what makes it so special are the many ways in students interact with each other and their tutors. Through the evolution of Social Media students are now able to instantly ask for advice, share ideas and resources and correspond with effective efficiency. I believe that by becoming a Student Representative the ideas expressed in forums can be shared with the University Staff to maximise Student progression, satisfaction and retention.
My background as an Academic Manager have given me insight into what Students want, and as a Student myself, I am well equipped to convey the expectations and needs of students to others. Feelings of loneliness, isolation in their studies and problems with understanding complicated guidelines for assignment submission and other factors are all areas that affect our students.
It is my belief that by working together, sharing ideas, communicating difficulties and new policies clearly, these problems can be resolved and pave the way for a new future for the OCA and the Relationships they maintain with their Students.
I hope I can help.
