I’m an Australian living in British Columbia, Canada. I’m a freelance writer; I write literary analysis for study guides, as well as short stories and poems. I’m also a High School English and History teacher! When I’m not writing or teaching, I can be found walking/bike riding/skiing with my dog, Johnny Cash.
Like many writers, my journey began as a reader. I love the immersive experience of disappearing into the layers of a thought provoking poem or into the world of a book. As a teacher, I urge my teenage students to try writing in a range of forms, including creative short stories and poems. After years of hearing myself telling students to “just give it a try!” I thought I’d better take my own advice!
I haven’t specialized in a particular genre yet; I am inspired and captivated by so many different types of stories! I am trying to push myself to write in a lot of different genres, including horror, sci-fi, historical fiction, drama, and crime.
I write short stories and poems (check out my poetry on instagram! @poemsbylu) I aspire to write a novel; I’m always thinking of ideas which could be developed into longer projects.
I start by combining unexpected images or ideas. For instance, in Beneath the Ice, I created a horrifying ghost who yearned for romantic connection. In Suicide Protocol, I placed a slow and trusting character in a terrifying and doomed scenario. I find the combination of these unexpected elements intriguing, and it triggers a story world around that original concept.
It is so satisfying when you have an image or a scene in mind, and you find the words to conjure it in the mind of someone else.
Don’t sit on your laurels waiting for that incredible idea, just write! Keep yourself accountable and inspired by entering writing competitions and enrolling in creative courses. Tell people that you’re writing and become brave enough to show your writing to your friends and family.
I hold the idea in my mind, but in a loose and meditative way, for instance while I’m walking the dog. Ideas grow more authentically when you let them develop without pressure.
Storiaverse recognizes that there are communities of writers creating engaging content which isn’t widely accessed, as the novel is the dominant format of delivering the written word to consumers. Stories don’t have to be long to be worthwhile, in fact, short stories are so wonderful and engaging because they expediently create characters and meaningful action in so few words! Storia has found a way to bring this content to people in an exciting and original way.
My latest story, The Witness, tells the true story of eleven-year-old Terry Jo Dupperrault, who survived four days at sea after her family was brutally murdered. I was fascinated with this incredible survival story, as well as by the aftermath of her rescue in terms of revealing this shocking crime (I won’t give away the details!)
Characters and scenes can be totally brought to life. It’s taking the best parts of being a viewer and a reader. It was unbelievable and spellbinding to see my adored characters rendered so perfectly for the first time! Storiaverse has done an amazing job of selecting animators who find the essence of characters and scenes and represent them perfectly - it feels so much more immersive than just reading.
Storytelling provides a lens through which we can consider our world. Writing can be a gentle and unobtrusive - although powerful - way of challenging readers’ assumptions by creating characters with diverse identities and experiences.