South Coast Creative Writing Hub

Writer and Co-Founder for Literary Magazine

Annabelle runs the explosive literary magazine, Synaesthesia, which sees her working with artists and writers across the globe to produce a bi-annual publication. She has been shortlisted for the 2012 Cinnamon Press Short Story Prize and has published in Litro Magazine, pioneertown, CHEAP POP, Coal Magazine, Lime Hawk, wildness, amongst others.

She was nominated for ‘Best Small Fictions 2017’ for her story 'Bryce Canyon' in WhiskeyPaper, and most recently featured in Wigleaf's ‘Top 50’ with her flash fiction, 'Good girls don't use the F word', which featured in Matchbook.   She graduated from the University of Chichester in 2012 with a First Class B.A. in English and Creative Writing.

Writer and PhD Student

After graduating from the University of Chichester in 2012 with a B.A. in English and Creative Writing, I completed an MA in Creative Writing and an internship at Amnesty International. I then took a job at a boarding school in a remote part of Nepal, where I spent a year reading Nepali literature and writing poetry. I stayed in Nepal to carry out fieldwork for my PhD in contemporary Nepali poetry. During this time, I also wrote a column called ‘Rumours from the Hati Sar’ for the travel writing journal Coldnoon Travel Poetics, where I also published my short fiction, poetry and articles about Nepal.

If I can call myself a writer now, studying on the undergraduate course at Chichester certainly went a long way to getting me there. There was no more eating cereal on a patio in a Cheshire Cat onesie, hoping that inspiration might drop from the sky. From the first week on the course we had to write, write, write – I learned to get the untutored mess of ideas out of my head and into the room. I was encouraged enthusiastically but also had my work rigorously examined. I read poetry and short fiction I never would otherwise have attempted. I learned the lengthy process of drafting and re-drafting, sometimes starting over, or reverting to earlier drafts and then back again to edit later ones, always under the direction of tutors who gently questioned and helped me to find the focus.

Editor, Writer, Digital Marketing Manager and Magazine Co-Founder

Carlotta Eden is an editor and writer, and has been working in medical publishing for the last six years. She graduated from the University of Chichester in 2012 with a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. In 2013, she co-founded the online literary and arts magazine, Synaesthesia, with her best friend and fellow Chi graduate. The magazine encourages writers to write with their senses, and boasts more than 7,000 followers across social media.

Carlotta is also the Digital Marketing Manager for The Word Factory, a London-based short story organisation. Her own short stories have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and published in Wigleaf, Necessary Fiction, Matchbook and more, and she was a finalist in the 2018 Mythic Picnic Prize for Fiction. Find her on Twitter: @1chae.

Writer, Editor and Artist

David Frankel was born in Salford and spent his youth lurking around the westerly fringes of Manchester. For a long time, he supported a sculpture habit with a string of jobs including building opera sets, working in a bronze foundry and teaching art students. Writing was always there in the background, but a few years ago it took over. In 2014 he graduated with his M.A. in Creative Writing (with Distinction) from the University of Chichester.

His short stories have been published in anthologies and magazines including Unthology 8, Prole, Lightship Anthology and The London Magazine. He also writes non-fiction which, like his art work, explores the themes of landscape and memory. His creative non-fiction and reviews have been published in various journals and publications, both online and in print. Alongside his own work he edits work for other writers. He lives in Ramsgate where he is trying, unsuccessfully, to be a recluse.

Writer, Graphic Designer and Photographer

Donna Kirstein’s debut poetry collection, Borderlands (Cinnamon Press), was published in 2017. She first pitched the idea for the collection to Cinnamon Press in a special publishing initiative created for our Creative Writing students by the our staff team. In Donna’s words, "pitching was an incredible opportunity," but, like all the other competitors, she was given only ten minutes to convey the heart of her book to the Press’ director Jan Fortune and Communications Director Adam Craig.

"Initially, I was nervous," said Donna, "but I had convinced myself that all the other excellent writers would be more deserving, and so I walked into the room with less trepidation than I might have otherwise done. Afterwards I coached myself to not get too excited - when I got the call, I was taken aback and got a little emotional, I hadn’t realised quite how pleased I would feel. The publishers were very supportive, positive and patient throughout, and Adam’s feedback and edits were really useful. The first time I saw the cover and held the actual book in my hands it was an incredible feeling of accomplishment - now it feels like the hard part really begins, where I need to concentrate on carrying on with new work."

Donna was born in Poole, England but grew up in land-locked Zimbabwe where she fell in love with words and wide-open horizons. Currently she lives in Worthing where for the first time in her life she can watch the tides turn along the seashore. Donna has been writing since childhood and earned an MA in Creative Writing with Distinction from the University of Chichester. She is a poet and short story writer. She spends her days employed as a graphic designer and photographer. Her stories have appeared in anthologies published by Weaver Press in Zimbabwe.

Community Inclusion Worker and Writer

I’ve been a mature student at the University of Chichester for the last three years, studying English and Creative Writing. I’ll graduate in the autumn. Since completing the course I've been awarded places on three leading short writing courses, and I have just started work as a Community Inclusion Worker with the development organisation, Two Saints.

I'll be working with vulnerable people who have and are experiencing different levels of homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse and social exclusion. My job will be to help their rehabilitation process by developing their confidence and reintegrating them into a functioning society. I will be developing their skills and offering educational opportunities through the the creative arts, including Creative Writing, my own subject.

I feel it's important to stress how much the Creative Writing team encouraged me to make positive use of my feelings and experiences in many forms of Creative Writing. In my final year, drawing upon life experience and also, a growing understanding of the art of fiction and poetry, I achieved First Class grades for my Creative Writing. This is beyond what I could have imagined before arriving at Chichester. Not only did the Creative Writing tutors encourage me, they supported me beyond expectation. This is something which goes beyond teaching. It’s an approach that has inspired me to help others build their own worlds of which they can be proud.

Arts Council England Relationship Manager and Writer

I joined Arts Council England in 2015 as the Relationship Manager for Creative Media in the South East, having originally trained and worked as an actor, specialising in stage combat. Prior to this job, I led on the Recreate Project for Eastleigh Borough Council, supporting UK and French artists to regenerate deprived areas through artist hubs. I know how life-changing Arts Council England’s funding can be, and I enjoy the opportunities my work provides to engage with artists from all disciplines and stages of their careers.

I genuinely enjoy helping people realise their projects, and I’ve supported a huge variety of work, from a high profile art and technology talent development scheme, to helping individual artists produce podcasts, digital art and virtual reality work. I graduated with an MA in Creative Writing (with Merit) from the University of Chichester in 2011. Outside of work I write, and have had work published in Firewords Quarterly.

Agent's Assistant

Rachel joined Janklow & Nesbit at the beginning of 2016 after graduating with a 1st in English & Creative Writing from the University of Chichester, where she was also the President of the Creative Writing Society. She is responsible for the day to day running of the office, managing social media presence, and assisting the literary agents with submissions, scheduling, and client communication.

Rachel enjoys reading fantasy and young adult books with diverse casts, and some of her favourite authors are Zoe Marriott, Garth Nix, Genevieve Cogman, Terry Pratchett, April Daniels and Shira Glassman.

Editor and Ghostwriter

Victoria Heath trained originally as a copywriter, writing for some of the world’s best-known brands, before going on to gain a Masters degree in Creative Writing, with distinction. Since then she has combined her professional skills to offer editorial services and ghostwriting for non-fiction, memoir and fiction. She is also the Editor for the University of Chichester’s online short story journal, THRESHOLDS.

Victoria works with people all over the world, but lives in an idyllic corner of Scotland.

https://www.twenty-sixletters.com/

College Course Managers for Creative Writing and GCSE English

I knew straight away that I had made the right decision for me in taking the BA (Hons) English degree at the University of Chichester. It was not long into the course when I knew I wanted to continue studying, and so I was extremely happy to have the opportunity to continue with the wonderful teaching staff on the Masters in Creative Writing. The Creative Writing courses opened my eyes to creative imagination, literary analysis, use of language for effect and literary history. It was such a rich course and rewarding experience, one that I have tried to inspire in my own students ever since. The teaching on these modules is second to none and inspired me not only to push myself, but also to strive towards a career in education, which I have enjoyed ever since graduating.

After years in adult education teaching English and Creative Writing, I qualified with a PGCE and moved into further education at Chichester College, teaching GCSE English, A Levels and creative writing on a Foundation Degree for Bath University. I then achieved my dream job! I have been Course Manager for A Level Creative Writing at Havant and South Downs College for the past four years. I am about to graduate with a Masters in Education from Chichester University and I am currently Course Manager for the largest course at HSDC: GCSE English.

None of these would have been possible without the inspiring teaching, the enthuasism and professionalism of the teaching, which led me down my path to teaching English. These courses have not been easy, but I have been so thankful for the support of the teaching staff who are subject specialists, professional teachers and empathetic people who understand the pressures that sometimes arise. Thank you to all the staff at the University of Chichester!

Poet, PhD Student and Associate Lecturer

Emma-Jane Hughes was brought up between the sublime of a barge on the River Thames and the ridiculous of an all-girls boarding school. She spent her childhood tucked in the cabins of a variety of small boats, reading, impervious to the scenery. Emma currently lives in Chichester with her husband and children. She teaches English and Creative Writing at the University of Chichester, where she is working on her PhD in Contemporary Poetry.

She first pitched the idea for her debut poetry collection, The Mechanics of Love, to Cinnamon Press in a special publishing initiative created for our Creative Writing students by the our staff team. "The opportunity to pitch to Cinnamon Press was equal parts daunting and electrifying. Somehow, above the thundering of my heart, Jan and Adam were able to hear a concise explanation of the inspiration and central ideas behind the poetry collection.”

Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing Karen Stevens adds that she was delighted to work with Cinnamon Press, which has been the fastest-growing small press for several years. "Cinnamon’s list fills fast," notes Karen, "publishing slots are rare, and eagerly sought after - so we were thrilled to launch this joint venture, which proved a great experience for all our talented writers who entered."

Attorney's Assistant

I’m about to graduate from Chichester with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Creative Writing and English. During my final year of university I worked as a Children’s Safeguarding Administrator for West Sussex County Council. This required attending conferences about how to keep vulnerable children safe. I also wrote reports on the meeting and handled a range of other administrative tasks. I was able to get this job because of my good written communication which was shown by my study of English at degree level.

More recently, I have secured a position in Patent Formalities at a company called Potter Clarkson in Nottingham. This company are a group of patent & trademark attorneys who protect their clients’ intellectual property. I will be working alongside attorneys to ease their workload. My plan is to attend night school in the future to get qualifications in law to become a trademark attorney. I was considered for this role, above all, because of my good degree in English, as it is a subject relevant to law.

Not only has my study of English helped me succeed in securing jobs, it has also equipped me with skills and knowledge that I wouldn’t have learned otherwise. The element of Creative Writing has enabled me to discover all aspects of writing, whether it be formal or informal, and how to use grammar correctly to an advanced level.

Alongside all of the practical benefits, my study of Creative Writing & English at the University of Chichester was so fun, engaging, positively challenging, and an unforgettable three years with supportive tutors.

Writer, Lyricist and Co-Founder of Pop Group

A few years back, Northern Irish writer, musician and adopted Brightonian Brian Bell sat down to write a collection of short stories, having recently published Brighton set pulp fiction novel Die Hard Mod under the pen-name Charlie McQuaker. One of the new stories, The Unsung Classic, involved an ill-fated band from the early 90’s called The Raving Beauties whose music was heavily influenced by The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and Moby Grape.

Upon completing the story, Brian came up with the idea of making an EP of what the imaginary combo might sound like and releasing it as a ‘benign hoax’, purporting to be the unreleased recordings of a long-forgotten 60s retro band. He managed to convince acclaimed Scottish singer/songwriter Gordon Grahame (Lucky Jim / Lost Soul Band) to collaborate on the project.

The resulting recordings were met with an enthusiastic response from Brighton-based label At The Helm Records, who were so enamoured with the four songs that they promised to release an album if the duo could muster enough tunes. As the album began to take shape, it became evident that, by transcending their influences and taking on a life of their own, The Raving Beauties had outgrown their modest fictional beginnings and emerged as purveyors of timeless, euphoric pop in their own right.

Writer

Isabel’s writing career was first launched when she won the Mail on Sunday Novel Competition in 2008, with judges Fay Weldon, Michael Ridpath and the late Sir John Mortimer describing her work as ‘magnificent.’ The completed novel, Glasshopper (Myriad Editions), went on to be named among the Best Books of 2009 by both the Observer and the London Evening Standard. Her latest novel, Beautiful Liars, is out with Trapeze (Orion Publishing) in 2018. She is currently a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at the University of Chichester, where she previously studied as a mature student, gaining a First Class BA in English followed by a Masters in Creative Writing with Distinction.

Isabel grew up on the south coast and now lives in West Sussex with her carpenter husband, their two children and their dogs Charlie and Leonard. Together with Leonard the dachshund, she is a proud volunteer for the Pets as Therapy Read2Dogs scheme, an initiative aimed at nurturing confidence in young readers and promoting a lifelong love of books. Isabel is a member of the Society of Authors. She is represented by Kate Shaw of the Viney Shaw Agency, London.

Writer and Senior Marketing Officer

Julie Singleton has a Masters degree in Creative in Writing (Distinction) from the University of Chichester. She has published a monograph, The History of Monks House in Rodmell, for the Bloomsbury Heritage Series. Her short fiction and journalism has appeared in various publications and online.

Environmental Artist

Rebecca Ford and her husband Mark Ford created Two Circles Design in 2004, and work in the medium of found and grown natural materials within the South Down’s National Park, Sussex, making monumental woven environments for both public and private sectors. Rebecca graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing from the University of Chichester, and draws “daily” upon the creative thinking, writing, and communication skills she honed during her degree. These skills come into play in her writing of funding bids, project proposals and pitches, in her close dialogue with clients about their project visions, and in her public presentations about the art of Two Circles Design nationally and internationally – from the International Land Art Meeting in Pordenone, Italy to the Land Art Park, Kozlowka, Poland to the renowned Farley House Farm in East Sussex to Chichester Cathedral.

Rebecca grew up near Midhurst, lying in puddles and climbing trees, and has a strong interest in the archaeology, geography and mystery of the natural world. The work of Two Circles Design draws on ancient Sussex traditions and techniques of willow craft and woodland management. As international environmental artists, Rebecca and Mark’s installations and sculptures encompass a wide range of traditional skills and practices.