1) What was the most surprising thing about being the Voiceworks Admin intern?

How many people I’d meet! I’m not always able to attend events, but just being within the Wheeler Centre once a week gave me the opportunity to meet people I’d only ever seen online. Editors, writers, poets, artists. I met people through attending EdComm meetings, people would come by the Express Media desks — even just walking around!

2) What’s your favourite thing about working in the Wheeler Centre and Express Media office?

Prior to the internship, I’d only just started publishing my writing and joining writing spaces, and I still felt a bit scared of networking and showing my work. But through the people I’ve met, the conversations I’ve had, and the Voiceworks issues I’ve assisted with, I’ve felt more comfortable and more part of the community. And the building is such a quiet and cosy space like a sort of Hobbit hole but three floors up and sometimes birds fly in. 

3) What are some of the things you learnt in your time being on the Voiceworks team?

To be more organised. There’s organisation, but then there’s being consistently meticulous. There have been times when I’ve missed a piece of information, or misplaced an email, and while all of these instances were solved with no problem, I still felt responsible for it. In addition to my own organisation, I also learned how to keep an eye out for ways I could help streamline the publishing process more. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” but also if it can be made easier, definitely do!

4) What were some of your highlights of the experience?

The EdComm Selection Nights! For ‘Pluto’, I observed the Fiction team, and then for ‘Hum’, I was able to observe all teams: Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry. Editing has been the one aspect of my writing that I want to improve upon, so it was super inspiring to see the EdComm at work. They’re all fantastic humans.

5) What kind of writers and writing are you most drawn to and why?

I’m drawn to experimental writers (for both prose and poetry). I’d had a pretty ‘traditional’ education when it comes to short stories and writing, so it’s been eye-opening to read the works of writers like Jamie Marina Lau and Maria Tumarkin. And every single issue of Voiceworks has phenomenal writers doing things with words and form that blow my mind. I love having new ways of reading, and new ways of being told stories. 

6) What do you hope to do after this Voiceworks internship?

I now understand the industry a little more and I want to continue helping other writers and creators feel that it is a space that they are already a part of. I’ve finished my arts undergrad, and will continue with my law studies. 2020 will also be the year of my run as President of the Monash Creative Writing Club, so I hope to encourage more people to continue writing and to celebrate their work. I’ll also continue my own writing.

7) What would the dream theme of your own Voiceworks issue be? And What might you write for it?

Maybe something relating to sensations and feeling. Kind of like when you stub your toe or when you feel love for someone and both are like badum-badum-badum and there’s no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ about it, it’s just feelings. Like a bassline for your life! Or an earthquake! Putting your hand on the speaker, nails on a chalkboard, smooth wheels on smooth ground, consistent coughing in an exam room, prickly leaves. I’d probably try to write a nonfic piece about it, and a fiction piece as I’d love to try my hand on pieces based on sensation.