MEET OUR WINNERS – Wendy Zhou Shiyuan

Q1: Tell us a little about yourself. What are you up to at the moment?

Recently, I’ve been reviewing what I learned last semester and trying to have some fun while preparing for an English exam. I am also planning a show for my musical theatre club.

Q2: Tell us a little about who your creative inspiration or mentor is and why?  This might be a favourite author or place to work.

There’s a TV show called ‘Stranger Things,’ which is my favourite show and probably my mentor. It is a show full of erratic and Baroque scenes that makes people creep. The plot and the storylines helped me to wake up my imagination and creativity.

Q3: Why do you write? Would you rather choose prose or poetry? Why?

I see writing as a way to express my feelings without being emotional. Poetry would be a better choice for me because I write lyrics sometimes, and I think they have the same kind of beauty.

Q4: What are you writing next? Might this story be the first of a collection?

I am not writing anything except my diary at the moment, but I hope to write a musical someday. And if I am going to have a collection, this story would be the first.

Q5: What are your aspirations as a writer?

Self-improvement is my biggest aspiration; it is also a big reason to keep writing.

Q6: Does the place you live or are from inspire you in your work or life, and if so, how?

I don’t think the place I live or am from inspired me, but the people around me. When people around me are all working hard, I am motivated too.

Q7: What would you like the reader to take away from your story?

Not everyone is trustworthy, even if they are your closest friend/family member.

Q8: Did you learn anything about yourself by writing your story?

I discovered that my creativity is better than I thought, and I could improve things if I used it more.

Q9: What are your 3 top tips for writing a short story?

1. Save the story every time you just finished writing.
2. Make a plot before writing the story.
3. When you have an excellent thought, write it down immediately.