Alumni profile
Course studied: MA Writing for Young People
Graduating year: 2017
Nizrana finished the MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University in September 2017.
The manuscript she wrote on the course was published in 2020 by Nosy Crow as The Girl Who Stole an Elephant, becoming Waterstone's Children's Book of the Month and the biggest selling MG debut of the year.
She has four novels out so far, with a fifth due in 2025.
Nizrana also has a BSc (Hons) in Computing and Information Systems.
Why did you choose the course you studied at Bath Spa?
I researched lots of writing courses, and for me Bath Spa provided the most practical and industry-oriented MA of all. All the modules sounded not just interesting, but directly beneficial to a career in writing.
What were the highlights of your time here?
Definitely the friendships I made. All the students were fully committed to writing, so I was surrounded by a warm and inspirational group of people in all my classes.
How did the course support your steps into industry?
I don't have a writing background, so every module provided me with something useful to take away. The context modules gave me the practical know-how to develop and sustain a career in children's writing, and the regular workshops were invaluable in showing me how to mould my stories into the best I could make them.
"The best thing about the course..."
Was the people, both students and tutors.
"I am most proud of..."
How I have grown as a writer.
"My advice for current students..."
Is to make the most of your time on the MA. It flies by!
"I recommend Bath Spa because..."
I honestly wouldn't have got an agent or book deal when I did if it wasn't for the MA.