At the end of May, our College had the privilege of hosting accomplished writer Lauren E Daniels, who spent two enriching days working with our students across various year levels (Year 7 – 12)  as our inaugural ‘Writer in Residence’. Lauren shared her insights into the writing process – from idea generation and character development to the challenges and rewards of finding your voice and being published. Lauren brings a wealth of experience as an author, editor, and publishing professional, which she generously shared with our students throughout her visit.

Our students were encouraged to explore their creative voices during the engaging workshops and small group mentoring sessions, where they experimented with story ideas, refined their writing skills, and discovered new ways to bring their ideas to life. Lauren’s personal stories, practical writing tips, and heartfelt encouragement resonated deeply, making a lasting impression on our aspiring writers.

Here’s what some of our students had to say about the experience:

I loved how Lauren E. Daniels gave feedback on the creative written pieces – they are all going to be different and unique. Lauren approached our stories with an open mind to view our creative perspective. She inspired all of us, inspired me, to be that little bit different, sharing strength and guidance as we portray ourselves in these creative pieces. Seeing this inspiration radiate to everyone in the room brought me joy and the thought that creativity is always going to be out there. This was a marvellous experience, highlighting the importance of being creative, where Lauren inspired the courage for us to share our stories – the quirks, the contrast, presented through our writing.  Amelia – Year 10

We all thought it was very fun meeting a real-life author and having conversations about books and how to improve our stories. Lauren was encouraging and inspired us to keep on writing!  One piece of great advice I will remember to apply is to introduce the antagonist (villain) early in our stories.  Sarannah, Penny & Marley – Year 8

The individual mentoring was greatly beneficial to me, as I felt extremely immersed in the smaller group setting, where I got to talk one-on-one with Lauren. I appreciated her feedback on my writing, and I also got to see her work with another student writer, shaping the writing process to see what stays and what goes when you are editing. Constructive and positive feedback helped me talk more about what I was trying to illustrate – it was great to have feedback about my work, especially a creative piece.  Caitlin – Year 12

This opportunity to learn firsthand from a published writer highlighted the power of words to shape both poetry and storytelling, and it inspired our students to approach their own writing with confidence, courage, and creativity. We are grateful for the time, expertise, and enthusiasm Lauren brought to our learning community, and we look forward to ongoing opportunities to connect with her.  We’re also excited to see our students’ writing continue to grow and develop as a result of this inspiring experience.

Beryl Morris, Secondary Teacher Librarian