18-year-old Lower Hutt author, Denika Mead, is investing in her creative writing skills at Whitireia Community Polytechnic ahead of her fifth book release.
Having sold over 2000 copies across her four published books to date, Denika is no stranger to the fantasy writers’ community.
“Anything can happen in fantasy – there’s no rules. There’s so much power in being able to bring a story and its characters to life without any barriers.”
The flexible programme structure at Whitireia was the key enabler for Denika to upskill as she works on the final novel in her adventure fantasy series, ‘Royal Orchid’. She maintains a structured writing routine, designating at least a few hours between 7am and midday to her craft.
Whitireia student, Denika Mead, with Royal Orchid series
“I was looking for a course that I could fit around my existing commitments. I heard great things about the Diploma in Writing for Creative Industries at Whitireia and I’ve learnt so much already,” says Denika.
Whitireia creative writing tutor Anna Taylor is excited to have Denika in the programme and to see her learnings materialise in her upcoming novels.
“Denika is a wonderful member of the diploma's writing community. She offers generous and insightful feedback to her peers and is passionate about the process of developing her writing craft. We're lucky to have her.”
A writing mentor herself, Denika is no stranger to the classroom. In her spare time, the young novelist runs classes for budding writers teaching plotting, writing techniques and character development exercises.
“Being amongst other young writers and helping them develop their work is really inspirational. A big part of the reason I wanted to study at Whitireia was to engage with other writers and get feedback on my work.”
Join the vibrant writing community at Whitireia
Study creative writing and develop your strengths, critical eye, and knowledge of how the writing industry works. Grow your skills in short fiction, non-fiction, scriptwriting and poetry and submit your work in te reo Māori or English.
The New Zealand Diploma in Writing for Creative Industries is delivered online and offers flexibility through eight-week block courses, which means you can study around your commitments.
