Jane Seabourne 

Associate Student, Creative and Professional Writing, 2003

Jane Seabourne is an example of why it is never too late to follow your dream. From as early as her school days, all Jane wanted to be was a writer. But unsure of how to enter such a self-reliant career, she chose to become a teacher instead. Now, at 57-years-old, Jane’s dream has finally come true as her first collection of poetry is published.

As a teacher Jane enjoyed a successful career spanning over 25 years working in a variety of schools and Further Education colleges. But her passion for writing never faded and when an opportunity arose, Jane took it.

“For the first time in decades I started to write creatively and I knew that with a little professional training, I could still become a writer.”

Associate Student - an alternative route

Jane enquired about the University’s Creative and Professional Writing degree but wasn’t sure whether she would be able to commit to the full three year course. Jane spoke to staff at the University’s Higher Education Shop (The Gateway) who advised her that she could become an Associate Student and study individual modules at her own pace.

“With a postgraduate Masters already under my belt from another university, becoming an Associate Student was the obvious choice. I was able to choose modules that suited my interests and then fit my studying around my work and family commitments.”

Jane chose to study a wide variety of modules including Theories of Language and Writing; Journalistic Writing; Humour Writing; Life Writing; Travel Writing and Novel Writing.

“The lecturers were very encouraging and because all of them are published authors I knew I was being taught by writers with first hand experience”, she explains.

And Jane found that studying with younger students had its benefits too:

“I was a very mature student but one thing that surprised me was how much I learned from the other students, especially the younger ones – they opened my mind to new ways of looking at things.”

A published poet

Since completing her studies Jane has had her pieces published in a wide variety of magazines and in May this year, her first collection of poetry, Bright Morning, was published.

“Writing is now finally a major part of my life – I’ve learnt so much about the craft of writing and experimented with genres of writing I would not have done otherwise.”

Jane is now teaching on a part-time basis so that she can continue to focus on her writing. She also runs writing workshops and is regularly invited to perform her work at spoken word events throughout the region.

“I come into contact with many other writers and I always recommend that they consider the University of Wolverhampton for writing courses.

“I would say that if you can’t commit to a full time course, being an Associate Student is a very good thing to do!”