Tracy is a graduate from the MLitt Creative Writing programme at the University of Strathclyde
Tell us a little bit about your background...
I was raised in the Bronx, New York and did my undergraduate at New York University. I majored in East Asian Studies with a concentration in Korean Language. The decision to come to Scotland to pursue Creative Writing was in part influenced by my time in Seoul, South Korea as an exchange student. It was at Yonsei University where I took classes on Korean cinema and the uses of historical fiction. The desire to approach my writing through reimagining history was first conceptualized as I drew correlations around Black American history and the Korean War. Though I've been writing and performing my poetry since I was a teenager, I've always intended to write for screen and to write novels.
What drew you towards undertaking the MLitt in Creative Writing at Strathclyde?
In 2018, I was commissioned by a film director to write a script for production. In 2019, Honey Rain was completed and subsequently greenlit. After completing my first script I understood there was so much about screenwriting I desired to learn, and formal study would be to my best benefit. I was particularly interested in exploring hybrid forms and having the space to explore my own. I also had this romantic idea that Scotland was the best place for that because of my previous travels and how at ease I always felt.
Tell us about the format of the programme. What was a typical week like?
The Creative Writing program included fall and spring sessions with three modules each and a summer supervision for the dissertation (or final project). A typical week included three modules across Mondays and Tuesdays. The rest of the week was dedicated to literary research, exploration of the authors and texts assigned and the editing of my own works in progress. The Writing Life module under Dr. Rodge Glass was particularly impactful as it brought established authors and publishers to share their work, experiences and give any advice or guidance on pursuing a professional writing career. The final project was another highlight as it necessitated one on one time with staff. My time under Andrew Meehan's supervision was invaluable as it encouraged concentrated focus and insight in the frenzy of my history background.
Tell us a little bit about your dissertation topic...
My dissertation was a feature screenplay titled '77. Reimagining the infamous 1977 blackout in New York City, a young woman from the Bronx is forced to reconcile her familial history and the current socio-political climate she finds herself in.
Script Logline: In the summer of 1977, a young Black woman from the Bronx finds herself in a fight between loyalty, familial secrets, revenge and her own past.
What was the academic support at Strathclyde like?
The CW department at Strathclyde holds some of the most supportive faculty I've been instructed by. There was a kind of levity and transparency each instructor led their module with. As an international student, the staff was intentional about seeking me out and assisting me with both settling in the Glasgow writing community and thriving within it.
What are your hopes for the future?
I intend to pursue a creative writing PhD at Strathclyde in 2025 to complete my first novel. I hope to continue making films and am currently developing my screenplay for the dissertation into a limited series for television.
What advice would you give to someone considering applying for this degree?
If you're considering applying for an MLitt in Creative Writing, you already contain gumption. Let gumption become audacity. To believe in a writing career in spite of the personal and professional requirement is already half of what it takes to leap. Be bold and jump. You'll land among some of the best of the best and hopefully become one of them.