Featured Writer
Helena Sheridan
When did I begin writing? Well, I believe I was 7 years old when I penned (or was it pencilled?) my first poem, a rather clumsy rhyme about a robin.I was brought up in Australia and my schooling included learning about notable Aussie poets like Henry Lawson and “Banjo” Patterson. I loved the energy and simple language of their long narrative poems and began to write similar lengthy tales in verse. At the age of 14 I was ecstatic to have two of these poems published in a Melbourne newspaper.
In 1976 I moved from Melbourne to Ayrshire. I had taken several courses in writing through the London School of Journalism, but realised I needed to “branch out” and make friends in my new community. Prompted by the School to “join a writers’ group” I made enquiries about the Ayr Writers’ Club - a wise move! Instantly I found I was amongst like minded people who loved writing as much as I did and who could give me the professional advice I needed. Founder member, Dorothy Dunbar, instigated my first publication. I had gone along to a fiction workshop to read a short story I had written entitled “The Nest Egg”. “Get that away to a magazine” Dorothy told me and kept at me until I did! To my surprise and overwhelming delight it was accepted by Best magazine and I duly photographed the cheque to commemorate the great day! I soon realised fame was not going to come easily if at all, as there were many rejections slips between then and my next success - an article about aerobics entitled “Miss Fit” for the Aberdeen Evening Express.
My next opportunity came via Dorrith Sim, the children’s workshop leader. Dorrith taught me a lot about writing for children and, knowing my love of poetry, suggested I incorporate small passages of comic verse in my stories. My Weekly magazine accepted twenty of these stories, six of which were commissioned for their pullouts and seasonal editions.. At the same time Dorrith suggested I try writing for BBC Radio Ulster’s children’s programme “One Potato Two Potato”, and I ended up writing seven full scripts including poems, stories and lyrics for them.
My interest in scriptwriting continued when I joined Borderline Theatre’s community writing group, along with other members of Ayr Writers’ Club. This entailed writing for the stage, a whole new experience, but very rewarding as our sketches were compiled into shows and staged by the Theatre. I really enjoyed this and went on to write longer one act plays for other community groups and have since had plays performed at the Civic and Palace Theatres in Ayrshire and the Village Theatre in East Kilbride. I was delighted to be short listed for the Geoffrey Whitworth Drama Competition and to win the Scottish Association of Writers’ Drama Award both in 2005 & 2006. I am now the drama workshop leader at Ayr Writers’ Club
Ireland’s Own magazine then published a few of my long narrative poems – yes, I eventually found a home for them! My poetry has also appeared in magazines, newspapers and anthologies. I have also managed to get my short stories published both in Ireland and Australia.
I am grateful to Ayr Writers’ Club for all their help and friendship over the years and especially to Dorothy Dunbar who prompted me to “send away that story!”