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Student authors to pen tales on sharks
A new project between University of the Sunshine Coast creative writing students and UnderWater World aims to produce the first book on the popular Mooloolaba attraction.
USC Associate Lecturer in Communication Greg Nash said the project, now underway, would give creative writing students valuable work experience in the industry.
“This is part of an ongoing program of projects enabling our students to hone their writing, editing and design skills in professional environments,” Mr Nash said.
Eight students are working on the book project about the giant aquarium, either focusing on its turtle conservation program or taking readers on a walk through the facility.
“They have creative licence to take everything they’ve learnt in the course and put it into practice,” Mr Nash said.
“Rather than a tutor marking their work, they have to produce work of a publishable standard for an outside client. It’s exciting for the students.”
He said the concept was common for journalism students but new for budding authors.
“Creative writing on the Sunshine Coast at the moment is huge. Libraries say they get a full house for anything to do with it. There’s a writer in everyone and the Coast is a place where we appreciate the arts.”
UnderWater World Product Manager Lorin Willson said the book idea came from regular customer requests for such a keepsake. She said joining with USC was a great method of community involvement.
“The university’s a fantastic resource on our doorstep. Students can get practical experience and we get a book that we can potentially publish for our customers.”
Miss Willson, who graduated from USC with a bachelor of business tourism in 2006, said the aspiring authors could focus on any aspect of UnderWater World – from the seal show and otters to the shark and stingray tunnel.
She said they also could examine the turtle program, where staff have rehabilitated and released more than 150 loggerhead, green, hawksbill and flatback turtles in the past 19 years.
If the book is published, a percentage of the profits will go towards animal rehabilitation.
— Julie Gatehouse