Victoria Watson
PGCE PCET 2014
Victoria graduated in 2014 and after working as a tutor and workshop facilitator, is now Company Director of Bay Tales Ltd, working with some of the most famous writers of crime fiction in the world.
Victoria's role involves booking appearances for virtual and live shows as well as presenting the shows.
During the pandemic, Victoria and her business partner hosted Virtual Noir at the Bar - an adapted version of a live event.
Victoria explained: "Each week ten authors had ten minutes to read from their work in front of a live audience. Our show ran for 24 consecutive weeks and featured some of the biggest authors of the genre including Ann Cleeves, Linwood Barclay and Ian Rankin.
Victoria added: “We had viewers from all over the world tuning in to watch us. There were even people in New Zealand who had set their alarms early to join us every week. Bringing people together when the world felt so detached felt like a huge achievement.”
Prior to Bay Tales, Victoria worked as a Creative Writing tutor and workshop facilitator and considers seeing her students flourish as being her greatest achievement.
Victoria said: “After one spoken word event, the wife of one of my students told me that he wouldn’t read his work aloud to her prior to attending my workshops but was now speaking publicly. I’ve had parents thank me for helping their adult children grow in confidence and overcome depression and anxiety through writing.
“I’ve learned that although many of the students I’ve worked with are excellent writers, my workshops have helped them develop in other ways too and that gives me a real sense of achievement.”
Before Victoria joined her course at the University of Sunderland she was undergoing medical examinations for what was later diagnosed as an autoimmune disease. She said: “I was physically very ill but wanted to find a way to give my life purpose. I decided to combine my love of Creative Writing with my desire to help others.
“I loved learning the pedagogical theories behind teaching and learning but my favourite thing about the course was being able to put the theories I was learning into practice in the classroom.”
Her advice for current students looking to get on the career ladder and secure their dream job is to keep an open mind.
Victoria explained: “What you end up doing may not necessarily be the thing you envisaged but don’t be afraid to try things. There is absolutely no shame in trying something and not enjoying it and it’s better to have tried than to wonder “what if…”.
Speaking about the future, Victoria said: “I plan to return to facilitating at some point as I get such joy from helping others develop.
“I’m also working on a crime fiction festival in Whitley Bay and concentrating on making it a success, as well as bigger and better in the future.”