Amy works part time as a stock controller at a supermarket and likes to get creative in her spare time. Amy joined the Writing East Midlands “Beyond The Spectrum” writing programme at Clip Mablethorpe and has progressed from writing poems and doodling to having her work published in a magazine. Amy shared with us how she turned her passion into published art.

Away from your studies at Clip, what are your hobbies and interests?  

I work part time in a supermarket, but I love my job. I work on the stock control team which suits my skills as I look for out of date stock and keep the store compliant. It’s a varied role with random tasks to do. I’m quite creative at home and enjoy crafts, drawing, doodling, crochet, and needle work. I like gaming as well and like to watch television, I enjoy science fiction and fantasy.   

How did you find out about the Beyond The Spectrum writing programme at Clip?  

I used to attend Clip regularly and I spoke with Barbara (Wellbeing Services Manager) who recommended the autism support group. I attended the autism support group at clip and they decided to run the writing programme. Initially only one person wanted to attend, so it was decided to use the same space the autism support group use to make it more accessible. Because we don’t like change, we struggled with the idea of going into a different room, so Fee (Tutor at Writing East Midlands) adapted her sessions to suit us. Thanks to this change, we now use the same space as the autism support group.  

What do you get up to in the sessions?  

Fee is the Tutor and she attends with a plan. At the group we take part in creative writing and writing poems. I haven’t written poems before, and I’ve really enjoyed exploring this and I’ve submitted a poem online as part of the group. The artwork I submitted was used for a publication. It’s been nice to have this recognised as I’m usually doodling and doing art as it helps me deal with stress and anxiety.  

What support have you received from Clip as part of the group?  

It’s a nice inclusive environment and if Fee sees anyone struggling, she works with them to check their understanding. It’s easy to share your poems if you want to but there’s no pressure if you don’t want to.  

What have you achieved so far? What have you written in the sessions?  

We were given a book to record everything you’ve written, to have something physical is nice to keep all my work together. My confidence speaking within a group has grown. The first time I spoke I was nervous, but now I read them in front of the group and get feedback too. I have written poems about household objects, people in my life. I’ve written poems about depression, my driving skills and what my mum thinks of my driving too!   

Congratulations on having your work published, what can you tell us about this?  

I was doodling during a session on the front of a book, it was my way of coping with anxiety and stress. We were emailed and invited to add anything online for an online magazine and I was totally shocked when they said they wanted to use my artwork. I submitted my picture and poem through email, and they used it for the online magazine. The magazine is called “The Space Beyond Connecting Autistic Imaginations”. Being paid for my art has been amazing, I’ve already spent the money on a whole new set of pens and a notebook!  

What are your next steps and long term goals?  

I’ve been inspired. I wouldn’t make a job out of my artwork, but to do something with it rather than doodling in my own time would be nice. It would be good to get more work published or to create a book. It’s got me thinking of what I could do. I always get comments from people saying I should be a tattoo artist or create a colouring book, but I don’t know yet.   

When people say my work is lovely, I don’t believe them but it’s lovely because with my work being published, people really do like it and it’s good enough for something.  

Fee (Course Tutor at Writing East Midlands) said “Amy is a great new talent as both an artist and writer, and it’s been a pleasure to work with her as part of the Beyond the Spectrum project. I was overjoyed to learn that her talent had been recognised after a recent submission and can’t wait to see Amy’s first piece of published work come out (then the next)! There’s talent everywhere, and it feels like a genuine privilege to work with this particular group of writers in Mablethorpe and watch that talent emerge and develop, week by week. I can’t wait to see where their writing takes them”  

What would you say to anyone unsure about taking steps to study at Clip?  

Go for it! The hardest part is that first step into the building but once you’re over that hurdle you will feel better for going. Lots of people bring family members or friends for support, and then after a few weeks they come by themselves. They always allow you to bring whoever you need for moral support. There’s so many groups here, give them a try to see what works for you.  

Summarise your experience at Clip  

From the beginning of the course, I’ve gone from a shy person who barely wrote any poems and didn’t think much of their doodles, to a more confident person who is exploring the creative writing side and enjoying it. Seeing art from a different viewpoint.