Context

This page displays the context for my FMP - at the start of this project, I took the time to reflect on myself—both creatively and personally—to understand how my identity shapes the work I produce. I wanted to trace the roots of my passion for creativity and explore why writing continues to play such a meaningful role in my life. This self-exploration ensures that the final piece I create is not only something I’m deeply connected to, but also a true reflection of the skills and growth I’ve experienced over the past few years. It also gives me the opportunity to experiment with different ideas for my final outcome, so I can craft something that I’m genuinely proud to present.

WHO AM I?

Links to pieces of work mentioned in Slideshow

'A Boston Bandit' Short Story - Portfolio 1 | My Site 1
'Tilly the Turnip Fairy' Children's Story Book - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1--qM-gC0x4TNK42PTXttj5pofpEb1XIY/view?usp=sharing
'Gen-Zine' Multi-Media Magazine - Practical skills | My Site 2
Thanet News Article - Thanet Wanderers empowering children and young people through special educational needs and disabilities sessions – The Isle Of Thanet News
'A Global Perspective' Feature Article - Polly Foster
Short Film Script - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-1ZXz6YAgh9xn4nVnH2HNZ714WClwMCr/view?usp=sharing

Polly Foster FMP Context Interview (1).mp4

I developed a video piece that featured contributions from my mum and grannie, each offering personal reflections on my identity and writing. To guide their responses, I provided a series of casual, encouraging them to speak openly and authentically based on those cues. These included when my passion for writing began, what kind of topics I like to write about and what kind of career they can see me pursuing in the future. Creating this video was a valuable process, as it offered me an outside perspective on how I am perceived by those closest to me. It helped me reflect on my personal identity, strengths, and areas of growth, which has informed both my creative work and self-development.

WHY DO I WRITE?

At the start of my current college course, we were asked to write a short answer to the question 'Why I Write'. Below I have included my initial answer from 2023 alongside my current answer to this question.

2023 Answer

I write to express my ideas and fantasies to many people all at once. I find writing to be a dazzling method of sharing my own joy with others, whether it be to hundreds in a writing competition or an intimate entanglement of words to a few of my closest peers. Writing is a way of communicating to others, a transmission of ideas that perhaps I find myself unable to vocalise, yet when displayed physically, riddled with thought and emotion, it seems like the easiest thing in the world; a great pleasure in which I often indulge in when I am low. Writing has the possibility to be anything and everything all at once. It is a sporadic event in which my inspirations become a chaotic frenzy, spewing endlessly from my brain, ideas sparking one after the other, faster than I can write or type. However, frequently it can be quite the opposite, a blissful aid in organising my thoughts when I feel a lack of control, a reminder that I have the power and accessibility to create any world I want, however I please. I suppose that writing is a way of loosening the tight grip that the stresses of my real life have hold on me, an escape from reality in which I can always turn to. Writing is an old friend, a parent, a lover and a mentor all at once, reminding me that I am human. I find peace in the serenity of conveying my thoughts and feelings to others without judgement. As a more concise example, writing is losing myself and finding myself at the same time, a beautiful way of expression. I have been writing for my entire life, and plan to do so until the day I die, as it is one of my greatest passions.

2025 Answer

I write because it’s the one place where my mind and heart meet without conflict. It’s how I untangle the mess of thoughts that build up when the world feels too loud or too fast. Writing gives me space to breathe, to think, to feel without the pressure of being understood immediately. It allows me to shape my emotions into something tangible - something that speaks, even when I cannot. When I write, I’m not limited by reality. I can build universes, shift perspectives, and let my imagination spill across the page freely. Sometimes, words pour out in a rush - chaotic and raw, like lightning in a storm. Other times, they come quietly, helping me make sense of the confusion inside me. Both are necessary. Both are healing. Writing is also my way of connecting. It’s how I share the parts of myself I might never say aloud, and in doing so, I often find that others see themselves reflected in my words. That connection, that silent understanding between writer and reader, feels like magic. Above all, I write because it reminds me of who I am. It brings me back to myself when I feel lost. It’s not just a passion - it’s a lifeline. A way to leave something behind. A way to live more fully in the present. I write because it’s how I make sense of the world, and how I leave a trace of my own.

SKILLS

Throughout this year, I found myself acquiring a variety of skills that have helped to craft and improve my writing. Below I have a range of skills from each semester as an example and how they have improved my work. I have also included links to the relevant blog posts.

Skills that have Impacted my Writing the Most

Adobe Software Skills

One of the most valuable skills I developed in Semester 2 was learning how to navigate and apply different editing software, particularly Adobe InDesign and Adobe Audition. At first, I was unfamiliar with these platforms, but through tutorials and hands-on experimentation, I began to understand their functions and potential. InDesign played a key role in helping me design a professional-looking magazine cover for my Final Major Project, while Audition allowed me to add sound effects and music to my audio drama, creating a more immersive experience for the listener.

These technical skills have not only supported those specific projects but have also transferred into other areas of my work. I now feel more confident presenting my ideas in visually engaging formats and enhancing spoken narratives with carefully selected audio elements. This has given me a broader understanding of how design and sound editing can shape the way an audience engages with creative content. Learning to use these tools effectively has offered me insight into the production side of storytelling and highlighted the importance of presentation and polish when promoting my work to others. Ultimately, these skills have strengthened my creative practice and allowed me to communicate my ideas with greater clarity and impact.

Examples of my work:

Project 2 Final Recordings | My Site 1

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1--qM-gC0x4TNK42PTXttj5pofpEb1XIY/view?usp=sharing

Perspective

Another key skill I have developed during my time on this course is the use and understanding of narrative perspective. While I’ve always enjoyed experimenting with different viewpoints in my writing, I hadn’t fully explored the creative potential that perspective offers until recently. Through focused sessions on this topic, we examined how various narrative perspectives can shape a story and influence the reader’s engagement. We also took part in exercises that encouraged us to write from unfamiliar viewpoints, which really pushed me out of my comfort zone.

These activities were particularly beneficial to my development as a writer. They not only deepened my understanding of how perspective affects storytelling but also gave me the confidence to write from angles I previously avoided. Since then, I’ve made a conscious effort to apply these skills across my projects, and I plan to continue doing so in the future. Perspective plays a crucial role in how a reader or listener connects with a story, and mastering it is essential for creating meaningful, immersive narratives.

Examples of my work:

https://sites.google.com/view/pollyfoster/perspective

Week 5 - Genre and tone | My Site 1

Decluttering

Decluttering is a valuable writing skill that we were introduced to during Semester 1, Week 2, as part of our focus on Journalism. It involves removing unnecessary words, phrases, or overly complex structures that can distract from the core message or slow down the reader. In journalism, where clarity and conciseness are essential, this technique is especially important for delivering information quickly and effectively. However, I’ve come to realise that decluttering is equally useful in other forms of writing, including fiction and creative nonfiction, as it allows the writer to highlight key ideas and sharpen the impact of their storytelling.

Before learning about this concept, I often found myself overwriting - adding extra descriptions or explanations that, while well-intentioned, often muddied the message or weighed down the narrative. Through learning to declutter my work, I’ve become more mindful of what each word is contributing to a piece. It’s helped me focus on what’s truly essential, ensuring that my writing is tighter, more purposeful, and easier for readers to engage with.

Since then, I’ve continued to apply this skill across various projects, from short stories to reflective writing. It has improved the quality of my work by encouraging precision and intention behind my language choices. As I move forward, especially in preparation for my Final Major Project, I will continue to use decluttering as a tool to refine and strengthen my voice as a writer.

Examples of my work:

Week 2 - Journalism | My Site 1

Polly Foster

Show and not Tell

Showing and not telling is a way of describing a scene, without describing exactly what is happening. It is an efficient way to convey the thoughts and emotions of a character as it is usually by implication, human-centred. It is a slower, richer more expansive way to communicate. It is the opposite of efficiency as it highly revolves around detail. Showing something in a story can often place the human subject right at the centre of things, and as a consequence can often stir the heart. It can also include switching from an adverb to a strong verb.

This skill from Semester 1, week 6 particularly helped me as it allowed me to get my point across when telling a story without using excessive descriptions which are often self explanatory. It has also helped me focus on the theme and tone of my writing, rather than boring the reader with unnecessary details.

This skill can also transfer to journalism writing, especially when it comes to decluttering an article and conveying important information.

Examples of my work:

Week 6 - Specificity, Show and Not Tell | My Site 1

Polly Foster

Reading like a Writer

One of the most impactful skills I developed during this course was learning to read like a writer. This involves engaging with texts not just for their stories or ideas, but with a critical eye on how the writer constructs meaning - looking closely at language, structure, tone, and technique. This skill has transformed the way I approach both reading and writing. Rather than passively consuming a piece of literature, I now pay attention to the choices the writer has made - how they create atmosphere, build character, or guide the reader’s emotions.

By analysing professional work in this way, I’ve been able to identify techniques that I can apply to my own writing. It’s helped me think more intentionally about things like pacing, dialogue, and narrative perspective. Reading like a writer has also given me a better appreciation for how small details - like a carefully chosen word or sentence rhythm - can make a big impact. This skill will continue to influence my creative decisions, especially as I work on more complex or polished pieces, such as my Final Major Project.

Examples of my work:

https://sites.google.com/view/pollyfoster/film

Week 2 - Listen To Me Words and Synopsis | My Site 1

Skills Within my Work

For this part of my skills section, I have carefully selected a range of work that I believe demonstrates a broad and diverse set of abilities I have developed throughout the course. Each piece highlights different aspects of my creative and technical growth - whether it's storytelling, editing, design, or research. By including work that spans various formats and styles, I aim to showcase not only the progress I’ve made but also the adaptability and versatility I’ve gained in applying different skills across multiple mediums.

Links to pieces of work mentioned in Slideshow

'A Boston Bandit' Short Story - Portfolio 1 | My Site 1
'Tilly the Turnip Fairy' Children's Story Book - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1--qM-gC0x4TNK42PTXttj5pofpEb1XIY/view?usp=sharing
'Gen-Zine' Multi-Media Magazine - Practical skills | My Site 2
Digital Adobe Skills - Polly Foster
'Silk and Shrapnel' Short Story - Polly Foster
'Global Feminism' Feature Article - Polly Foster

S.W.O.T ANALYSIS

To further develop and evaluate my initial ideas, I have carried out a SWOT analysis. This allowed me to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of each concept, helping me make more informed decisions about which direction to take for my final project. It also gave me a clearer understanding of the potential each idea holds and the challenges I may need to overcome.

IDEA 1 - Poetry Collection - Surrounding Feminism and Women's Rights

The first I had was to create a collection of poetry about a topic I am also passionate about - Women's Rights. I wanted my poetry to speak to women of all ages, races and backgrounds, and use my writing to speak out about misogny, feminism and what it is like being a woman. This is a topic that I have experience writing about, as my entire unit 9 project was based on the theme 'Cultural and Social Disparities', especially focusing on women around the world. I would plan to have around ten poems all together, each one focusing on a different topic. Combining a style of writing with a cause I am passionate about would inspire me when practicing other skills, such as the use of research in Journalism.

IDEA 2 - Radio Drama - Scripting a short horror story into an audio form

For this idea, I would write a script for a short horror story and adapt it into a radio drama, complete with carefully selected sound effects and music to enhance the atmosphere. I would use software such as Adobe Audition for audio editing and InDesign for any visual elements I need to create. My goal is for the script to follow the key conventions of the horror genre, with a narrative centered around ghosts and the supernatural. In addition to producing the audio, I would also design a cover for the drama using InDesign, helping to visually capture the tone and mood of the piece. This project would allow me to combine storytelling, sound design, and visual communication in a way that reflects my creative interests and skills.

IDEA 3 - Fashion Magazine - Creating fashion magazine focusing in the global impact of fashion.

For this idea, I would create a fashion magazine that explores the global impact of fashion across different cultures, regions, and communities. The magazine would focus on how fashion not only serves as a form of self-expression but also as a reflection of social, political, and environmental issues around the world. My goal is to produce an engaging and thought-provoking publication, featuring well-researched and carefully written articles that highlight diverse perspectives and stories within the fashion industry. This project would give me the opportunity to blend several of my creative interests - storytelling, journalism, and visual design - into one cohesive final piece. I would focus not only on the content but also on the aesthetic, using layout and typography to elevate the reader’s experience. Through this, I aim to create a visually striking and meaningful magazine that showcases my skills in both written and visual communication while offering insightful commentary on fashion’s evolving global influence.

INTRODUCTION

In our previous project, we were tasked with producing a research report. I chose to focus on a topic that would support and inform the development of my Final Major Project, as I already had a general idea of the medium I wanted to explore. Below is the introduction from that report, outlining the areas I investigated and the reasoning behind my choices. I’ve included it here as part of my context, as it lays the groundwork for the research phase of my FMP and marks the starting point of my creative journey for this final project.

Research Chapter Introduction

My topic of study is researching what goes into making an engaging magazine. I am choosing to research this because I feel it will tie in with my FMP very well, as I am considering creating a magazine on fashion around the world. I also believe I need to build my knowledge of magazine creation and publishing, as I currently have limited experience in this area. By conducting this research, I hope to better prepare myself for the future and gain a deeper understanding of the publishing industry, which will be beneficial for my ambitions of becoming a journalist or publisher.

I have always been passionate about storytelling, media, and writing, which has influenced my interest in journalism and publishing. Fashion has been a key interest of mine, and I am fascinated by how different cultures interpret and express fashion. By researching how to make a magazine engaging, I will be able to combine my interests in writing, design, and global fashion into a cohesive final project. Additionally, I believe that understanding what makes a magazine compelling - whether it be the design, content, layout, or marketing - will provide me with valuable skills for my future career. To make my research comprehensive, I will explore various aspects of magazine production, including editorial content, visual design, audience engagement, and distribution strategies. I plan to study existing successful magazines, analyse their structures and stylistic choices, and conduct interviews with professionals in the field to gain insights into the industry. I may also explore digital versus print publishing to understand how magazines stay relevant in an evolving media landscape.

My research focuses on exploring what makes a magazine engaging, particularly in terms of content, design, and audience appeal. This ties into my FMP, where I aim to create a fashion magazine highlighting global cultural influences. To gain a deeper understanding of magazine publishing, I will analyse renowned publications like Vogue, which excels at blending editorial content with striking visuals, and study the work of journalists such as Suzy Menkes, known for her in-depth fashion reporting. Throughout my research, I aim to refine my own magazine concept and apply what I learn to my FMP. By doing so, I hope to create a visually and editorially compelling magazine that reflects my passion for fashion journalism and storytelling. My goal is to develop my skills in writing, editing, and publishing, ultimately preparing myself for a future career in journalism or publishing.

PROJECT PROPOSAL

This is my project proposal, giving you an introduction to my Final Major Project. This provides an insight into what my idea is for this project, the skills I have and the development of my writing up until this point and how I plan to evaluate my project.

Tutor Feedback

Some excellent work above -

Can you though add more detail to the skills - what you have learnt on the course and especially the skill you will be developing in the FMP such as journalism skill, feature article skills, leads and interviews and research etc and add the links - this year's and last year's session that are the foundations you are building on.

You do mention many in the Project Proposal - which is excellent.

More feedback

Outstanding, detailed and purposeful Context that clearly demonstrates the motivation and ambition of your FMP and the foundations you are building upon, as well as the areas of interest, socially and historically you are developing further.

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