Self-proclaimed book worm and avid writer, the North Central Review’s new editor Emily Waite has always had a passion for literature.
“As a kid, I used to read books under my covers with a flashlight, right into the early hours of the morning. I couldn’t get enough of them,” she said.
From postcards to poems and lyrics to limericks, wherever there was literature, Ms Waite was sure to follow.
“If you look closely, my love for literature has been a constant theme in my life. It’s underpinned everything ever since I was kid,” she said.
A local woman, after graduating from Assumption College Kilmore in 2017, Ms Waite went on to study a Bachelor of Music at JMC Academy.
“I was enrolled in the performance stream, but because of Covid lockdowns, my course was restructured to be recording based rather than performance based,” she said.
“This meant writing a lot of songs, which unsurprisingly, I really enjoyed.”
A stand out in both her Lyric Writing Strategies and Lyrics and Literature subjects, Ms Waite graduated with High Distinctions in 2022.
But it was just the start of her literary journey, as her newfound passion for songwriting urged her on to further studies.
“Songwriting really awakened something in me, and it left me wanting more,” Ms Waite said.
“I wanted to study writing in more depth, so I applied for Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Writing and Literature.”
Shortly after beginning her post-graduate studies at Deakin University, Ms Waite landed an internship with Melbourne-based publishing house Affirm Press.
“I was interning as an editor,” she said.
“My first day there, I remember thinking, ‘this is what I want to do’. It was like a light bulb moment.”
Now in her fourth week at the Review, Ms Waite said she was thoroughly enjoying her new position.
“I’m thrilled to be the Review’s editor in their 20th year,” she said.
“Everyone here has been incredibly welcoming. The team is fantastic – they’re all so supportive and friendly, and it’s great to be around people who are hardworking and passionate about what they do. It’s inspiring.”
When asked about her plans for the Review, Ms Waite said she wanted to focus on the community.
“It’s a community paper – without the community, there would be no paper. I want to focus on delivering stories that highlight some of the incredible locals here, and I want to give everyone a space for their stories here,” she said.
“Of course, it’s important to focus on topical news, but I want the community to know that we’re here for them, and that our platform is their platform.
“I think good things happen when people come together, and the Review has certainly proven that over the last 20 years.”
