The Orbital Magazine

During my third year at university, I had the honour to be the Senior Creative Writing Editor for  The Orbital — Royal Holloway’s student-led magazine.

The role of Senior Creative Writing Editor came with its fair share of responsibilities, all of which I took on gladly. It was a position that required not only a keen editorial eye but also strong leadership, collaboration, and decision-making skills.

I was in charge of reaching out to potential writers, fostering a welcoming and encouraging space for emerging talent. Beyond simply reviewing submissions, I provided detailed, constructive feedback, helping writers refine their voice, and polish their pieces for publication. In many cases, I worked alongside them throughout the editing process, offering guidance and ensuring that each piece remained authentic while meeting the magazine’s editorial standards.

Ultimately, I was responsible for curating content for both the print edition and the website, a task that required balancing creative vision with audience engagement. These decisions were not always easy to make, as each submission held its own unique strengths, but I approached them thoughtfully, always keeping in mind what would best serve both the magazine’s editorial direction and our writers. Fortunately, I had an incredible team alongside me, and through collaborative discussions and careful consideration, we worked to showcase the most compelling work possible.

The Orbital is a great space for students to work on their creative vision and get something published. They do a great job at keeping up with current events and most recently I have been loving their culture section, so definitely check out their website if you get a chance!

Being a Senior Creative Writing Editor was more than just editing words on a page — it was about nurturing creativity, making editorial decisions, and contributing to a larger artistic community. It was a role I embraced wholeheartedly, and it reinforced my passion for storytelling, collaboration, and the publishing process.

During that time, I also got the chance to publish some creative pieces of mine, one of which you can see on the left!