IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – Fiona MacFadyen, a sophomore student at Bay College West Campus, was recently honored with the top spot in a statewide poetry contest with her compelling piece titled “Collateral”. Reflecting on her achievement, MacFadyen expressed her profound love for writing, stating, “I do love writing, that’s my dream is to be a writer.”
MacFadyen’s journey to victory began with a short fiction and creative writing class online. She revealed, “So, I don’t know how many people entered. Honestly, I didn’t even know that I was being entered into this.” Her entry, sponsored by her English professor Nanci Love, soared through local and statewide competitions, ultimately securing first place in the Liberal Arts Network for Development’s annual creative writing contest.
Delving into the inspiration behind her winning poem, MacFadyen shared, “When people hear about addiction, I think a lot of people think addiction you can only be addicted to like a substance, and that’s not true. You can be addicted to a person that will only do damage to you, as long as you let them. And that’s what that poem is about.” Her poignant verses draw from personal experiences of navigating unhealthy relationships.
Responding to the overwhelming resonance of her work, MacFadyen remarked, “Yeah, and that’s what’s heartbreaking. Like I read a lot of comments, and people were sharing it on Facebook, and like comments from people, like strangers.”
Looking to the future, MacFadyen hopes to collaborate with her talented brother, combining her poetry with his musical prowess. She also aims to expand her writing platform, considering avenues like blogging and Instagram, and even publishing, to showcase her creative endeavors.
While MacFadyen hasn’t settled on a major yet, her unwavering dedication to her writing aspirations shines through. As she advises those who find solace in her poem, she offers words of encouragement: “I’m sorry. But it gets better. Like, I never thought that I would be sitting here being interviewed about a poem I wrote in the middle of heartbreak.”
With graduation on the horizon, MacFadyen envisions a future filled with travel and writing, with destinations like Ireland and Greece topping her list. As her poetic journey continues, she’s making her mark on the Upper Peninsula’s literary landscape.
To view MacFadyen’s award-winning poem, visit:
