Meet the Intern – Quinton D’Lima
"I can honestly say that it has been one of my favourite experiences of working in the arts."
December 8, 2022
We consider ourselves very lucky to collaborate with and work alongside talented and dynamic interns at Centre for Stories. In 2022, we welcomed several interns through our doors who each, in their own way, made their mark and we, in turn, celebrate them!
Quinton D’Lima interned for Centre for Stories’ digital publication Portside Review. This hands-on editorial internship gives emerging editors like Quinton the chance to really experience what the world of publishing is like in Perth. Read below to find out more about Quinton.
I’m a recent graduate of Curtin University where I completed a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in Creative Writing and Professional Writing and Publishing.
Where I’m going is a harder question, I honestly still don’t feel like I know what the future has in store for me. I hope one day I can write and publish books. For a long time it felt like I absolutely needed to do it as soon as possible but now I think I’m content to see where things go.
I think what really shaped me, not just during my time at uni but before that, and even now, has been my friends. I’ve always loved the idea that friends are the family you choose, and I think that’s become more and more clear to me in the support they’ve given me over the years. Anything from uni stress to life stress has always seemed to be a bit easier because of them.
As you well know, we’re all about stories here. Do you have a favourite story, fictional or factual? Maybe something that makes you laugh or think, or something that you always come back to?
There was a TV show that I always watched as a child called Avatar The Last Airbender, and I don’t think I’ve ever truly been able to stay away from it. My family used to get quite annoyed with me in primary school because I would camp out in our lounge room, pull out the fold out beds, and watch the entire series in the break between every single school term. I still have the DVDs and I can’t help but rewatch it at least once a year. If I’m stuck in my own head or just having a hard time it never fails to cheer me up.
While we’re talking about stories, can you tell us about the last book you read?
The last book I read was The Shadow of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee, which just so happens to be set in the Avatar universe. I know this sounds too coincidental, but it’s truly just in the timing! It’s the second book in the series, and it is so beautifully written. From worldbuilding to characterisation to the story… I may be biased but I did love it. I think there should be extra praise to F.C. Yee for writing a book about characters and a world that already exists in other mediums, and not just expanding on what’s already there, but putting your own mark on it and making it your own.
So, what brought you to Centre for Stories?
I actually came to work in Centre for Stories because of uni. For one of our final units in the professional writing major we were given options about places we would like to intern, and our coordinators would try and organise these internships. I actually didn’t know much about Centre for Stories at the time and was originally going to be interning somewhere else, which was a place and type of work that didn’t really suit what I was looking for in terms of experience. Luckily, one of my uni friends was already working at Portside Review, and she said they were looking for interns, and I am so glad she told me.
You’ve been helping us out with Portside Review, our quarterly journal of Indian Ocean writing. For that we are very grateful! How have you found the experience?
I didn’t really know what I was signing up for when my friend told me about Portside Review, but the pure excitement she had when telling me about it just swept away any worries I had. I can honestly say that it has been one of my favourite experiences of working in the arts. I remember the very first day I came into Centre for Stories – the energy of the people and the building was just so open and inviting, and it’s only been up since then. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad day when I come in.
Has there been a highlight or stand-out moment from your time at Centre for Stories?
I think one of the highlights has been all the different people I’ve interacted with over the course of my time here. Not just the amazing people that work at Centre for Stories but also so many of the writers and contributors for Portside Review. It’s been amazing seeing so many different people and their unique points of view and experiences, and it’s something I really treasure.
What are you most looking forward to on your horizon?
I really do hope that one day I can share the stories that I have personally been working on. I’ve spent many years building and creating a world and a story that I hold close to my heart, which I hope can one day be shared for other people to experience. But like I said before I think my view of the future has changed a bit because of my time at uni and the people I’ve met. I think I’m just excited to see what other things can surprise me the way Centre for Stories has.
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