Read Part 1: the Writing here.
Award-winning writer and WestWords Creative Producer Alexandria Burnham’s debut novel ‘Swallow’ will be released in November 2025, after she announced in May that WestWords Books acquired publishing rights.
From Creative to Creator
Burnham was always creative throughout her childhood, with a combination of writing and music. While her parents did not share her creativity, they encouraged her to continue nurturing hers.
Alexandria Burnham Headshot by Nate Gothard, 2025.
At university Burnham decided to study film with the goal of opening herself up to a variety of potential roles. When she decided she loved writing the most, she studied at the National Institute of the Dramatic Arts (NIDA) and became a freelance writer.
She wrote the feature film ‘Unsound’ (2020) and continues to write for multimedia series ‘Metropius’, and now she is thrilled to be giving back to the writing community in empowering others to forge their own paths through the Western Sydney creative sphere.
She is the Creative Producer at WestWords. This is a full-time, 9-5 job, plus some extra night and weekend events. This also involves some travelling, such as her recent trip to Varuna, Australia’s National Writing House, as a mentor for four writers as they work on their manuscripts.
The Writing Community and Publishing: “We’re All in This Together”
While she submitted the ‘Swallow’ manuscript to a few publishing houses, she ultimately appreciated the chance to be a part of the community she’s worked so hard at nurturing.
You can read more about WestWords in Part 1 and Part 2 of W’SUP’s ‘A Word On WestWords’.
WestWords publishes based on merit, not potential for financial return. In addition, they are a not-for-profit organisation, which means “all the money cycles back into publishing the next book.”
As Burnham began to master the tension between high stakes and whimsy in later drafts, WestWords was becoming a trade publisher in adult fiction. Burnham said, “it all married up”, between her passion for helping emerging writers and publication opportunities for her own book.
As the Creative Producer at WestWords, she has seen firsthand the impact of participating in the vibrant writing community Western Sydney has to offer.
“It’s all the warm and fuzzies of being a part of this, and actually seeing the community in action.”
She describes the Greater Western Sydney writing community as an ecosystem and speaks fondly of the supportive nature so inherent within, with such love for her “sister and brother debut writers”.
“We’re too small to have a gatekeeping community,” said Burnham, “It’s a we’re-all-in-it-together kind of thing.”
Empowering the Next Emerging Writer
At WestWords, Burnham works full time to empower local artists. Her day-to-day ranges from program management to designing the programs themselves.
She said, “There’s a lot of involvement in understanding the community — understanding what the community of emerging writers need and then working out how we can facilitate that.”
She described her daytime imperative as ‘helping the next emerging writer’.
Western Sydney University student and WestWords Academy graduate Natasa Aster-Stater said, “Ally is so generous with her time, and in sharing her knowledge and advice.” Speaking from experience, she explained how Burnham continually assists writers in regaining confidence in their work.
Between designing and managing programs at WestWords, judging writing competitions and mentoring upcoming writers with their manuscripts, Burnham somehow finds time to pursue her own creative projects.
With her partner having already left for work, each morning she wakes up early, feeds the dog and enjoys a couple early hours of “uninterrupted quiet”.
She would struggle to complete any writing at the end of a workday, so she jokes “writing gets (her) best brain”.
While she acknowledges not everyone is privileged with this opportunity, this time proves quite perfect for chipping away at her manuscript before she heads off to work.
Aster-Stater finished, “She takes on many roles and wears many different hats, but never fails to be a champion of writers and their words.”
You can follow Burnham on Instagram or preorder ‘Swallow’ here.
As she continues to tirelessly serve the writing community of Western Sydney, we can expect exciting things from Alexandria Burnham.
