FOR as long as she can remember, all Venise Cruickshank wanted to be was a writer. In a field where so many have tried and failed and only a small percentage are actively working at any one time, Venise with the help of her mother Maureen has taken the plunge.

Now the Currajong Disability Services participant from Lake Cargelligo is taking her first enormous strides as she turns her childhood dream into a reality.

“Venise has always wanted to write,” said Maureen.

“She has a particular interest in fantasy and fiction.

“She reads and writes religiously,” Maureen said.

So Venise, who has autism, began taking some significant steps on her path into the literary world of fiction writing.

“She’s getting better on the computer and piecing together stories every day,” Maureen said.

“With the right supports around her she has improved her writing and planning which is so important when you want to get a novel published.

“Hopefully within the next year she has her first novel published,” said Maureen.

While Venise remains tight-lipped about what her novel is about it has been inspired by a number of her favourite fantasy books and films.

“I have always loved fantasy and all the worlds and people in it,” said Venise.

“It’s something that interested me from a very young age.

“And it’s all I have wanted to do since,” she said.

With support from Currajong and the NDIS, Venise has already written a draft of her manuscript and is currently editing and re-writing a new draft.

“Currajong has helped me enormously and given me a chance,” Venise said.

“It really is a life with opportunities and I am happy as they give people with autism and all their participants the things they need to achieve their dreams.

“It’s all I can ask for.”

We can’t wait to see all your hard work culminate into your first book either Venise!