Falmouth alumna becomes a delegate of Edinburgh TV Festival’s The Network

For Helen Tompson, the decision to enrol on Falmouth’s Writing for Script and Screen MA (Online) course was more than just about writing; it was about changing as a person. Now, she has blossomed from writing student to a delegate of Edinburgh TV Festival’s ‘The Network’ 2025, a position that grants her a year of mentoring from an industry professional, entry into a supportive community and access to masterclasses and workshops led by industry experts.  

Describing her time at Falmouth as an experience all about “identity, resilience, and possibility”, we chatted to Helen to discover how the confidence and skills she built during her time as a student have encouraged her to take her writing to the next level.  

Congratulations on being accepted for Edinburgh TV Festival's ‘The Network’! Can you tell us more about what it is and what being accepted means for you as a writer? 

Being accepted onto ‘The Network’ feels like a real step forward. It’s an entry point into the TV industry that’s otherwise incredibly hard to access. I’ll get to meet other emerging creatives, connect with professionals, and most excitingly, take part in a writers’ room experience with BBC Studios. This will include writing scenes for EastEnders that will be performed by the cast. It’s a rare chance to work at a professional level, gain insight into the industry from the inside, and grow from that experience. I’m really looking forward to collaborating and learning alongside others at a similar stage in their career; these will be valuable relationships as we all develop our career paths. 

How has your time studying Writing for Script and Screen MA (Online) helped you to get where you are now? 

I came to the course later in life as a working-class woman and former young carer with no formal qualifications beyond my GCSEs. Because of this, I wasn’t sure if a master’s would ever feel possible for me. But from the start, Falmouth and my tutor Dr John Finnegan made me feel as though I belonged. He was generous with his time, wise with his feedback and always encouraging. Even now, two years on, he’s still someone I can turn to for advice. That kind of support is rare, and I’ve never forgotten how life-changing it is when someone says, “I’ll take a chance on you”. 

The course helped me to develop my craft, build confidence in my voice, and crucially, feel part of a writing community. Before the MA, I’d hesitate to tell people I was a writer. Now, it’s the first thing I say, and I say it with pride. 

Can you tell us more about what you have been up to since graduating?  

Since graduating I’ve focused on my craft, collaboration and building momentum. One of the most important things to come out of my time at Falmouth is the Shark Tank, a creative group I co-founded with fellow alumni from different cohorts, many of whom I met through the screenwriting podcast John Finnegan runs (formerly The Script Department, now OutWrd). We meet weekly to share work and give honest, rigorous feedback. But more than that, we’re in daily contact holding each other accountable, championing each other’s goals and staying creatively energised. It’s the writing tribe I didn’t know I needed, and I credit this group with helping me to push my short film through development and into production. I’ve had my work read by executives, I’ve joined judging panels, mentored emerging writers and I’m actively developing new projects for TV and film. I’ve gone from wondering if I could really do this, to knowing that I can. 

For me, the MA was more than just about writing. It was about identity, resilience, and possibility. I’ve become more like the woman I wanted to be. And that began with someone taking a chance on little old me. That’s something I try to pay forward every day. 

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