3rd March 2026
Edi Lea on being bold and writing what scares you
Hello everybody,
This week on ‘Ask the Winner,’ I’m talking to Edi Lea, winner of the 2025 award on our topic of the year ‘Leaders of tomorrow,’for her article “How to Start an Authoritarian Regime” – a satirical seven-step guide that made the judging panel fall off their chairs.
“It was really good fun writing it,” Edi recalls. “So fun to write and I hope it was fun to read.”
The article appeared in Exia, the magazine at City of Norwich School that Edi describes as “the pride and joy of our sixth form.” But as Edi explains, getting it there wasn’t easy, not least when you’re also one of the editors.
Inspired by a rom-com
“The idea for a satire how-to article actually came from the rom-com ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,’ which is kind of a strange place to get article ideas from I guess. But it was just really funny, I love that movie.”
The deadline was approaching and Edi had no clue where to start. “I just thought I’ll do a how-to, that would be funny. I wanted it to be quite different from the articles I’d written for Exia in the past. And it really was.”
As a history student, she decided to write about authoritarian regimes, using examples from past dictators and current political events. “I’d been following America’s election build-up quite closely. Trump’s campaign was on my mind, so analysing his approaches and his last term in office was just something I was really interested in.”
When Edi began, she wasn’t writing it to fit the Shine Awards topic of the year, she just wrote about what she was thinking about. “But I’m really glad it did fit, obviously.”
The terrifying editors’ meeting
Here’s the twist: Edi wasn’t just a writer – she was also an editor. Which meant she’d be in the room when her own article was discussed.
“It was very scary, to be honest, going into a meeting knowing they were going to talk about my article to me. Anyone who’s been an editor knows that the editors’ meetings can be quite tough with each other before you actually give feedback to the writer. It was terrifying knowing how brutal it can be, knowing that it’s your piece that’s going to be under the chopping block.”
The feedback? Her draft was far too long. Steps had to be cut down. Some teachers suggested adding a satire disclaimer so people would know she wasn’t being serious. “Which was a bit scary, but I’m glad we didn’t in the end because I think it is obvious that I’m joking.”
Her advice to writers? “Instead of getting offended by the editing process, because that can be quite easy when you’ve spent so long writing a piece, just trust that their feedback is so valuable. It is the most valuable thing for you at that point in the writing process.”
Write what you’re slightly scared to write
Edi’s previous articles for Exia had been “pretty tame”. This time she went ‘out there’ and thinks that more students should follow that path.
“Write what you’re slightly scared to write because it is going to be the best piece that you could produce. Don’t try and change your initial ideas to what you think people are going to want to hear. Just write what you want to say.”
She had one reassurance: she knew editor-in-chief Bethan from English classes and “kind of knew that she wouldn’t completely hate my idea for an article.”
Cut to the Shine judging: when the panel saw the headline “How to Start an Authoritarian Regime” in the City of Norwich Girls’ School magazine, we all fell off our chairs, sharing the piece around the room. Edi’s piece had really cut through.
‘Just go for it’
Edi’s now taking a gap year before studying history and politics at the University of Manchester. She plans to knock on the door of their student publications with her Shine Award certificate.
“Winning has really boosted my interest in journalism and my confidence in my writing. Knowing I probably would be okay at writing at a uni publication if I wanted to – and I really think I do.”
Her final advice? “Write what you want to write and be bold with it. Be as bold as you want to be, as bold as you can, because it will get you noticed and it will get your writing noticed. Try your best not to be scared. What you get out of it will be incredible.”
I really hope Edi’s story encourages your students to write what scares them – because that’s where the best work lives.
Enter the 2026 Shine School Media Awards
– with our new entry form now online
Could your school magazine, newspaper or podcast be this year’s winner? The Shine School Media Awards celebrate student journalism and school media projects that give young people a genuine voice.
Entry is open to all UK schools. Winners receive money-can’t-buy experiences including mentoring from industry professionals, newsroom visits and work experience opportunities.
We’re back next week with more Ask the Winners,
Richard
Chair of Shine