THE NEXT SHONDA RHIMES
Nataja “Tay” Peed loves writing
From the young age of 10, when she learned how to type, Nataja “Tay” Peed has loved writing fiction. Peed said her mom shared one of her first short stories with members of her church, which she said was quite embarrassing at the time, but gave her the courage to allow others to read and critique her work. “The best way to improve your writing is to keep writing and put your work out there,” Peed said.
This fall, Peed, who said she has “written more books than I can count on my fingers,” will receive her undergraduate degree in English with a minor in creative writing and a certificate in business and technical communication.
“I love writing, whether it’s creatively or professionally, and my long-term goal is to pursue a career in television writing,” she said. “I felt a certificate in business and technical communication would strengthen my writing along several spectrums. Having the degree and certificate under my belt opens me up to a wide range of jobs.”
While working on her degree, Peed served as an intern with the North Carolina Literary Review, where she participated in the everyday processes of editing and publishing.
GRADUATE PROFILES
Read more profiles of Fall 2018 Pirate graduates.
Peed interned with the North Carolina Literary Review while working on her degree.
“Interning at the NCLR was one of the best decisions I made in my college career. It taught me a lot about my work ethic, and it gave me peace of mind that after graduating, I could find a similar job and love what I’m doing,” she said.
“During her internship, Tay has proven herself quite the editor, as evidenced in, among other qualities, the kinds of questions she asks as she works on a piece,” said Dr. Margaret Bauer, Harriot College Distinguished Professor and editor of the NCLR. “Her attention to detail and her efficient, accurate formatting and editing, along with her reliability and strong work ethic, bode well for her future in publishing.
“ECU set me up perfectly for the ‘real world.’ I went through three majors before finding the perfect one. By switching majors, I feel that every job I apply for, I bring a bit of spark and expertise from another subject,” Peed said. “I’m thankful for my obstacles in trying to find my calling. I’m thankful for my diverse group of friends that I made on campus. I’m thankful for the wild, humorous and educational experiences. The years on this campus have been unpredictable, but they taught me that through it all I can do phenomenal things and hopefully, in the future, be the next Shonda Rhimes.”