KINGSTON, Jamaica: For 26-year-old medical doctor Rashaun Stewart, the prescription for literary excellence has been a healthy dose of imagination, a lifelong love of reading and an unwavering commitment to the craft of writing.

Stewart emerged as the Best Overall Writer in the Jamaica Creative Writing Competition, organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), taking home an impressive 11 awards across the competition's categories. 

His haul comprised two Gold, two Silver, five Bronze and two Merit awards, placing him at the top of this year's field of talented Jamaican writers. He received gold awards for essays; one silver medal for essay; one silver medal for poetry; and five bronze medals for poetry and two merit awards for poetry. Stewart was also named Best Intermediate Essayist for the work “Beyond Vision 2030: Why Jamaica needs a moral development Index”.

For Stewart, however, the achievement represents much more than a collection of awards. Having entered the competition over the past three years and placed third on each of his first two attempts, this year's victory marks a significant personal milestone.

"There are no words to describe the feeling, to be honest. This is my first time emerging the victor. The previous two occasions I placed third, so the feeling is unprecedented. Words can't capture how immensely grateful I am. The immensity of the elation, the gratitude... I don't have words, really," he said.

While his professional life is dedicated to medicine, Stewart's passion for the written word has been developing since childhood. He describes books as his escape during his formative years. What began as a love of reading eventually morphed into writing, which he began exploring during his final year of medical school.

He began to see a symbiotic relationship between the analytical demands of medicine and the imagination required for creative writing. Rather, the two disciplines offer different, but equally meaningful forms of fulfilment.

"Reading is cathartic, yes. But writing is equally cathartic. I find that there's nothing that quite manages to compare to the feeling of being able to put words to paper and create an entirely new universe out of just the power of the written word," he explained.

Writing, he added, provides an outlet for the many thoughts and ideas that occupy his mind, allowing him to express perspectives and experiences that others can explore and interpret. It is this sense of creative freedom, coupled with the therapeutic value of the process, that continues to motivate him.

His approach to writing is rooted in an idea, however unconventional. He then puts the thought to paper, returns to develop and refine, followed by multiple rounds of revision before the final product emerges.

­That commitment to refinement was particularly evident in one of his award-winning essays, which required extensive research and considerable attention to detail. Stewart revealed that the initial draft exceeded 4,000 words and underwent approximately seven or eight revisions before it was submitted.

Although he admits that revisiting and critiquing his own work can be painful, he believes the effort is worthwhile. For Him, the best writing is rewriting. 

"At the end of the day, generating a piece that is one that you can look back on with pride makes that iterative revision process worth it," he said.

Stewart's writing interests are broad, with subject matter ranging from contemporary Jamaican realities and socioeconomic issues, to poverty, crime and other developments affecting society. He does not confine himself to a particular genre, although he identifies essays and short stories as his stronger areas, alongside an appreciation for poetry.

Writing also presents an opportunity to contribute to national conversations, offering perspectives on issues that affect Jamaican society and giving voice to thoughts and experiences that may otherwise remain unexpressed.

He is encouraging other professionals, including fellow medical practitioners, who write privately but may be hesitant to share their work or enter competitions, to take that first step.

Stewart's achievement underscores the breadth of talent being nurtured through the JCDC's Jamaica Creative Writing Competition and the importance of providing opportunities for Jamaicans to develop, share and showcase their literary abilities.

The competition provides a platform for emerging and established writers to explore their creativity across categories including novels, essays, plays, poetry and short stories. Through the programme, the JCDC continues to encourage Jamaicans to tell their own stories, preserve their cultural experiences and contribute to the country's rich literary heritage.

Despite his success, Stewart does not intend to rest on his laurels. Now in his first year of medical residency, he plans to continue developing his medical career while remaining committed to writing and returning to the competition next year.

"Hoping I can do even better," he said of his plans for the future.