Alicia King is an Australian writer whose work has appeared in Surfing World, White Horses and Sea Together.
Her writing is driven by a deep curiosity about people—their inner lives, relationships, and how they make sense of their worlds.
She lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with her husband, three kids, and two dogs, and works as a physiotherapist when she’s not balancing family life with outdoor adventures and time in the ocean.
In my own words…
I grew up in Sydney’s Inner West and spent much of my adolescence grinding up and down swimming pools in the pursuit of competitive glory, but my fondest memories are of Sunday mornings spent in the ocean whilst a “Nipper” at Elouera Surf Lifesaving Club in Cronulla.
I discovered the delight of playing in effervescent, moving water, and I loved it.
I was a promising age group swimmer and Surf Lifesaver, winning State and Australian Age Titles in the pool and ocean. Atop the black line, my strength was Butterfly, which I reckon — like life — is all about rhythm and flow: when you try too hard, you usually find yourself bobbing up and down on the spot.
I desperately wanted to make the Australian Swim Team, and I almost did, just missing the 1998 Commonwealth Games team when I was sixteen, placing third at the trials. The truth is, I wanted it too much, by gripping on to my dreams so tightly, I inadvertently crushed them, as I became crippled by my own fears and stories my mind created.
My imagination was alive and at work, but in a destructive way! Whilst bouts of anxiety and depression have punctuated my life since my late teens, finding recovery from addiction in my 30s has gifted me a degree of serenity and stability I didn’t think possible. I’ve also found healthier ways to channel my overactive imagination and obsessive-compulsive personality — cue surfing, skateboarding, board paddling, swimming, and of course, writing.
I enjoyed writing at school, but it wasn’t until I started surfing in my early twenties that I felt compelled to write. Most of the surfing books and magazines I read told the stories of men. I wanted to know more about surfing women! So, I pestered a surf magazine editor until he agreed to give me a chance. I have since had interviews, profile pieces and creative nonfiction published.
I write to understand myself, others, and the world a little better, or at least try to.
As a kid, I asked a lot of questions. My dad would often laugh and say, ‘Alicia, you want to know the ins and outs of a cat’s arse,’ and I guess I’m still the same.
If you’ve got an assignment, want to collaborate or just say G’day, shoot me an email at aliciamajellaking@gmail.com.
You can also find me on Instagram @aliciamaking.
P.S. The image on my homepage is my favourite place in the whole world. The tip of the reef is only about 500m from shore, but it feels like another world, especially when there’s swell — waves ricochet off the rocky outcrop with cormorants and gulls swirling above.
I often paddle out here with my Surf Club mates, and sometimes on my own. When the surf is flat and glassy, it feels serene. When the waves and wind are wild and the sky is grey, it feels like a prehistoric realm. Raw. Spooky. Mesmerising.
