Everything young authors need to get started!
The Spencil Writer’s Prize is just around the corner and all this rainy weather is the perfect time for your little authors to start daydreaming about a story to enter, while being stuck indoors!
Do your kids love getting lost in the wondrous world of books and stories? Does their imagination run wild and their characters come to life in vivid detail? They could write their own short story, poem or comic!
We have put together a step-by-step creative writing guide to encourage them to get started. Who knows, you could have the next JK Rowling or Bryce Courtney in the family!
This one’s for the story-tellers, the dreamers and any kid with a big imagination!
Plot Your Story
Where is your story going to take place? Is it by the sea, in the rainforest or maybe on a faraway planet! Take inspiration from the world around you and decide where your characters will be when they set off on their exciting adventure.
Once you know where they’ll be, start thinking about what’s going to happen to your brave new explorers. Has the jungle taken them to a hidden treehouse or perhaps they’ve gone back in time to the land of dinosaurs!
Having a rough plot can help shape your story and give direction if you’re feeling a little writer’s block coming on! But plans were meant to change, and if your story suddenly takes an exciting twist then follow your creativity! Some of the best stories come unexpectedly.
Create Your Characters
Who will your main characters be? Think about what role each character will play in the story and how readers will feel about them. Are they a villain or a hero? Are they goofy, playful, serious, level headed or cheerful?
Creating personalities for your main characters can help bring them to life. Start by giving them a name, a role, what they look like and how they behave.
Here’s how you might like to map out your story idea (we’ve drawn inspiration from Koala Daydream) :
Name: Tiggy
Role: Lead character and mischievous son of Wilbur & Lola
Description: 8 years old, fluffy grey fur, distinctive white patch on head.
Behaviour: Brave, cheeky, mischievous, pushes the boundaries, big heart, funny.
Unlike most Koalas, Tiggy loves exploring and can’t wait to climb the beautiful gumtrees around his home. However one day his fierce desire for adventure might take him too far!
Entice Your Audience
The key to a good story is a captivating opening sentence! From the moment your audience starts reading your story, you want to grab their attention and leave them desperate to know what happens next…
Here are some cliff-hanging story starters:
- When I can home, my toys were everywhere.
- No one would believe what we found that night.
- As Jack walked down the street, he felt the spider in his pocket stir.
- Tiggy didn’t mean for it to happen.
- It was the first day of school.
Put Pen to Paper
Once you have these initial components mapped out, you’re ready to put pen to paper! Let your imagination run wild and see where the story takes you. You can write a first draft and then review and change things once you’ve given it more thought. Your story might end completely different to what you first imagined, but that’s where the magic of creative writing happens!
All you need to get started is a pen or pencil, some paper and some time to dream and create. The above tips are a guide but there are no rules to creative writing – just have fun and see where your imagination goes. You never know what you might discover.
Entries open for the Spencil Writer’s Prize in just a few weeks – keep your eyes peeled on social and our newsletter for all the exciting details!