Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts

Tuesday, 25 January 2022

Writing Competition: British Asian Own Voices

Are you aged 11-14 and love writing stories? Do you have a fascinating story about your family to tell?

Scholastic are currently looking for own voices to contribute to their new book Bedtime Stories: Amazing Asian Tales from the Past which will publish in the UK in October 2022.


Bedtime Stories: Amazing Asian Tales from the Past will be an inspiring new book of stories based on real historical events that celebrate and share British Asian experiences. 

The competition will be judged by a panel including an editor from Scholastic Children’s Books.

The winning story will be included in the published book and the writer will receive a huge inclusive collection of books for their school.



Conditions:

Stories must be by writers 7-14

Stories must not exceed 1,500 words in length

They must be based on real history – perhaps based on your family or local history near to you


To enter, submit your story by 14th February 2022 to publicity@scholastic.co.uk with the subject line ‘Bedtime Stories entry for Amazing Asian Tales from the Past’

Looking for inspiration? Scholastic have also provided the following writing prompts to get you started!

- What story would be important for others to hear?

- Talk to your family for ideas.

- Explore your local area's history for any hidden stories.

- Is there something that you want to know more about?


Story starter sentences from Scholastic:

- Once upon a time, there was a...

- One of the most interesting things about...

-You'll never guess what happened!

- Despite the fact that....

-I must tell you about...


For more information please see the Scholastic webpage: Scholastic Competition: Bedtime Stories, Amazing Asian Tales from the Past. Please ask at the desk if you have any questions too!


Wednesday, 5 January 2022

Spuddle: catch up with the Graphic Novel Club

 As 2022 begins, the Graphic Novels Club would like to share some of their work from the last twelve months! 

Earlier this year, members had the opportunity to take part in the Excelsior Award where they read and discussed the graphic novels nominated for the award before voting for their favourites. 

Witch Hat Atelier, They Called us Enemy and Hotel Dare proved to be popular choices among our members and are now all available to borrow from the library!


With the start of the new academic year in September, the club also worked together to compile a list of book recommendations. Intended as an introduction for new readers, the GN reading list reflects a broad range of genres and is a great resource for anyone looking to get into the genre or try something a bit different.


Please see our previous blogpost to see the list in full and get a taste of some of these brilliant picks: The Grey Coat Library - Books &c.: Intro to Graphic Novels: a reading list !


Of course, the majority of the GN Club's time has been focused on creating their very own graphic novel. After months of detailed planning, story boarding, script writing and designing, the GN Club has finally begun the final design for their own original graphic novel. 

Spanning multiple genres and featuring a broad range of pop culture references and artistic styles, Spuddle is an original and ambitious multi-verse comic detailing protagonist Sam's adventures attempts to find her missing friend as she travels across different realities and encounters surprising obstacles and romance in her quest.


Keep an eye out for further updates on the progress of Spuddle here on the library blog!


If the Graphic Novels Club sounds like something you might be interested in, please come along to our next meeting.

The GN club meets every Wednesday from 3:30-4:30 at St Andrew's Library and includes students from years 7-10 - new members from any year are always welcome!


Friday, 3 December 2021

Gems from 'The Nowhere Emporium': A Creative Writing Workshop with Ross MacKenzie

On Monday 22nd November, Evernight author Ross MacKenzie visited the Library where he held a writing workshop for year 7 and 8 students. 

As part of the workshop, Ross talked about his book The Nowhere Emporium and encouraged students to invent their own magical rooms in a short piece of creative writing.

All of our students produced brilliant work and we have chosen a few 'rooms' to share with you all to demonstrate the broad range of creative writing produced by years 7 and 8!


My door: Its Purr-fect by Isabella 7R

You move towards the shiny purple door, faint 'mews' can be heard. Click. The door swings open revealing an extensive world. The jagged horizon made of mountains, frames the souring casts, their wings casting shadows over the vast land. Roaring mews fill your ears. The air feels soft, like it gently lays on your skin and a subtle fishy, almost salty, smell lingers over a creamy lake glistening in the sun. Cats fill every corner, leaping over the luscious green grass. This world thrives, no sign of melancholy or guilt. Almost as though they have been banished. Every sad thought you've ever had is replaced with the memory of a joyous cat. The world feels right here. 


The Colour of Music by Michal 8C

As I staggered into the shop, everything was a shad of grey, black and white. People observed the items and instruments in awe and admiration. I thought 'what was there that was so impressive?'.

 I went up to the cashier and said 'nothing is colourful'. 

Then she came up close and said 'there is but you are looking carelessly'. 

I strolled through the shop, thinking about what she meant. I could smell a fresh breeze of metal and rotten pieces of skin from the drums. I approached the guitars, hung high up on the wall and slowly brushed my soft hands against the surface. It was as smooth as a baby. It's string suddenly plucked itself and made a gentle and smooth note. It echoed across the whole room, making the ground tremble and the instruments sang with colour dispersing across the unlively surfaces of the instruments.

As I circled the room, I could see yellows, reds, pinks, purples, blues, turquoises and many more. The room lit up, sending big smiles across the customers faces.

I picked up a drum, sat down, and played a beat that echoed through my ears, full of colour and joyfulness. The room was like an enchanted forest and now I can see the colours because I looked closely and found my imagination.


The Room of Possibilities by Kimora 8C

A never ending space of wonder, marble walls with splats of colour stretch out across the room. Pens, pencils, paints and paper of all colours, shapes and sizes fill the empty spaces in this magical place.

The smell of fresh paint and ink linger in the warm, cooling air. At the far end of the room there on the wall is a golden plaque, engraved in it are the words 'The Room of Possibilities'. 

The place looks as if it belongs in a palace with magical pens, pencils, and paint that can bring whatever you draw/paint come to life. At the very end of the room right next to the plaque there is a door, a simple white door with a golden doorknob... 


Well done to all students who participated - everyone at the library (and Ross himself) were very impressed with the work shared!

Evernight and Feast of the Evernight are now available to reserve from the library!