For Abbie
I visited a school recently and had a fantastic time, creating stories with all the kids... 'What a good day', I thought, as I packed away my things. As I was about to go, I was handed a story - pre-written and printed out for me. It was by a girl named Abbie. She wanted me to take it away and read it. And right there and then, my day got even better.
Not because I was flattered to be given a story, but because it reminded me of my own burning desire to write when I was her age. It was compulsive. And Abbie - I'm sure of it - is a compulsive story-teller, too.
Abbie, I hope that your love of writing is a fire that never dies out, because I have read the story you gave me, and... Well, just read the following paragraph - my letter to you.
Dear Abbie
Your story came straight out of your head - I can tell it did. I can tell that you weren't thinking hard about your characters and how they should speak and act, but instead they were there, ready-formed in your head. Nothing about their personalities was strained or difficult. I could see them clearly. Your dialogue backs that up. Dialogue is extremely important and yours was tremendous, powerful and very natural. Many writers struggle for years to get dialogue right, and you already know how to write it! The story itself is intriguing - I want to know why Tilly is how she is. Why does she have tantrums? Why is this her fifth school? Why is everyone at the school so strange with new kids?... Don't worry about all my questions. It's a good thing. It means that you've pulled me into the story and I want to find out more. So now I would suggest that you keep it flowing - get it all out. Then, when you think you've finished, go back over it and get all that punctuation and spelling right. Not because it's important in creativity, but because it makes it easier for your readers to follow. And I promise you, when you get that right, your readers are going to be very pleased indeed with your story. I'm really glad you shared it with me, and please let me see it again when you've gone back over it, shaped it and made it the best it can be. You are talented, Abbie. Don't ever stop writing.
Rachel xxx
Not because I was flattered to be given a story, but because it reminded me of my own burning desire to write when I was her age. It was compulsive. And Abbie - I'm sure of it - is a compulsive story-teller, too.
Abbie, I hope that your love of writing is a fire that never dies out, because I have read the story you gave me, and... Well, just read the following paragraph - my letter to you.
Dear Abbie
Your story came straight out of your head - I can tell it did. I can tell that you weren't thinking hard about your characters and how they should speak and act, but instead they were there, ready-formed in your head. Nothing about their personalities was strained or difficult. I could see them clearly. Your dialogue backs that up. Dialogue is extremely important and yours was tremendous, powerful and very natural. Many writers struggle for years to get dialogue right, and you already know how to write it! The story itself is intriguing - I want to know why Tilly is how she is. Why does she have tantrums? Why is this her fifth school? Why is everyone at the school so strange with new kids?... Don't worry about all my questions. It's a good thing. It means that you've pulled me into the story and I want to find out more. So now I would suggest that you keep it flowing - get it all out. Then, when you think you've finished, go back over it and get all that punctuation and spelling right. Not because it's important in creativity, but because it makes it easier for your readers to follow. And I promise you, when you get that right, your readers are going to be very pleased indeed with your story. I'm really glad you shared it with me, and please let me see it again when you've gone back over it, shaped it and made it the best it can be. You are talented, Abbie. Don't ever stop writing.
Rachel xxx
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