Tamsyn’s Tips for Budding Writers

Write about things you know – for example, I make up stories about my pets and the things that happen to them. These are sometimes true stories!

A good story has a beginning, a middle and an end. It needs characters, a setting and some action – if you don’t have these things, you don’t have a story.

Begin your story at an exciting point - don't start with what time your character woke up and what they had for breakfast. Unless they have eaten magic cereal that gives them wings...

The middle of your story needs to be exciting too - give your characters some problems to overcome.

Make sure the end matches the rest of the story - it is not the time to introduce a brand new character who saves the day.

Use plenty of speech and don’t spend too long describing things.

Above all, enjoy writing – if you’re not having fun, how will your readers?