One of the most popular things we do at Young Writers is the five-minute writing challenge. When I first introduced this idea, it was met with horror. How could you possibly be expected to produce a piece of writing of any worth in just five minutes? But that’s the beauty of this type of ... READ the POST

When I first came across a poetry form called The Magic Nine, I was immediately intrigued. Though I love having a go at writing poetry and simply going with the flow, I also like a challenge. This one appealed because it is a structured form that follows the rhyming pattern: ABACADABA. What ... READ the POST

Want to know how to cook up a story idea? Follow this simple recipe. All you need are a few good ingredients. Mix them up with a bit of imagination and you’re good to go. What you will need: - Two characters - A place - Two objects - An adjective - An abstract noun What to do: 1. ... READ the POST

Although not easy to come up with, I love metaphors. I guess that’s partly what makes them so appealing. That, and the fact you don’t need to use many in your writing for them to have an impact. Unlike similes that make a direct comparison with something else using ‘like’ or ‘as’ (you can ... READ the POST

I love personification. It is one of my favourite writing techniques. Perhaps this is because of the vividness it brings to your writing, as well as the idea that you can give life to your settings in a way that is only possible using this technique. Plus, it's fun! At the Storymakers Club, ... READ the POST