By Meg Kennedy<\/p>\n
Students were treated to a special workshop with local author Allyse Near at Bacchus Marsh Primary School last week, in preparation for the Moorabool Young Writers Awards.
\nThe students discovered the magic behind the opening lines of successful children\u2019s books \u2013 from \u2018Alice in Wonderland\u2019 to \u2018Harry Potter and the Philosopher\u2019s Stone\u2019 \u2013 and practised writing a \u2018sizzling starter\u2019 for the opening of their own stories.
\nMs Near, who will return as this year\u2019s judge for the awards, said that there were \u201cso many fantastic entries last year,\u201d and is on the eye for stories that will \u201cgrab my attention and force me to keep reading.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m looking for stories that are a little bit against the grain and against the norm, I want the kids to really have to stretch their imaginations, and find something inside themselves,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cI\u2019m looking for unusual stories and for sophisticated techniques, [such as] similes and metaphors, and really beautiful language.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen you read a really good sentence and you just go, \u2018Wow, I have to read that again\u2019, I\u2019m looking for that.\u201d
\nMs Near said that although the awards are in the second-year of running, there \u201cwas a need for it in the community, especially in this area.\u201d
\n\u201cBacchus Marsh has a really rich literary tradition, we have Peter Carey and lots of authors that come from this area, as well as filmmakers and artists,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cI think it\u2019s important to encourage children, and to give them that support and connection, as well to their local authors and to their library, and to each other,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cI want them to find their fellow writers and storytellers, and be able to get some feedback, which I think is important.\u201d
\nEntries for the 2019 Moorabool Young Writers Awards are now open until April 21.
\nSubmissions will be accepted via email at info@moorabool.vic.gov.au or hand delivery to the Lerderderg Library in Bacchus Marsh or Ballan Library.
\nEntries must be typed and will be judged blind, so no names on work, but entry forms must be attached. Each child may enter one story and entry is free.
\nWinners will be announced on June 1st at an afternoon tea, held in conjunction with the Peter Carey Short Story Award.
\nAll winning stories will be displayed in the Lerderderg Library in Bacchus Marsh.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Meg Kennedy Students were treated to a special workshop with local author Allyse Near at Bacchus Marsh Primary School last week, in preparation for the Moorabool Young Writers Awards. The students discovered the magic behind the opening lines of successful children\u2019s books \u2013 from \u2018Alice in Wonderland\u2019 to \u2018Harry Potter and the Philosopher\u2019s Stone\u2019 […]<\/p>\n