I ran a short story competition at some schools for the kids to win copies of my books and I’m reading through the entries today and man, kids are morbid. It’s kind of funny how wild their imaginations get.
And one of them had a genuinely sad and depressing ending. It was a story about a girl and her mum and it mentions she doesn’t know where he dad is and how she wishes she had a sister and then bed creatures attack her and kill her mum and she runs away but theres more monsters and she runs back into the house and lays on her bed ending it with ‘why should I save myself. I’ve lost everything I’ve loved.’
Primary school age. I don’t have any details on them aside from name (for obvious reasons) but I’d say they’re grade 4 and up.
Well, picking winners was easy for 2 schools. There were going to be three winners from each school. One school submitted 3 stories and one submitted one so they win by default. I’m currently writing each a personal letter congratulating them and some thoughts and writing advice.
The other school submitted 10. I haven’t read them yet but I’m gonna feel bad for the ones who don’t win. I’m almost considering giving them all a copy.
I ran a short story competition at some schools for the kids to win copies of my books and I’m reading through the entries today and man, kids are morbid. It’s kind of funny how wild their imaginations get.
And one of them had a genuinely sad and depressing ending. It was a story about a girl and her mum and it mentions she doesn’t know where he dad is and how she wishes she had a sister and then bed creatures attack her and kill her mum and she runs away but theres more monsters and she runs back into the house and lays on her bed ending it with ‘why should I save myself. I’ve lost everything I’ve loved.’
Wowww that’s brutal. How old are the kids? That’s a cool competition though! How will you select a winner?
Primary school age. I don’t have any details on them aside from name (for obvious reasons) but I’d say they’re grade 4 and up.
Well, picking winners was easy for 2 schools. There were going to be three winners from each school. One school submitted 3 stories and one submitted one so they win by default. I’m currently writing each a personal letter congratulating them and some thoughts and writing advice.
The other school submitted 10. I haven’t read them yet but I’m gonna feel bad for the ones who don’t win. I’m almost considering giving them all a copy.
Oof, I remember writing some real grim stuff when I was in primary and highschool lol. Scared a couple of my English and Literature teachers.
Kid’s imaginations are wild, untamed places lol
That’s incredibly sad for someone so young to feel.
Right! I’m hoping they are very creative and it’s not reflective of something going on in their lives.