Successful writers make it look so easy! A glimpse into the working process with children’s author Sophie McKenzie showed Y8 how much fun it could be too. Describing the choices she faces in writing the perfect opening chapter of a thriller, Sophie got them to weigh up the pros and cons of decisions made. “Keep the stakes high,” she advised them. “Why does it matter that your character makes that journey?” Together they invented the situation, layering the tension with a tight time-frame, putting obstacles in the way, building the story to a cliff-hanger finish.

Y8 were gripped. Now they know what to aim for: something gritty, adventurous, with a sense of danger but emphasis on relationships too – just like Sophie does. We watched a trailer for her latest book, ‘Sister, Missing’. “Maddison must be here somewhere. Think. Where could she have gone?”

Not that being an author doesn’t require hard work. How nice would it be to share a story and get it published, Sophie thought. “There was only one problem: I wasn’t good enough,” she said. “I went to creative writing class and started 17 books before one beginning was worth pursuing.”

Y8 really loved Sophie’s reading from her books and her answers to their questions. “I liked the way we planned an opening chapter together “(Anna).... “And the way she explained what makes a good thriller” (Aisling).....  “I liked the way she explains things but not everything, so you have to read more” (Jabin)...... “I got ‘Girl, Missing’ for my birthday which I finished in two hours! I try to read whenever I can – I’m a bit of a bookworm! Now I want to read ‘Medusa Project’. The characters sound great!” (Nikita)

26 September 2011