Schools ‘need funds’ to work with authors

GP Taylor has told The Yorkshire Post that having authors and storytellers meeting children helps to get young people interested in reading.

He said: “Authors are storytellers. They know how to get people interested in the story and I find that even when we are saying the same things as the teachers pupils will be more open to us as we are not their teacher.

“The problem is, of course, that authors cannot give up all of their time free of charge and so this costs money. I think it is something the Government should look at.

“Funding schools to ensure every pupil has the chance to meet authors and work with them. It makes a huge difference. I see it myself and other authors I speak to do as well.”

He has also urged schools and the Government to look to bring more modern writing into the school curriculum.

Mr Taylor told The Yorkshire Post that expecting teenagers to enjoy reading Shakespeare was a mistake as the style of writing and the subject of the stories would mean nothing to them.

He added: “Take a book like Of Mice and Men. It is a great book but it is just not relevant to young people and they do not get anything from it.”

The writer, who is from Scarborough, has called for the works of more modern authors such as Sue Townsend, who wrote the series of Adrian Mole books and died last month, to be taught in lessons.

He has also given his support to The Yorkshire Post’s Turning the Page campaign to promote the importance of young people mastering reading and writing and developing a love of stories.

He has also urged pupils in the region to enter our Inspiring Young Writers short story writing competition. As part of the campaign the paper is looking to celebrate the work of pupils across the Yorkshire region.

The competition is looking for entries of between 500 and 1,000 words, and they can be either a self-contained short story or the opening chapter. Mr Taylor, who is the author of the best-selling novels, Shadowmancer, Wormwood and Tersias, is the latest famous writer to back our short story competition and to offer advice to those taking part.

Before taking up writing full-time, he was a police officer, motorcyclist and the Anglican vicar in the village of Cloughton in North Yorkshire.

He said: “If you are writing a short story of 1,000 words I would say you have an introduction of 325 words, a middle of about the same and then an end of 325 words.

“The beginning of the story is key. You have to be able to get the reader to think ‘I want to see how this will end’.”

Mr Taylor added that pupils may want to map out their entire story first and then begin writing to provide a more structured approach to their stories.

He added: “Then you can begin to write about 325 words for each part of the story.”

However, Mr Taylor maintained that some authors prefer to simply begin writing to help them find their characters’ “voice and personality”.

He added: “One thing I do before I start writing is to simply to walk and think.”

The Inspiring Young Writers competition is looking for pupils to tell us their stories.

The Yorkshire Post has helped by providing the opening line. All entries must begin: “The time had come and there was no turning back.”

There will be three categories for young people up to the age of 11, 14 and 16.

Entries can be sent via email to: [email protected] and titled Inspiring Young Writers.

People can also send their work by post to Inspiring Young Writers c/o John Roberts, Education Correspondent, Yorkshire Post, No 1 Leeds, 26 Whitehall Road, Leeds, LS12 1BE.

Entries should include the writer’s name, address, age and a telephone number.

The deadline for entries to the competition is Saturday, May 17.