Literacy news
Tom Palmer competition winners...
9 Nov 2010
Many thanks to everyone for entering.
In the end, there were 874 entries from Hull to Madrid. The stories included spaceships, invisibility, underground caverns, laser guns, happy endings, tragic endings and romance.
First (prize = 60 books, 11 books and name to be used in Tom's next football series)
Marcella from Devon
Second (prize = 30 books and 11 books)
Lucy from Huddersfield
Third (prize = 30 books and 11 books)
Miles from Preston
Fourth (prize = one signed book of their choice)
Catherine from Huddersfield
Fifth (prize = one signed book of their choice)
Toby Barnes
Wekll done everyone! Tom came up with some useful tips, which he collated from the best writers. Here are the tips:
- write a clear and quick story that tells the reader what is happening – and to who – without spending too much time describing things
- surprise the reader with something they would never see coming (for instance, maybe the detectives DON’T solve the mystery and it all goes wrong)
- use the kind of words you would speak, rather than words you think a writer should use – it can sound more natural
- try and come up with a big idea, something new and exciting – such as a girl’s lipstick that can also be used as a laser to cut through walls
- read lots of different authors – it was clear that the winners had read books by lots of authors and it gave them the edge because they had learn how great writers put a story together
And here is a personal message from Tom:
‘I loved judging the competition. There were so many good ideas and so much excellent writing. I learnt a lot about writing myself from reading the 874 writers who took part. For me the best part was seeing what children did with my characters Danny and Charlotte. Especially Charlotte. I think I’ll have to do a spin off series about her! Thank you to all the children and teachers who took part.’
Tom
Most read
Related content
- Poetry’s the pill: the experiences of a spoken word educator in Blogs by Guest blogger
- Buzzing about books - using talk and peer recommendation to hook pupils into reading in Blogs by Susie Musgrove
- Young people and literacy have changed their relationship status to ‘it’s complicated’ in Blogs by Guest blogger
- Can teaching speaking and listening change behaviour in secondary classes? in Blogs by Sally Melvin
- How to use the new football season to get your kids reading for pleasure in Blogs by Jim Sells
