Young Crime Writers Thrilled To See Their Work In Print
Tollbar Academy Year 9 students - Evie Jacobs, Claudia Kelly and Layla Salameh - with their 100-word crime stories which have been published in the Young Writers’ anthology ‘Unsolved.’
Fifteen aspiring writers have had their short crime stories published in an anthology entitled “Unsolved” after taking part in the latest Young Writers’ competition.
The English students, who are all in Years 8 and 9 at Tollbar Academy, were challenged to write a 100-word mini saga inspired by the crime and mystery genre.
The students took to the task with enthusiasm and put their sleuthing to the test with a range of stories with titles such as ‘The Babysitter,’ ‘The Kidnapping,’ ‘The Sleepwalking Killer,’ ‘House Of Hell,’ ‘Crime Life’ and ‘Case Closed.’
Year 8 student Nuala Stephenson (12), who wrote ‘The Babysitter,’ said she really enjoyed the task. “It was quite hard keeping to 100 words but it was fun to imagine the story,” she said.
For Year 9 student Evie Jacobs (14), ’The Sleepwalking Killer’ was not her first attempt at serious writing. “I am really into true crime and so writing this was really enjoyable,.” she explained. “I have written a book in lockdown and I am writing my second one now. Writing is something I really would like to do in the future.”
Fellow Year 9 student Layla Salameh (13) wrote ‘Case Closed.’ The story is about a character who is found not guilty of a crime that they committed. Claudia Kelly (13) wrote ‘House of Hell.’ Harry Edwards (13) wrote ‘The Dream Killer’ but did not expect to see it published. “It is great to see it in a book,” he said.
Twelve-year-old Alex Reed (Year 8) wrote ‘Target Acquired.’ “It is about a crime and a best friend’s betrayal,” he said.
Year 8 student Joshua Corken (12) wrote ‘Crime Life’ as his entry into the competition. “It is about drugs and imprisonment,” he explained. “It is something that just came into my head and I enjoyed writing it.”
‘Young Writers’ is a national organisation which has promoted poetry and creative writing within schools for the past 30 years.
Tollbar Academy English Teacher Kate Lockett said: “We had a large number of entries to submit for this competition and it was an amazing opportunity for the students to have the chance to see their work in print. It was a challenge because the limited word count meant the students had to choose their vocabulary very carefully, and I am very proud of their work.”
Year 8 student Nuala Stephenson (12) with her short story “The Babysitter,” which has been published as part of the Young Writers’ ‘Unsolved’ anthology.
Tollbar Academy students Alex Reed (Year 8), Harry Edwards (Year 9) and Joshua Corken (Year 8) have had their short stories published in the ‘Unsolved’ crime anthology.
Eden Castle (Year 8) with her story “The Kidnapping” which is now in print as part of the ‘Unsolved’ anthology.
Year 8 and 9 students at Tollbar Academy whose 100-word crime mysteries have been published in the Young Writers’ anthology ‘Unsolved.’ With them is English Teacher Miss Kate Lockett.
