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swindonlink.com • December 2009 37

Spooky ending for fastest story
Year 9 pupils from fi ve secondary schools contributed to the fastest
horror story in the west during November’s Youth Festival of Literature
which brought authors to the town and inspired young people to delve
more deeply into books.
Five young-
sters from Green-
down composed
the story’s ending
after the begin-
ning was writ-
ten by pupils at
Swindon Acad-
emy, followed
by contributions
from Dorcan, The Greendown rapid thinking story tellers
Kingsdown, Warneford and Com- good to talk about what might
monweal. happen next and write it together.”
Fastest story coordinator Ali Jenny Eagle, Greendown’s learn-
Slaven-Holder from Nova Hreod ing resource manager, was very
said that horror is the preferred pleased with how the pupils re-
genre of many teenage readers, so sponded to the festival activities.
the challenge was to create a scary “It’s so exciting to watch young
story. The pupils did not disappoint, people engage with stories and
with gory goings-on, mysterious books and champion their favou-
strangers and a very spooky ending. rites among their peers,” she said.
“Being the last in the the chain “The fastest story is such a great
meant we had lots of questions to challenge for pupils, that we’re also
answer in the ending,” said Green- doing a version of it between three
down pupil Tarquin Pryor. primary schools, Oliver Tomkins,
“It was a bit random, but it was Moredon and Nythe, who will each
easier to use others’ ideas than have get the opportunity to produce
to think of them all on our own,” their own illustrations for their
said fellow contributor Megan story too.”
Knowles. A printed version of the com-
Oliver John also appreciated the pleted story was circulated amongst
collaborative approach. “It was participating writers.

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