Author Visit Brings Stories to Life for Year 8 Students

March 14th 2025

As part of our World Book Day celebrations, Year 8 pupils enjoyed an engaging and entertaining visit from author S.J. Wills, best known for Bite Risk. The session blended humor, creativity, and valuable writing insights.

Wills shared her passion for the magic of storytelling before leading a hands-on structuring and editing workshop. Together, they developed a comical story featuring an unusual antagonist—a lemon sherbet-eyed monster. Through this fun and interactive activity, pupils gained a deeper understanding of the writing process. Wills emphasized that while writing can sometimes be challenging and even frustrating, the effort is always worth it in the end.

She also spoke about the power of fiction, describing it as a way to bring imaginative worlds to life. Using this idea as a springboard, she encouraged students to think critically about fake news versus facts and to ask themselves: "What emotion is this news trying to provoke in me?"

For Wills, writing became a tool for self-expression. She described herself as naturally shy and explained how strong emotions, drawn from real-life experiences, can create powerful connections between writers and readers.

The session was both inspiring and thought-provoking, leaving many Year 7 pupils eager to explore their own storytelling potential.

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