Recently, the author Darren Shan and I got together to launched a writing competition for the students at Bingley Grammar School in West Yorkshire. We wanted to promote literacy. Darren Shan is the author of the Cirque du Freak series, The Demonata series, The Saga of Larten Crepsley series, Cirque Du Freak: The Manga series and his latest book, Zom-B Goddess (Zom-B, #12), which is part of the Zom-B series amongst many other works.

The competition was rolled out to over 1,700 students, aged between 11 and 18. The competition was quite difficult. Students were asked to write about a fictional character that has had the most impact on their life. We wanted to know what it was about that particular character that had made a lasting impression, but they were only allowed one side of A4 paper to tell us about the character.

With so few words, the level of difficulty suddenly pushed the standard of writing up. It was a struggle to find the winning three from the entries, but after much deliberation the winners are:-

1st Prize = Cameron Parker Year 7

2nd Prize = Maryam Mahmood Year 7

3rd Prize = Cameron Tarpy Year 10

To see the winning piece, go to Darren Shan’s website by following this link:-

Shanville Monthly and Darren Shan’s Official Facebook Page by following this link:- http://www.darrenshan.com/news/shanville-monthly

Here is the second prize winning piece.

Katniss Everdeen

My favourite fictional character is Katniss Everdeen from the book ‘Hunger Games’ because she’d been honoured with many talents such as bravery, kindness and curiosity. Hunting, with a handmade bow, is her hobby. Living in the poorest district (district 12), she fights very hard to survive (along with her mum and little sister). She is pretty from the inside and from the out. She shows braveness and kindness when she volunteered to fight in the games instead of her little sister, Primrose.

Katniss is a loving sister and I want to be one too. I am quite like Katniss – I’m a little brave and I’m inquisitive.

After I read about Katniss’s personality, it kind of changed me. I thought about how I was before and after I read the book. Before, I’d let my sister fight in the game, but after I realised I was being selfish and not a loving sister. Katniss changed me in many ways. She’s my inspiration.

By Maryam Mahmood of Bingley Grammar School – Year 7 student.

Author – Darren Shan and I would like to thank the students and staff at Bingley Grammar School for supporting this competition and for the outstanding work of everyone who took part. We are honoured that you shared your favourite characters with us. Reading is the key to a better, more enriched life and writing comes as a consequence. Keep writing, keep reading and losing yourself in the world of a great book. Fight with the strongest, weep with the weakest then close your book for another chapter tomorrow.

Serina Hartwell Author of Hidden–The Hidden Saga Book 1
http://www.serinahartwell.com/
Goodreads Author
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8146251.Serina_Hartwell
Amazon – http://viewauthor.at/Serina_Hartwell