Embedded Files
In the inaugural year of the competition there were 66 entries submitted in the following categories:
K-2 category - 22
3-6 category - 23
7-9 category - 15
10-12 category - 6
Congratulations to ALL students who entered, we enjoyed your stories immensely! We appreciate the time and effort you spent crafting your fabulous story and we hope you all enter again next year with a new creation.
We would like to extend special thanks to our guest judge, Paul Mcdonald, who made these comments about the entries:
"Diverse, quirky, creative, fun and layered!"
K-2 Mia Waters- Helping the Sea
"There is something very fresh about Mia's story- and the sustainability themes resonate so much today. I look forward to seeing the polished version of this narrative."
Primary 3-6 Ruby Smith - 'Hope'
"I enjoyed the positive message of this story. I would like to see the language extended but the story is honest and authentic."
Junior Secondary 7-9 Laura Lidgard
"I think this story offers so much potential. The narration grabs the reader's attention from the outset and the ending leaves the reader wanting more. There is some great writing here. but the work needs attention in terms of tense and overall structure."
Senior Secondary 10-12 Jake Salvestrin 'Black-N-White'
"I loved the opening of this story- it grabbed my attention immediately! The perspective is the star- and I like that the story offers a conversation about racism and issues of embracing diversity."
Winners for competition categories 2022
Winners for competition categories 2022
K-2 category
Winner: Mia Waters
Year 2
St. Mary of the Angels - Guyra
Ideas for the world: "I want people to help keep the ocean clean for our animals. This matters to me because I love animals and visiting the beach."
Helping the Sea - Mia Waters - Matilda Hunt.pdfAuthor's Statement
Author's Statement
“I enjoyed writing my own book and working with Trish, because I enjoy writing and caring for the environment. I found the time with Trish easy and nice, she was helpful in convincing me to write and keep on helping my environment. I felt excited that I got to help with giving some ideas for the pictures of my book, and seeing how all of the characters developed.
I will always help the environment by collecting rubbish on the beaches and I hope our book helps others do the right thing.” Mia Waters
Check out these clips to see how the eBook was made...
MIA - friendly characters for the story.mp4Creating friendly characters
Mia - creating an Australian context for the story.mp4Creating an Australian feel
bringing elements together to make the story.mp4Brining elements together
thinking about the ending.mp4Thinking about the ending
3-6 category
Winner: Ruby Smith
Year 4
St. Joseph's - Uralla
Idea for the world: "Whoever you are, and whatever happens to you, you can be amazing."
Hope By Ruby Smith - Sue Newsome.docx7-9 category
Winner: Laura Lidgard
Year 7
O'Connor Catholic College - Armidale
Idea for the world: My idea builds off of the saying, "Be kind to everyone, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle". I first heard of this saying while watching "Wonder", a meaningful movie that can apply to others. I wanted people to know that others are not always what they are perceived as and maybe behind that mask they put on, there is a completely different person inside than you had thought. You, the book's perspective in the story, are made to be a villain. Inside, you don't have the outlook that a villian might take, but an outlook I think a good soul has. You have been stuck with the wrong role and because of the good that is rooted inside you, you do try your best to find the good in what you have. This is what I think the world needs to embrace, that we don't always have to be what we are "made" to be and what others should 'think' we should be. Just be the good inside you and it will take you to a better place than you could have ever imagined. I hope my story does that for others (which is what matters), and that is the good inside my story- an idea for the World, written by a Year 7.
Author's Statement
Author's Statement
“Please imagine a spectrum, ranging from harsh and bitter tones to the light and bleached ones. These were my levels of fluctuating excitement (light referring to elevated, dark referring to shallow). Without a single lie, I know that my entire experience was laced with breaching light. When I entered to meeting room, my endorphin levels would have been able to blast into the sky (perhaps even achieving the first human brain landing on Mars). When I left, I was jubilant, looking forward to the next meeting. It was an ongoing cycle and there was nothing to complain about. Sure, there was work to complete and discussions to talk about. This is all part of the writing process. This 'excruciating' process didn't have to be stressful if you went day by day. I was, and still am, so impressed by the quality of work presented over such short time by Trish. She is truly a professional and her artwork is genius. I believe that the author and illustrator must click together and each carry their weight to craft a polished piece. While I am writing this, I have yet to see the finished product, but I am confident that it will be have a piece in my heart. When the last time I stepped out of the meeting room struck, I didn't walk out the Year 7 I was before. I ambled out as an author. A rather amateur author at that, but still was able to plaster that title across my mind and contently accept writing for a living.” Laura Lidgard
Students as Authors Writing Competition Entry- Laura Lidgard - Laura Lidgard.pdfCheck out these clips to see how the eBook was made...
Laura - Refining the villain.mp4Refining the villain
Laura - creating tools.mp4Creating tools
Laura - discovering new characters.mp4Discovering new characters
Layout for the eBook.mp4Layout for the eBook
10-12 category
Winners: Jake Salvestrin, Oscar Krogh, & Blake Hutchin
Year 11
McCarthy Catholic College - Tamworth
Idea for the world: The story has a key theme of racism that is explored through the short story and portray it in a bad light.
Author's Statement
Author's Statement
“In writing Black ‘n’ White, we have enjoyed the process of crafting a story, and watching the process of how it developed into a professional picture book. The story was initially written as a task for our English class to develop skills in writing from unusual perspectives, and was edited throughout the lesson to refine it and make it more interesting and create depth of meaning. Jake submitted it in the competition, and after it won, we were overjoyed at the news, excited to learn more about how books are developed and ultimately published. Logging into zoom meetings and watching Trish’s hard work develop our story into a work of art was truly an insightful lesson, one which we were lucky to have been a part of." Jake, Oscar and Blake.
Black'n'White - Jake Salvestrin.pdfCheck out these clips to see how the eBook was made...
Jake - capturing an emotion.mp4Capturing an emotion
Jake - designing the cover.mp4Designing the cover
Jake - the illustration process.mp4The illustration process
Jake - Using words as pictures.mp4Using words as pictures
Competition Winners Publishing Their Stories
Competition Winners Publishing Their Stories
Each category winner worked with illustrator, Trish Donald, across terms 3 and 4 to develop their story into an eBook. They learnt about the publishing process, and how illustrators interpret stories and use illustrations to add layers of meaning for the reader. You can check out each of the books in the SORA digital library using the link below. You can learn more about Trish Donald's work at www.trishdonald.com
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