This week we had the pleasure of welcoming celebrated author Stephen Davies to THIS. Mr. Davies is the author of over 30 books for children of all ages, including the Hilda series. He writes a variety of genres from picture books to graphic novels to thriller fiction and more.
Mr. Davies came to us from London, England, as a part of a three-week tour to speak to young readers throughout China. Mr. Davies led an assembly for our primary students and then led age specific writing workshops for students in both primary and secondary.
He led students through the steps to creating a story idea, inviting them to consider the question, “What could possibly go wrong?” He then helped students understand the process of bringing a character to life and discussed the four keys to building suspense when writing a thriller.
Many students were inspired to write their own stories, and Mr. Davies met with groups of students individually to answer questions and talk with them about the craft of writing. He also gave feedback to some students on their own stories, helping them improve and leaving them feeling encouraged and excited to keep writing.
Having an author visit our school provides a unique opportunity for students to learn about the process of writing from an expert. It brings reading and writing to life and creates the spark of imagination in the minds of students. Mr. Davies made the writing process fun and inspired THIS students to challenge themselves to grow as writers.
