Terri McIntyre: to YoungWriters

Why do we love stories? We love to hear them, see them performed, tell them.

A friend of many years and who started a storytelling website in New Zealand (www.storydad.com) sent me this advice to young writers. He wrote, "It is why I write now."

Story telling by Kay Edgecumbe:
     Years ago there was just the radio and the fire place to sit beside during the early evening winters nights.
This was when mum or dad would entertain their children with stories ether read or from true life,
It was the true life of the parents that was remembered and passed on to even their children as short stories of interest to the family.
     Now days with ipods, computer games and many more, the art of telling a good short story is rapidly dying.
I vividly remember some of the adventures of my dads: he told me how he shot a leopard as I lay on the actual leopard skin. Take hold of those interesting things that happen to you over the years and write them down.
     Most of my stories are just 2 pages long but interesting to any reader. I always try to have a small surprise twist at the end this helps the reader to remember the rest of the story. It is like a good joke: when you laugh at it you will remember most of the joke.