Young writers speak in words

Blamed for a steep decline in reading habits among youngsters, television and Internet often invoke public wrath. They are considered more entertaining, thanks to technology, and hence, able to attract hordes who find book reading rather ‘slow’.

However, ‘For Kids, By Kids: The Best of Scholastic Writing Awards 2010’ held at Reliance Timeout proves this wrong. Fifteen-year-old Amita Kamath, Vidyashilp Academy student, who won third prize for her story has a different tale to tell.

The story revolves around a young girl’s journey from Africa after being kidnapped and how she copes with the situation, with the backdrop the American Civil War. “My story, though fictional, has a lot of historical facts. During a history assignment I came across this, and after a lot of researching I penned down the story,” she says It is a piece of writing that anyone can relate to and it could have probably happened to someone, she adds.

Being a voracious reader is the key ingredient to be a good writer and Amita confirms this. “It is all the reading I do that helps me write. While writing the story for this competition I imagined myself as the central character.”

Nine-year-old Hari Mahesh, a student of Delhi Public School, and runner up in the competition, mirrors her view. “Every day I keep aside a particular slot to read. It is only then that a writer gets ideas and is exposed to various kinds of writing,” Hari says, who desires to be a writer one day.

Reading is not only restricted to its physical form, as these children put technology to good use. “I read a lot of e-books, especially the series that are not available here,” says Amita, a second-time winner, adding, “Most of my reading is online.”