Darwen pupils make a fast book

By Emma Cruces

Six students are bidding to become novelists after taking up a challenge to each speed-write a book.

The pupils from Darwen Aldridge Community Academy have taken on the huge challenge to each write a novel in just a month – instead of the two years devoted by the average novelist.

The ‘Write a Novel in a Month’ challenge, which pupils spotted on a US website dedicated to National Novel Writing Month, is a feat writers from all over the world bid to take part in.

Learning Resource Centre manager Janet Arnott believes they could be the first high school to enter and also says there is a possible publishing deal which could emerge from the challenge.

Year 12 students Qachina McKeefery, Georgie Clarke, Sammy Bourke, Olivia Davies and year nine student Ewelina Gorska and year ten student Ryan Perkins each have to write a novel of between 10,000 and 50,000 words.

Ms Arnott said she encouraged the “massive challenge” after realising how much creative potential the youngsters had.

She said: “I ran a short story competition in May and had so many good entries that I decided to start a young writers programme.

“The six students taking part are extremely dedicated and talented writers and they have decided to take up this enormous, life changing challenge which is open to all ages.

“They have to carry on with their ordinary studies and lives throughout so they will have to spend every spare minute working on their novels.

“What we will end up with is six completely unique novels.

“Publishers also watch this website so it will be interesting to see if a Darwen talent will come to their attention.”

The pupils are due to start writing their novels on Monday November 1 with plans to hold a “Thank Goodness It’s Finished” party on Wednesday December 1.

For more information about the challenge visit www.nanowrimo.org