St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, Edwinstowe, welcomed children’s author Dan Walker for a writing workshop.

Children explored story structures and made a start on their own tales with assistance from the writer, whose visit was part of a Newark Book Festival programme.

Teacher Katie Wright said: “Dan helped them to create their own stories, based on the idea of a hero’s journey.

“Children looked at how many of their own favourite books are built upon that same plot structure and are making a fantastic start to their own stories.”

Katie said encouraging a love of reading in pupils has a positive impact on all aspects of their education.

“Meeting an author first hand, they discover what it takes to become an author, or to choose writing as a career. We hope today will inspire children who love to read to try something new, and encourage any reluctant readers to feel confident about picking up reading material they may not have looked at before.”

Dan, who has written four children’s books, added: “Working with youngsters on their own stories is fantastic fun. They have wonderful ideas, and it’s important to encourage that creativity.

“Like many children, I love playing games, but I get so much more out of reading, and I hope that they can experience that love of reading too.

“If children go away and start reading for fun, that would be amazing.”

Joining Dan at the school was Leanne Moden, book festival project manager. “This is part of our schools programme, which is something we have done for the past few years.

“The idea is to bring authors into schools and classrooms, to work with children. It inspires children to think about storytelling, creativity, their own stories, and how they tell them.

It is also important for them to see that writing is a career path they can take.”

Newark Book Festival’s next free event is a theatre production to be performed at Cat Asylum Brewery, Collingham, on 16th September.