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Nathan Bryon

I'm Nathan and I'm an actor and children's author. So I'm here with you to share my top tips for writing a 500 Words story.

First thing's first, you need to come up with your idea. Think big you can write about anything you want! I wrote a story called Speak Up! about a little girl who found a way to save her local library from closing. Maybe you could write about a problem that you've had and then your character could solve that problem.

I'm an actor, so I think it helps to get into the head of your character by pretending to be them. Why don't you give it a go? Walk like them, give them a funny voice, pretend you're in different situations and think about what your character might do next. Like what if I was a t-rex who loves trainers, but I could never tie my own shoe-laces because I can't reach them with my tiny arms? What might happen next? How could I solve this problem? Pretending to be your character will help you figure out your story.

Try telling someone else your story, and have them ask you questions about it they can ask you what happens first, what happens in the middle, and how does it end? If you can write or draw these key points, they will map out your story and make it much easier to plan!

Now you're ready to write. And remember, your story should be 500 words or LESS. I know it's called 500 Words - but it's ok if your story ends up a little shorter.

Don't worry too much about spelling and punctuation and grammar, this competition is all about being creative. You can create your story with pictures, record yourself saying it out loud and then write it out or you can ask an adult to write down your words for you.

Do whatever works for you to get that story out of your head and into the world. Alright, good luck and have fun!