Goodbye by Ellen Theobald

Congratulations. Your short story was a finalist in this year’s Beyond the Expectations (an anthology of NZ intermediate school writing). Tell us about your story. What inspired it? 
I was working on an ANZAC unit in my class and I was stuck on my story, and then I thought about writing something to do with what I was studying.

You’re a student in your spare time. So tell us really, how important are writing competitions? 
This is my first writing competition. It is great that school gives me the support and time that I need. In my spare time I dance, and do other creative and sporty activities.

What is your opinion on receiving feedback? 
I personally think that receiving feedback is great! It tells you what you need to work on, what you did well and what you did not so well. It also gives you other peoples' opinions on your story, and not just your own and your family's views.

Name the writer (dead or alive) who you would most like to have dinner with and tell us what you would like to ask them? 
There are too many! But one author I would definitely have wanted to have dinner with would be Enid Blyton. One thing I would have asked her would be; Did you ever imagine that in 2018, your very first Famous Five novel that was published in 1942 would still be being read? Also, I would definitely like to meet David Walliams. One question I would ask him would be; Where on earth do you get all of your out of this world story ideas from?

Tell us about your work in progress. 
Currently I am working on a piece that I am entering in a competition in about 7 weeks. The story is based in 100 years from now.

YA fiction, of all the genres, is addressing the real issues. Discuss your favourite genre. 
My favourite genre to read and write is Fantasy.

Where do you see your writing taking you in the future? 
I see my writing taking me to university and maybe even giving me a career in the future.

Anything else you would like to say about being a writer? 
Being a writer is an absolute privilege, because you are able to express yourself on pen and paper, and whoever reads the piece feels and sees the same things that you did when you were writing.

Thank you so much for your answers.

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