"A few mums knew that I was an author and asked if I knew of anywhere
children could pursue their love of writing stories," explains Becky, who promply set up a series of holiday writing workshops at the bright,
colourful space at Chichester Nursery School and Children's Centre.

Rooted in the ethos that the club belongs to the children, Just Write
provides a supportive environment that encourages creativity without
constraint.

"It's not school so children who find it easier to think by walking about rather than sitting down are free to do so, providing they respect and don't disturb others.

"We also have fruit snacks that they can help themselves to at any time.
Club members can call out and ask for collective help and you often hear a cry like, 'can anybody think of a good name for a blue alien?'" she laughs.

Starting with 15 young writers, the first Just Write session was a sharing of ideas about what these eager junior authors wanted to achieve.

Now, with a membership of more than 60 children who meet at one of two monthly sessions, Just Write also attracts an array of fascinating bookrelated special guests.

"We've had publishers, a bookbinder, authors, illustrators, journalists, a storyteller and playwrights," enthuses Becky, explaining that guests talk for a short while about what they do, and then answer questions from their young audience.

"The guest then sets a task for those who want to participate, while
others carry on with their own projects.

"We had a South African journalist in who told us about how, when Nelson
Mandela was in prison, any newspapers that he was allowed to read
had all mentions of him cut out so that he couldn't read about the support he had around the world.

"Our guest told the children how Mandela said that this gave him hope,
as it meant that people were still talking about him. The children were on the edge of their seats. This is the power of words," says Becky.

The rule for feedback at Just Write is that it must be constructive.

"We explain that people open their hearts when they read their work, so it is really important to give positive feedback."

"Some are good at getting stories on paper, but others worry about things like grammar, punctuation and spelling. We encourage children to write first and foremost from their hearts. Any technical corrections can be made afterwards, but the important thing is to tell your story - in words, pictures, or in collaboration with someone else.

"I also tell them that it took three years to have my first book published," laughs Becky, who has written stories for as long as she can remember.

"When I was teaching in an autistic unit in London I wrote stories about the children I was teaching that I'd read to them. I wrote one that a parent showed to a publisher friend at Bloomsbury and I was asked to write one about an autistic sibling."

Published ten years ago, the awardwinning My Brother Sammy was the
result. My First Day at Nursery and My Cat Charlie followed.

Now working on a story for older children about a magic camper van,
inspired by Becky's international travels with her family, the trip also underpins her vision for the future of Just Write.

"We travelled for five months in our camper van and the biggest adventure wasn't the places we went to, but travelling as a family.

"I want to make the Just Write club a place where children can start their adventure. My dream is that it will one day be as cool to belong to a Just Write club as a football club."

Just Write is for children aged 6-13 years. The club meets monthly at Chichester Nursery School and Children's Centre, St James's Road, on Sundays, 10.30am or 2.30pm. Sessions are two hours. Annual fee £15. Free places can be asked for in confidence. Telephone number 01243 642950.


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