Readings Bookshop St Kilda buzzed on Sunday 2nd March 2025, as we welcomed award-winning author Shelley Davidow for a children's writing workshop. The event, coinciding with the launch of Shelley's new book Write Now!, brought together a dozen enthusiastic young writers aged 7-13 for a morning of creative exploration.
A morning of literary discovery
The workshop featured concise, engaging writing activities expertly crafted by Shelley to spark creativity and build confidence. Drawing from her experience as an author of over 50 books and a Senior Lecturer in Education, Shelley created a space where creativity flourished without pressure.
What stood out was the opportunity for each young writer to share their work. In this supportive environment, our budding authors confidently read their freshly created stories, demonstrating that writing thrives as both a personal and communal experience.
Meeting a 'real author'
The excitement of meeting a published author was palpable throughout the session. The children were thrilled to ask Shelley questions about her writing process, her books, and what it's like to be an author. Many left starry-eyed after receiving personal feedback and praise from Shelley on their own creative work – a validation that clearly meant the world to these aspiring writers.
Everyone wrote, everyone shared
The most heartwarming aspect was the universal engagement. From the moment pens touched their notebooks, ideas flowed freely. The diversity of stories created in such a short time impressed everyone – from teleporting to entertaining dialogue, each piece carried its creator's unique voice.
The workshop embodied the core philosophy behind Write Now! – that writing should be joyful, accessible and a natural form of expression for children. Rather than focusing on rules, the emphasis was on discovery and the delight of bringing ideas to life.
Celebrating Write Now!
While the children were the stars, we also celebrated the publication of Write Now!, Shelley's innovative resource for educators teaching creative writing to middle primary school students. The book offers 20 progressive lessons designed to ignite a love for words in young minds, and the workshop gave us a glimpse of these techniques in action.
What's next?
Due to the overwhelming success of Shelley's workshop, we're delighted to announce an online workshop for teachers and adults in May. This session will explore the techniques in Write Now! and provide practical strategies for nurturing your own practice and young writers in classrooms and homes. Booking here.
Write Now! is available now through our website for teachers and parents looking to inspire young writers.
