Winning Wheatbelt writers

Two Wheatbelt students have achieved a top prize for their science fiction short stories.

West Northam Primary School Year 5 student Millie Syson and Year 6 student Sophie Smits won joint first place in the under 17 category of the Wheatbelt Writers Short Story Competition for their stories about time travel.

Millie and Sophie travelled to York for the Regional Writers Weekend Program where they were presented with their certificates and prize by Writing WA chief executive Will Yeoman.

Sophie said it was amazing to be recognised in the competition with Millie.

“I feel this experience has brought us closer together as friends and classmates,” Sophie said.

“I love writing. It’s like an escape for me. I can be immersed in my own world and calmed down by this peaceful experience.

“I prefer to write with music so I can get inspired, and once I get inspired, I put on songs that fit the theme of what I’m going for.

“Writing has been my passion for as long as I can remember, and over the years I have gotten more interested in it, and the more interested I get the better I get.”

Millie, who wants to be a writer and animator in the future, said she was ecstatic to win alongside Sophie.

“I like writing because I can tell a story that I can make up with my mind. I can draw pictures to match the description,” Millie said.

“Writing is one thing that makes me calm. I take inspiration from books I read.”

West Northam Primary School principal Cheryl Prater congratulated the students on their creative efforts.

“We are thrilled and proud to have two such talented writers at West Northam Primary School,” she said.

“Thank you to their teacher who recognised their talent and encouraged them to enter the competition.”