MEET OUR WINNERS – Amanda Wang YueFei

Category: 15–18-year-old

Q1: Tell us a little about yourself. What are you up to at the moment?

 Q1: I am a grade 11 student at Maple Leaf International Academy and have recently been preparing for my IELTS.

Q2: Tell us a little about who your creative inspiration or mentor is and why?  This might be a favourite author or place to work.

 O2: I would like to work inside the house or somewhere I can sit under sunlight, especially in winter, because these places make me feel more comfortable and provide a quiet space for me to think along. Regarding my creative mentor, I`d like to mention Ms. Mira, who is a really good teacher and a nice person. She always is patient when we are talking, writing, and playing.

Q3: Why do you write? Would you rather choose prose or poetry? Why?

Q3: I don’t write a lot when I go to school, but I think writing or creating some stories is kind of way for me to relax and improve my writing level in my spare time. I will choose prose because poetry needs more skills, I haven’t studied it yet.

Q4: What are you writing next? Might this story be the first of a collection?

 Q4: Maybe I will write some tales next, and I haven`t decided yet what it will be the first of a collection yet.

Q5: What are your aspirations as a writer?

 Q5: Personally, I think the writer is the person that is willing to use words to depict things they see. No matter whether these are beautiful or ugly, homely or gorgeous.

Q6: Does the place you live or are from inspire you in your work or life, and if so, how?

 Q6: Yes, I live in a small community with my parents and siblings in a big house with many flowers. Also, many green plants in the community make me feel cozy and comfortable. These places can be helpful for me to relax when I have stuck at some point and don’t know what I should write next.

Q7: What would you like the reader to take away from your story?

 Q7: I want the readers to learn to be cautious.

Q8: Did you learn anything about yourself by writing your story?

 Q8: Yes, and I know a bit more about myself whenever I'm done with something. Maybe it is about learning what I truly want or learning what I lose sight of.

Q9: What are your 3 top tips for writing a short story?

 Q9: First, you have to write down an outline before you really start to write, and that can be really helpful for you to figure out what will happen next in your story. The second thing is to make sure things happen logically. Third, check your spelling after you finish the story.