A special video will show the painting of Ophelia by John Everett Millais, which was based on the character in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, but will be brought to life with images of bacteria produced by scientists at Surrey University. Then, poetry written by members of the public and school children will be shown on the video.

You can add your poetry to the innovative project by visiting:www.poetrylibrary.org.uk or you can e-mail them straight to goodbyepoemsofophelia@live.com.

You can also find out more on facebook.

Although the story is fictitious, it is historically correct, being based on events occurring when the first Emperor was building his terracotta army. However, when it is found that he is the only one that can calm the Emperor with harp music Li Fu uncovers a plot to assassinate the Emperor and has a race against time to prevent this. WARNING – this story is written in the first person and is a page-turner, which draws you into Li Fu’s mind! The author really does deliver what she promises and more.

You should choose this book because it draws you away from television and brings you into another world. It is beautifully illustrated by Helen Flook - including the attractive cover, which encourages you to look inside. The author, who is Canadian, has written many children’s books and often visits schools and libraries to present her work. I hope that she will visit my school sometime, as I would be interested to meet her.

Kieran Jones (8) St Nicolas’ School, Portslade, East Sussex

Every issue of Young Writer magazine also includes: News, views and facts to inspire your writing, help and advice, YOUR book reviews, YOUR news, fun and games, reader offers, competitions and more!!

Buy the latest copy of Young Writer! Find out more by clicking here!

Young Writer is a great platform for your poetry, short stories and illustrations. Each issue features great competitions, run in association with the country’s top publishers, asking you to write themed stories and poems with the best entries winning exclusive prizes AND getting their work printed in the next issue of the magazine!

Our showcase pages also provide readers with a chance to see their work in print. So what are you waiting for? Send us your work today!!

Continue>>>>>>>

Writing stories and poetry is so much fun, but it can be tricky. Our helpful exercises, inspirational features and suggestions, can help! In each issue ‘Launch Pad’ gets your writing off the ground, ‘Write, write, write’ gets you in the mood, and ‘Spotlight on Words’ helps you learn more about the words you will need to make a great piece of writing.

Continue>>>>>>>

Authors to have appeared in Young Writer include Jacqueline Wilson, Terry Deary, Anthony Horowitz, Michael Bond, Robert Muchamore and loads more. Find out how they write, how they get their ideas and what tips they have for young writers… you can also ask our guest author a question of your own!

Continue >>>>>>

STAR Interviews

Each issue of Young Writer features an interview with a famous personality, in which they share their experiences of writing and reading. Did you know Helen from Blue Peter likes reading Mark Twain books, or that Charlene from MI High loves poetry? Find out loads more in our Star Interviews…

What else is inside each issue? Continue here>>>>>

Fancy writing for TV or film? You can pick up lots of tricks and tips at the National Media Museum in Bradford.

Just print the voucher below and take it with you to the National Media Museum. Cool eh?

Get 50p off the entry fee at Newark Air Museum!

Let your writing take flight at Newark Air Museum in Nottinghamshire. Discover how pilots handled their flying machines and create a courageous character of your own!

Print out the voucher below to get 50p off the entry fee to this great museum. Discount is not valid on Family Tickets.

DON’T MISS THE YOUNG WRITER SUMMER SPECIAL FOR 36 DAYS OUT TO INSPIRE YOUR WRITING - WITH MORE THAN £1,500-WORTH OF FREE TICKETS ON OFFER!!!

For info on many more writing competitions see the latest issue of Young Writer.

Here, author, tutor and competition judge James Friel describes the importance of place in a story…

I know of stories without characters and I know of stories where nothing happens, but I don’t know a single story that does not take place somewhere.

Too often, people write a sentence like: She went down the road to the shop.

The writer can see the road and the shop. The reader cannot. The reader will nod, understanding the sentence, but, if the writing continues in the way, bald and unseeing, the reader, eventually, nods off.

Consider instead: She went down Inkerman Street to the chemist’s.

The road now has a name. The character has a real destination. The sentence evokes a world in which realisable characters exist and realisable actions take place. You build a world in just such strokes.

In Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte writes: One may guess at the power of the north wind, blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house; and by a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun

Take away everything but the nouns, verbs and adjectives and the place is still there; power… north wind, blowing… edge… slant… stunted firs… gaunt thorns… stretching… limbs… craving.

A place evoked in just such economic and concrete detail creates a world that holds the character’s story together. It will hold your reader, too.

1. Chose a landscape you know well. See the place in close detail. What can you hear? Close up, in the middle distance, at the very edge of hearing? How does each thing feel to the touch, its temperature, its texture. What can you smell? It will not be just one thing, but a complex layer of fragrances and odours.

2. Now, give your stretch of water to a character: a young woman who has just learned that she is pregnant; she has never been so happy. She stands before it. Do not enter her mind. Do not mention that she is young, that she is pregnant, that she is happy. Describe the place in such a way that the reader knows without being told that she is young, that she is pregnant, that she is happy. You will want very much to tell this information. Trust detail to show the information. This is what Bronte is doing, and you are doing likewise, making a real place for your reader.

For more information on the fantastic competition to win a place on an Arvon residential writing course (worth £575) see the Young Writer Summer Special - out 4 June 2009.