Meet Viaan, a high achieving Year 5 long-term Swot Shop student who recently published his first book. Below we asked Viaan about his inspiration for the book and his experience as a young writer.
What inspired you to write your own storybook?
Writing my own storybook was a journey sparked by my love for reading and writing, which developed gradually over time. My writing skills improved significantly, thanks to The Swot Shop, where I worked on tasks that later became the foundation for my book. I was particularly inspired by stories of young authors-children who, despite their age, managed to write and publish books. Seeing their success made me think, “If they can do it, so can I.” The idea of writing a book stayed with me, and when the Year 5 extension class Passion Project was introduced in my school, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to turn that idea into reality.
Can you share a little about the process of writing and publishing your book? What were the biggest challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?
The process of writing and publishing my book was a learning experience. I had most of the content ready from school assignments and homework tasks that I had completed in The Swot Shop Advanced English Class, but I had to go through multiple rounds of editing. After editing, the biggest challenge was figuring out how to publish. My research with multiple YouTube videos led me to self-publishing platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Draft2Digital (D2D), and Kobo, which allow authors to publish without printing hundreds of copies in advance and selling those off. These are called print-on-demand platforms. I used Canva to design both the manuscript and the cover. Although we made some mistakes during the initial publishing process, the lessons I learned made it easier to revise and publish the final version of the book. Later we bought the book to see how the new one looked, and we figured that it was perfect.
What is the main message(s) of your storybook? Why was this important for you to share with your readers?
This book means a lot to me, not just because it’s my first, but because I wrote it for readers who, like me, love to immerse themselves in stories and find their noses stuck to the pages of books. And the book itself is all about things I have experienced in life, what I am surrounded by, the things I learn and love all mixed into five short stories brought to life when you add my imagination into the mix. That’s also why it really means something to me because it’s all about me and my life.
Who are your role models in writing or in life, and how have they influenced your work?
I’ve been influenced by writers like Deborah Abela, whose books are filled with mystery and cliffhangers, and Tim Harris, who brings humour into his writing. I also admire Morris Gleitzman, Paul Jennings, and Anh Do, who blend creativity with a deep understanding of their audience. In fact, on the journey of writing the book and completing the project, I also experienced my dream of meeting Tim Harris himself when I actually interviewed him! Additionally, my interview with Peter J. Osterlund, a fellow self-published author, was a great learning experience. His book, Lost Orbit: Book One of Broken Planets, inspired me to think about how I could apply similar strategies in my own writing. I noticed that all these authors use the current trends in their writing; humour, mystery, sci-fi, etc. It has made me wonder if I should use these in my writing which might help me gather more readers.
What advice would you give to other students who might be interested in writing or publishing their own stories?
For anyone interested in writing or publishing their own stories, my advice is simple: Don’t give up. Writing can be tough, especially when you’re juggling schoolwork or other responsibilities, but even writing a little each day adds up. Whether it’s 100 words or 10 minutes, it all makes a difference. I found that setting small goals kept me moving forward. And don’t let fear hold you back, especially when it comes to hitting the “publish” button, or really anywhere in the process.
And just don’t say, “I’ll do it when I’m older.”
How has your time at The Swot Shop influenced you as a person and young author?
My time at The Swot Shop has given me invaluable skills, not just in writing, but in recognizing potential. Being surrounded by talented students all the time has taught me that anyone, no matter their background or interests, can achieve something great. Whether it’s writing a book, becoming an athlete, or pursuing a different passion, the key is to start young and stay committed. These lessons have shaped me as both a person and an author, and I hope to continue growing from here.
A big congratulations to Viaan on his achievement. You can access Viaan’s book here.
