Let me start by reading three
quotes from Rudyard Kipling:
- Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.
- If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.
- Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, how beautiful!' and sitting in the shade.
These words of wisdom could easily have been in the mind of the talented youngsters who submitted their work to the third annual Rudyard Kipling Young Writers Award. These are students who understand the power of story to get at the deeper truths of life. And they proved themselves willing to get out of their comfortable seats in the shade—and away from the easy trance-state offered by computer screens and smart phones—to put in the work to make beautiful gardens of writing.
Writing is hard work, but it’s worth the effort.
Storytelling is one of the few things that makes the human race special among
the other creatures with whom we share this beautiful planet. It’s something we
can do to make the world a better place. So we urge all of you to keep going
with it, don’t give up, do it throughout your life.
And one more piece of advice from the judges, for those of
you who aspire to be writers someday, and for those of you who don't: Our
advice is simple: READ. Read voraciously, read widely, read adventurously, with
an open mind and an open heart.
If you read, you will never be lonely. You will have a
greater appreciation for the world. You’ll be a better thinker, and you’ll
strengthen your grasp on the essentially human capacities of imagination,
analysis, and empathy. Developing a lifelong reading habit will make you a more
complete, more interesting person. Reading will bring you the kind of long-term
fulfillment and happiness that is simply not available in any other way. Do it!
I close with a final word of advice from Mr Kipling:
Take everything you like seriously, except
yourselves.
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