Although they may know all the grammar terms, somehow it’s got to the stage where children seem reluctant to write. It’s almost as if they are afraid to get it wrong.

I wanted to create a space where children can feel safe to write and perhaps overcome the barrier that prevents them from translating those awesome imaginations into words. And so the Storymakers Creative Writing Club was born.

After my first book, The Mystery of the Disappearing Underpants, was published, I knew I wanted to work with children in some capacity. Going into schools was the obvious thing that came to mind, but I wanted to do more than that. I wanted to create a space that was warm and welcoming, quiet and creative and also, away from the noisy environment of school.

It just so happened that, around the same time, we built an office space in our garden and as soon as it was completed, I knew how I wanted to use it. Being in a garden setting felt right for welcoming budding authors to come and learn and grow. Light, airy and surrounded by creative inspiration, the Storymakers Cabin, as I now refer to it, is a place that has welcomed writers from the enthusiastic to the reluctant and everything in between.

The most important thing for me, as an author, is to pass on my love of stories, share my enthusiasm for writing and help kids believe in their abilties. I feel it’s important we encourage creativity in all its forms. When you partake in a creative activity regularly, it helps you become a better problem solver in all areas of your life and work. Instead of coming from a linear, logical approach, your creative side can help you assess a situation from all angles.

In school, those who could write a good story or draw beautiful pictures were considered the special ones who were creative, but research shows that all people are creative.

Creativity is one of the most important characteristics of being human. It is one of the main traits that make us successful as individuals and as a species.

There are many advantages to taking time out in order to do something creative.

When you turn off your frazzled brain and get into ‘the flow’, all of the background noises fade to dust. When in this flow state, you become so completely absorbed and engrossed in the task, you lose track of time. All your daily pressures, problems and distractions fade away. Nothing else matters but the creative task at hand. You are joyful in your task of creating, which in turn elevates your mood and makes you happy.