Layne Mcgrath has been dancing ever since she was two years old. After a nasty fall, she's told by the doctor that she may never dance again. Her career, her favourite sport and her job as a dance teacher vanishes in seconds.
Will this strong 17 ye...
Hey Guys! I really hope you enjoyed my No We Can story! Layne completely won over my heart with her strong personality and persistence when it came to her one true passion in life.
I'm so thrilled to be working alongside NCS as I truly support and love the work they do with young people! Here's a little more information on NCS:
· They run a four-week summer experience for 16-17 year old's in England and Northern Ireland
· The programme helps young people find a clearer vision of what they want to do in the future.
· It allows everyone to mix with a new crowd and take on exciting challenges together
· My favourite part? Young people are given a platform to have their voice heard
· The NCS experience may only last a few weeks but the impact on young people lasts forever
No We Can is all about challenging the perceptions of young people and helping them push their own boundaries to achieve their full potential. We're all capable of achieving great things but sometimes other people get in the way of that or may say no. The No We Can message encourages young people to break through other people's expectations of them. I personally love this message as I believe all young people should have the independence and support they need to excel!
The message sits really close to my heart as my past 16-year-old self needed something like NCS in my life! As a young person, I was always told no which lead to self-confidence issues and anxiety within my daily life. One day I decided enough was enough and took life into my own hands! I've never felt more strong, independent and in charge of my future.
By working in partnership with NCS, I hope I can inspire other young people to finally say "No We Can."
Want to be a part of the movement?
You can also write your own No We Can story and be entered into a competition to win the chance to become published in the NCS Anthology. A copy of the published Anthology will be given to the winners and shared online by NCS ahead of the summer programme to help motivate and inspire 2020 attendees.
Here's how to enter:
· Write a story on Wattpad or on a Word document about your No We Can experience or what it means to you
· The story must be a maximum of 3,000 words
· Share the link or document with NCS via email wattpad@ncstrust.org.uk
· All entries must be shared by 12 January 2020
· That's it, it's that easy!
So if you're aged 13-18, live in England or Northern Ireland and have your own No We Can story, enter the competition for a chance to be published in the NCS Anthology!
A panel of Wattpad writers, myself included, and NCS will pick the top 12 stories to appear in the anthology! As well as being part of this, your content may appear on NCS website and social profiles – how cool is that?
Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity!
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My writing tips and advice
• Decide if you want to write about your own personal No We Can story or create a fictional story from your imagination.
• Has there ever been a time where you've been told you can't do something and went on to exceed someone's expectations? If so, it could make a great story!
• Brainstorm ideas for your plot. I always start a new story by coming up with a basic idea and going from there.
• Choose the main characters names, location, season, appearance etc. It's all about those fine details!
• Plan out your chapters! Write down a specific event that happens in each chapter and then add in the fine details.
• Focus on emotion and feelings to draw in the readers and get them to relate to them.
• Think about your ending and whether the main character achieves something great.
• The ending of your story should be built up throughout to maximise its effect. In my story, Layne overcame the knock to her confidence that came after her accident and beat all odds against her. The last chapter is emotional and inspiring and the entire story was created to lead up to that moment.
• Pay close attention to your punctuation. Make sure commas and full stops are used where they need to be. It provides a nice flow for your readers!
• Get stuck in! There's no time like the present and especially if you're feeling inspired. Get all those ideas down before you forget them.
• Be original. Using your own No We Can experience is a great way to add a personal touch. No-one can write exactly like you and that is your superpower so embrace it.
• Once you're done with your first draft, go back and edit! Fix any spelling mistakes and add in your punctuation.
• Take breaks. No one can sit down and whip out a five star story in a few hours. Take your time and take regular breaks, your brain will thank you for it!
• Have fun with it! Don't think too hard about being the perfect writer, just write! You got this.
I can't wait to read all of your No We Can stories as I know how insanely talented you all are! You could also get your friends and family involved and brainstorm ideas together!
Follow NCS social media below —
• Instagram @NCS
• Twitter @NCS
• Snapchat @NCS_official
If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I'll get back to you!
Let's join forces and take the world by storm one 'NoWe Can' story at a time!
Thank you so much for reading!
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