While Heidi Jessop, a Year 9 student at Toongabbie Christian College, has always devoted much of her spare time to writing, she thought it would be many years before she could publish a book.
Now, eight months into Story Factory’s Year of Novella program, Heidi has submitted the draft of her very own novella.
“Story Factory is definitely a different opportunity to what I have at school,” says Heidi. “I never thought I would be able to publish a book when I’m only 14.”
Her story is about a character who watches old security feeds of a hero and a villain in a fictional city. As he tries to piece together their lives, he asks: “What if the hero and the villain aren’t really the hero and the villain?”
Heidi describes her writing process as being open and unplanned.
“My motivation comes to me randomly,” she says. “If I have a very specific plot to follow, I often won’t be in the mood to follow it. I take more of an emotional instinct as to what I want to write, rather than plot by plot.”
Heidi also draws on music to inspire her writing, especially when writing an emotional scene.
“I really like matching the track to the mood of what I’m writing on the page. For a sad scene, you want all the sad songs, you want the ‘Oh I’m going to start crying!’ Having the soundtrack of what’s happening doesn’t always work, but when it does, I feel like I get the words down so fast!”
As well as supporting her to publish a book, Story Factory provides a unique community, Heidi says.
“It’s knowing there are other young writers out there who also enjoy writing. It’s kind of hard to find each other, it’s like we are a very small fandom.”
Heidi’s novella, titled Viewpoints, will be published by Story Factory in December.
Excerpt from Viewpoints, a novella by Heidi Jessop:
I have been sitting like this – hunched over for almost fifteen minutes.
That’s okay though. My patience could last me eons, just for this chance to prove myself, my theory, and make my way upwards.
The screens pause, a blinking wonder of dots and dashes. My fingers freeze in midair, and I hold my breath.
The blue light stops. For a moment I’m surrounded by the darkness – my eyes must be shining, I’m so excited. The lights flash back on, and I press play.
