Foreword by Malavika Varadan

​

As a bookworm myself and someone who grew up in the shade of a bookshelf - I know the power that stories give us. It allows us to imagine a reality that we cannot see around us. It allows us to escape. In telling and weaving our stories we find a way to tell our own story and build a world we want to inhabit. In creating characters, we find friends. In our plot twists and turns lie the adventures that the real world won't let us have. This is why writing stories is so important for young people. This is why we started the bee-write workshop - a space for young tweens and teens to express themselves, build worlds and create characters. 

The objective of this writing workshop was to encourage these young writers to tap into their thoughts, dreams, and fantasies and find a way to artistically express themselves. We simply provided them the space, a room of people who would act as a sounding board for their ideas - and some simple tools to help them decide how their story would move. 

 

What began as an exercise in creative freedom has resulted in a collection of tales that defy genre, convention, and age. From apocalyptic adventures to fairy fantasies, each story is unique, fun and honest.

 

The purpose of BEE WRITE was not only to nurture the children’s skills but also to ignite their passion for the written word. And what better way to spark that flame than by giving them the opportunity to see their stories in print? 

 

I hope these stories help you look into the minds of these writers, who are probably in their early stages of cultivating a habit that is fading with time. In a world where we rely so heavily on AI, As their teacher who navigates the sea of her own life on a boat of words, I truly hope this experience helps them fall in love with the idea of honest creativity. I hope they have heard and told stories that make them feel. And I hope you see that while reading this collection too! 
 

Welcome to BEE WRITE – a celebration of imagination, creativity, and the world we weave with our words.

​

Malavika Varadan

Teacher / Managing Director