Invercargill 6-year-old wins world writing award

ROBYN EDIE/151053

WRITE ON: Six-year-old Max Milne hard at work thinking about his next masterpiece after one of his stories was highly commended in an international creative writing competition.

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A story about a fish called Lightning Bolt and his adventure to the "big pond in the sky" has earned its young Invercargill author international recognition.

Six-year-old Max Milne wrote the story after the death of his pet goldfish Lightning Bolt and entered it in the Number Works 'n' Words International Creative Writing Competition. Entries for the competition came from Australia, the Philippines, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and New Zealand.

Max's story was highly commended in the age 5 to 6 category, making him the southernmost award winner in the competition. Other winners came from the North Island and Australia.

While the ending for the real Lightning Bolt, named for his propensity for swimming fast at food time, wasn't happy, for the fictional Lightning Bolt the story was brighter – a miracle meant he did not die but instead went to live a long and happy life in the sea.

For his literary efforts Max won a voucher, which he spent on water rockets.

Number Works 'n' Words Invercargill owner Raewyn Hansen said she was proud of Max's achievement.

"It's a wonderful accomplishment," she said.

Literary success runs deep in the Milne household. Max's sister Grace, 8, won the local division of the competition with her story Mischief Makers, a tale about rascals living in a chateau at Lake Louise in Canada.

cassandra.pokoney@stl.co.nz

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