Students learn writing tips from children's author

Intermountain Catholic

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KEARNS — "Make sure the television is not the only story teller in your home, because the shows are never going to tell your children they are loved," said Gary Hogg, children’s author. "Moms and Dads, make telling stories the most important part of your family. Do not forget to tell your children about the day they were born, and stories about them growing up. These are the most important stories they will hear. Before they go to bed, save time to tell them a story."

Hogg was the guest speaker for a family night of reading, "Cookin’ and Bookin’" for pre-school through fourth grade students at St. Francis Xavier Regional School, Kearns, Nov. 15. Hogg animates his stories as he tells them by using his sense of humor and props to bring his stories to life.

Hogg is a nationally known children’s author who gets many story ideas from the variety of children he meets all over the country. This year he also presented a writing workshop to students at the Taejon Christian International School in South Korea.

In his presentation at St. Francis Xavier Regional School, Hogg gave 10 writing tips. He said write about the things you know the most about. Think about your story before you fall asleep at night, on the way to school, and when you are not writing. The more you think about it, the easier it is to write.

"Write using the same words you use when you talk," said Hogg. "If you say something is humongous, then write humongous. Do not use big or small. Be original. Do not start your stories with One day, Once there was, Once upon a time, or This is my story, because they have already been used.

"Keep it simple," said Hogg. "Good stories do not have to be long. A short story that has a good beginning, middle, and end is better than a long story that has no purpose. Use a lot of details like colors, sizes, places, and names. Do not write the entire story at one time. Write the beginning and then revise it. Write the middle and then revise it. Write the ending and revise it, and then revise the entire story."

Hogg said read your story out loud to make sure every sentence makes sense, and write an ending to your story that also makes sense. He encouraged parents to help their children when they have questions, but cautioned them to let their children be the authors of their own stories.

Hogg has been writing and telling stories since he was a boy growing up in Burley, Idaho. His mother loved to read and his father loved horses, so Hogg ended up with a lot of books and a horse named Sport. He said both of them took him on exciting adventures. His fourth grade teacher inspired him to put his wild ideas into stories instead of acting them out in class.

Hogg wrote his first children’s book at age 19, and said it took a long time to become a published writer. After graduating in communications from Brigham Young University, Provo, he started visiting schools and inspiring students to become better writers.

Hogg lives in Huntsville, Utah, with his four children, who also provide mountains of inspiration for his stories.