Seeds of Story
“Seeds of Story” are the in-school workshops we teach across the Scottish Borders.
From “The Writing Process: Premise to Publishing” presented June 13, 2022, at Galashiels Academy, Galashiels, Scotland, UK to 120 National 5 English pupils.
“Derek King and Julie Kusma came to speak to our whole N5 English cohort this week about the writing process. They gave insights on how to write and publish fiction, from coming up with ideas to the final stages of publishing and marketing. There were lots of good tips for our pupils, and it was great to show our keen writers that it is possible to create a career out of writing, as well as publish books while working in a different day job. Handouts were useful and emailed in advance for teachers to use. Overall, a very informative session for our pupils.”
Sophie Mitchell, Principal Teacher of English, Galashiels Academy
Our classroom sessions nurture creativity, confidence, and curiosity, helping young writers discover the stories only they can tell.
Every story begins as a seed.
In our workshops, students explore how ideas grow through imagination, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas. Using the Premise to Publication framework, these workshops guide young writers from the first spark of inspiration to a finished story they can proudly share.
(This program is inspired by the book Premise to Publication, which provides the foundation for each workshop.)
NOW available as a book with downloadable content. Click below to learn more and click the cover to purchase.
Workshops are tailored for primary and secondary schools throughout the Scottish Borders.
Each session encourages self-expression, story structure, and the joy of discovery. Students learn that their voices matter and that words can shape worlds.
As part of our Educate Inspire Enlighten mission, Derek and I present our ‘Premise to Publication’ series through presentations and workshops. These are available to schools in the Scottish Borders.
“Thank you to Derek and Julie for their informative and enjoyable presentation. It was wonderful to hear about Derek and Julie’s career paths and inspiration for our young people to write. The presentation was pitched at exactly the right level for our young people, who benefited from their first-hand knowledge on this potential career path.” –Nicola Shaw, DYW School Coordinator
For digital workshops or to see where in-person workshops are available, click the buttons below.
