Despite his overflowing writers’ resume, a large part of Storyfest Patron and children’s author Will Kostakis’ job is about getting out on the road – meeting with students and inspiring a love of literature in even the most reluctant readers.
Like his raw and authentic books, Will is honest when it comes to the future of reading and writing amongst young people. In a world where youth literacy faces decline, Will stresses the importance of meeting students at a level they’re comfortable with so they can “see the value in the written word” and be able to “write a future for themselves”.
As Will puts it, “So many times when I speak to kids, they think that writing and storytelling is irrelevant, but they don’t realise that when they’re making new friends, when they’re introducing themselves to other people, when they’re on a date some point in the future, they’re going to have to tell stories about themselves.”
As a literary charity, books are at the foundation of our mission and our practice. Storyfest’s role is to meet young readers at their level – to nurture their unique perspective of the world.
We invite authors and illustrators across Australia to join us in inspiring children through hands-on workshops, student sessions and interactive dinners. Moreover, we aim to increase the accessibility of literature in regional areas with fewer opportunities for storytelling-centred experiences.
In 2024, Will joined us in delivering our annual program of Writers’ Festivals throughout Queensland, starting in St George, then Longreach and ending in Emerald. Will breaks down barriers not only through his writing but also through his advocacy for engaging students beyond our major cities.
“I don’t think that being inspired by an author and being encouraged to pick up a book and pick up a pen should be an experience that belongs to a select few,” he said.
“I think everybody should see the value of writing, the value of reading, connecting to people through fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, writing, essays.”
Storytelling is how we communicate and connect with one another. It’s sharing a funny holiday mishap over brunch, telling a loved one how much we care about them and even writing a witty Instagram post.
Though we might not think it, we are all storytellers in our own way.
Want to hear more from our Storyfest Patron Will Kostakis? Watch his full interview below:
