Rochdale librarian joins BBC’s hunt for next big author

Poem writing

A passion for reading and writing has prompted a Rochdale librarian to join BBC Radio Two’s hunt for the next J. K. Rowling or Jacqueline Wilson.

Ray Stearn, who works at Rochdale Central Library, is one of a huge army of volunteers tasked with judging entries to the “500 Words” competition which closed last week.

Ray, who runs monthly young persons’ reading and creative writing sessions at the library, said the quality of last year’s entries inspired him to volunteer.

“I was particularly taken by last year’s entries when I read them so I was keen to get involved,” he explained.

“I am far too old to take part so really the next best thing is to be reading some of the entries!

“I do a bit of creative writing myself with a local group and I always encourage children to write their own poems and stories when they come in.”

The competition, open to anybody under the age of 13, requires them to write a 500-word story on a topic of their choice.

So what will Ray be looking for in the pieces he judges?

“It’s very cliché but it needs to have a beginning, middle and an end,” he said.

“In 500 words it is quite difficult to achieve, but there was an entry last year that I particularly liked - it came second in the end - called Cow on the Bus.

“I liked that it took two every day objects and used them together.

“I like a bit of humour too, but that’s not to say it is exclusively what I’m looking for.”

Ray explained his passion for children’s literature was born of necessity after taking his first job as a children’s librarian but developed from there.

He said: “It’s grown on me I suppose.

“I’d read Biggles and Enid Blyton but I needed to read the newer books. I’d ask librarians to send them my way whenever one came in.

“I would start reading them because I needed to, but then finish them because I wanted to.

“I find good authors do not talk down to children - they gear their language towards them but they do not talk down so it can be enjoyed by anyone.”

Alongside judging, Ray is also looking forward to the library’s imminent move to the new Number One Riverside development in the town centre and hopes it will bring more people in.

“It’s starting to get exciting now as the opening day looms - although it’s not been confirmed yet,” he explained.

“From the benefit of the customers all the books are now on one floor.

“On the roof there is a spiral of books - flying books - and that has courted some interest. I saw a girl outside with her mum, looking in and taking photos.

“Of course the building is new too and should be very eco-friendly.

“It should bring a bigger crowd in. They might come in for council services and then obviously the library is there for them to use.”

Winning 500 Words entries will be announced over the coming months on BBC Radio Two’s Chris Evans’ Breakfast Show.