"The more that you read the more things you'll know, the more that you learn the more places you'll go." Dr Seuss
Reading
Reading is a fantastic way to relax and escape into other worlds and other lives.
You don't have to spend a fortune to read all the newly published stuff. Try your local library or even your school library and get books absolutely free. If they don't have what you want, you can always ask if they can order it in. They will also have books in Gaelic, braille, audio or large print if that's what you need.
To find a really good read take a look at book reviews written by other young people on the Young Scot website or on the Scottish Book Trust website. The Scottish Book Trust also have some fantastic hit lists so you can pick what type of book you like and work your way through the best.
Get writing
If you love writing and want some inspiration or advice then there's loads of help out there.
The Scottish Book Trust have some really useful information to help budding writers, including advice on how to get started and improve your work, and links to competitions and other oportunities in Scotland. Keep an eye out for the Young Writers conferences and workshops, which will help you take your writing to the next level. You can also find writing exercises on The Arvon Foundation and Scottish Poetry Library websites.
You could also see if your school/college has a student newspaper or magazine. If journalism is more your cup of tea then take a look and see if there is a Young Scot Hack Pack in your area or give us a call and ask us about doing book or music reviews for our website.
If you have any reviews, poems or short stories send them to us at arts@youngscot.org and we will consider them for publication on our website.
If you prefer you could even blog on MySpace or Bebo. Just remember not to give out too much personal information. For more information on staying safe online check out the Young Scot web safety section.
For anyone who loves a good story it's well worth taking a look at what's going on at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Their website will give you information on storytelling events and workshops near you. Storytelling is a huge part of Scotland's cultural history - who knows you might have a natural talent for it!
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