Tharun, 11, impressing his teachers – and judges – with his writing skills

PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPIL WAS NAMED RUNNER-UP FOR FLASH FICTION COMPETITION

A BUDDING author, who is still in primary school, is impressing teachers and competition judges with his imaginative writing skills.

Tharun Selvaruban, 11, is a pupil at Beaufort Primary School in Chaddesden and recently came runner-up in the Derby Book Festival 50-word flash fiction competition.

But he hasn’t stopped there. After his tale of an eagle searching to find the smartest bird who could define what spring was, he has just entered another competition, writing 500 words on the theme of a ship carrying coins.

Tharun does not just use his vibrant imagination to create his stories, he also carries out a lot of research.

For his latest ship-related tale, he found out about the superstitions that sailors used to have, such as girls and bananas being banned from ships and that they weren’t allowed to know how to swim (it was more of an incentive to keep the ship afloat). He used that information to shape his writing.

He said: “I enjoy writing stories and really just enter the competitions for the experience. It’s my mum who has given me a creative mind. “I used to be a really picky eater and sometimes, to encourage me to eat, my mum use to tell me stories to distract me from the food and get me to eat it.”

Teachers at Beaufort Primary School said Tharun is always eager to learn.

The school recently had a new library installed and Tharun is a regular there, taking on the role of a librarian, as well as devouring the fantasy fiction books.

Head teacher Kate Beecroft said the school is very proud of Tharun’s hard work.

She added: “Tharun is a very bright young boy who works extremely hard at everything. He loves writing and reading and, as well as being a librarian, is also our head boy. We can’t wait to read his first novel.”

Staff may not have to wait long. Even when not entering competitions, Tharun is eagerly penning his own book at home, about a fantasy land where there is only one human living, among relatives and friends, which include a giant spider auntie who loves to knit.

Tharun added: “When I grow up I would like to keep writing. I’m really interested in becoming an author and I also like acting and would like to be a veterinarian.”

When I grow up I would like to keep writing. I’m really interested in becoming an author.

Tharun Selvaruban

An eagle said, “Whoever tells me the true meaning of spring is the smartest.” A raven appeared with a flower and said it meant spring. But its rival, a parrot, claimed babies meant spring. The cockatoo said spring was about new beginnings. The eagle declared the cockatoo the smartest.

Young author Tharun Slevaruban and, inset below, his flash fiction entry