Fairy tales around the world consist of various repeating motifs, especially the original versions, and this is something renowned author Adam Gidwitz realized and reflected on in his Grimm series.

In the books, Gidwitz takes main characters and various plots from classic fairy tales and uses them to piece together one story.

Gidwitz visited the middle school on Wednesday, Oct. 21, where he taught a writing workshop to some students and then spoke in a middle school assembly.

Weeks before the workshop, middle school students were invited to participate in a creative writing contest that was later judged by the school’s Literary Magazine. Sixth-grade language arts teacher Ms. Jean Golightly required her sixth grade students to submit a piece.

Sixth-grader Eleanor Kuykendall was named the winner, sixth-grader Chloe Lewis was runner-up and eighth-grader Snowden Farnsworth took third place. They were eligible to participate in Gidwitz’s writing workshop and get their books signed.

Besides the contest winners, Ms. Golightly’s sixth grade class participated in the workshop, along with Farnsworth and eighth-grader Elizabeth Crane and seventh-grader Katie Clement.  

In the workshop, Gidwitz went over the basic components to writing a great story, including the hero, the problem and the catalyst.

“The catalyst is the most important part of your story,” Gidwitz said. “It sets up the whole story.”

It was very obvious how much the author cared about the students. After explaining each part of the story, he asked the students what they had developed for their story thus far.

During the middle school assembly, Gidwitz told the story of Snow White, but with some other famous fairy tales added in. For example, in his version, Snow White tried out all of the seven dwarfs’ dinner plates, cups, and beds, just like Goldilocks in “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” by author Robert Southey.

Gidwitz released his new book, “The Empire Strikes Back: So You Want To Be A Jedi,” in September, and it can be found in stores everywhere.