Beyond The Frame

Stories are magical and mystical wonders of endless imaginations. They help frame how we see the world, from the tales we share and the ones we put to one side, to the characters considered heroic, and the ones labelled mundane. Stories also help us see beyond our frame. A tale not expected, a new viewpoint or idea, all prompt us to consider what we might be missing.

It is these stories that defy the rules of hierarchy. Whether a best seller or a quiet tale reaching only a few, they all carry this world-shaping magic. And it's this magic that humbly declares, 'it only takes one storyteller to whisper their tale into the wind'.

BEYOND THE FRAME is a book crafted by the students of Winchcombe School, Year 5 and Year 6. They have written their individual short story on a subject of their choice. Every tale has a reference back to one or more of the school values. Regardless of prose, sentence structure and grammar, each submission embodies a storytelling wonder. These are their stories, in their words, edited themselves, and placed onto pages shaped by their preferences.

While constructing their stories, some learnt from Aristotle's 3 Act Structure of storytelling - Set up, Catalyst, Resolution. Other students explored the ecosystem of the genre they used. For example, an action story could be about moral choices, determination, self-discovery, and belief. A fantasy tale could visualise a dreamed-of future, an observation about culture, and a way of bringing hope into reality.

A few students became part of the design team for this book. They learnt some of the basic frameworks around typography, exploring the differences between Sans Serif, Sans, and Script. These students considered how the choice and size of fonts, paper and feel of the book affects how a reader engages with a story. They selected everything you touch and see within this book, and they did a fantastic, thoughtful job.

Enjoy the adventure beyond the frame.