On 24 May 2025, I had the privilege of speaking at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) for the first time!
My session, “Discovering Singapore’s History: Adapting War Narratives into Meaningful and Engaging Children’s Stories,” focused on how educators, docents, and content creators can help the young connect with war narratives or World War II stories.
Question and Answer (Q&A) at Shawn Seah’s talk at AFCC 2025. Photograph by writer’s team.
It was a joy to share the stage with prominent illustrator David Liew, who moderated the session with warmth.
Despite our age gap, I discovered that David and I had many things in common: we are former educators, we have many friends in common, and we share a passion for history.
During my talk, I shared about the broad historical context as well as introduced my children’s book series, Our Amazing Heroes.
The year 2025 is special for Singapore and Singaporeans.
It marks Singapore’s 60th year of independence (or SG60).
It also marks 60 years of the Singapore Armed Forces (or SAF60).
And it is also the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
That is why this year, in particular, is especially timely to reflect on Singapore’s history.
And this is the background as to why I launched my children’s book series Our Amazing Heroes this year.
I shared about the importance of dramatic scenes and illustrations, grabbing children’s and adults’ attention.
However, war stories for children should not just be about war. I spoke about the importance of focusing on inspiring stories that convey important values, like courage, compassion, and resilience.
I also talked about keeping stories relatable and relevant, and above all how I connected various stories to each other through what I called a “Marvel Cinematic Universe” approach towards episodic storytelling.
After my talk, we had a very enjoyable and engaging Question and Answer session where the attendees asked insightful and interesting questions. I had a lot of fun exchanging views!
David Liew and Shawn Seah at AFCC 2025. Photograph by writer’s team.
Beyond my talk, AFCC was a chance to explore the rich world of children’s literature. I attended a thought-provoking session by Lianne Ong and Kenneth Heng on writing about social issues like rough sleeping.
The talk was an important reminder that children’s books can (and should) tackle tough topics with care and empathy, especially in the age of the Internet.
I also visited the Book Illustrators Gallery, which was quite curiously located at Bras Basah Complex, near the National Library. I am guessing that this was probably a sign that space is always a premium for book events in Singapore! It was also great catching up with artist and designer Derrick Tham there.
Author and speaker Shawn Seah holding up copies of Our Amazing Pioneers at the AFCC 2025 Festival Bookstore: Closetful of Books. Photograph by writer’s team.
And of course, it was definitely a joy to see Our Amazing Pioneers available for sale at the festival bookshop. It was a good reminder of how far I have come along my writing journey.
AFCC 2025 was a wonderful experience of learning, sharing ideas, and connecting with others who believe in the power of stories to spark curiosity and inspire change.
I’m grateful for the warm conversations, the kind support from many people, and the shared commitment to making a difference through books.
Author and speaker Shawn Seah standing in front of the AFCC 2025 logo. Photograph by writer’s team.
I hope I will be invited for the next festival and be able to continue telling stories that matter.
I’m delighted to share that I will be speaking at the upcoming Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) 2025!
This is my first time being a part of this festival, so I am really excited and looking forward to it.
I will just do my best.
Organised by the Singapore Book Council, the AFCC is the leading literary festival in Asia for children’s stories and young adult literature.
Aimed at authors, illustrators, translators, publishers, educators, and media professionals, the festival offers a range of programmes, including panel discussions, presentations, workshops, masterclasses, and networking sessions that promote children’s stories and young adult literature with a focus on Asian themes.
This year, the 16th edition of the AFCC will take place from 22 to 25 May 2025 as an in-person event at the Singapore National Library.
My speaking slot will be on Saturday, 24 May 2025, 10.30am to 11.30am.
Historical storytelling, especially on topics like war heroes, is sometimes seen as difficult to adapt for younger audiences.
However, these stories help children discover their country’s history, introducing them to darker times and the heroes who arose to overcome the odds and shape the present.
By appreciating these narratives, children can imbibe enduring values like courage, compassion, and contributing to society, and hopefully feel inspired by those who made a difference in trying times.
In my talk, I will be sharing the approaches that I have taken in my children’s book series, Our Amazing Heroes, towards translating these complex topics into engaging and accessible stories for children.
I will share what I consider some of the best practices in historical storytelling and creating dramatic action to engage children, balancing between excitement and maintaining gravity.
I also share about how we might best use illustrations to accompany text and give weight to words. The talented artist, Patrick Yee, helped to bring my visions to life.
And I also share about how writers might be able to weave in values and virtues into the stories.
I will also be touching on utilising episodic storytelling, akin to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from my prequel series Our Amazing Pioneers.
This “historical cinematic universe” that I have created can help to make history appealing, relatable, and convey challenging messages.
Other Interesting Nuggets
One interesting nugget is that the AFCC also has a long-standing partnership with the Puttnam School of Film & Animation (LASALLE College of the Arts) for a content adaptation challenge. I am not revealing any spoilers here, but AFCC is collaborating with them on something exciting. And as one of the featured authors, I am definitely looking forward to seeing the eventual outcome at the festival grounds!
Another featured author at the AFCC 2025 is the award-winning author, Lianne Ong! In all my interactions with her, she has been most kind and encouraging (once, she even gave me guidance on how to write children’s books and told me about the importance of social media).
Another interesting titbit is that there might be many South Korean attendees this year. After all, as this year marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and South Korea, the AFCC 2025 features South Korea as the Country of Focus!
However, and I really do sincerely apologise, the AFCC is a ticketed event (unfortunately, it is not a free public event). Discounts are available for students and seniors.
As a writer, I love writing, but I love reading too.
In this short and simple post, I share some of my favourite books.
This is a non-exhaustive list of recommended books, of course.
(This list also does not include my amazing children’s books from Our Amazing Heroes and Our Amazing Pioneers, or my books for general readers like My Father’s Kampung: A History of Aukang and Punggol and my family history books.)
Some of these books are the kind of books you read and reread, finding new insights or ideas each time.
Others are childhood favourites, the sort that first sparked my love for reading and telling stories.
A few are books I stumbled upon by chance, only to realise later how much they resonated with me.
This is just a list of books I’ve enjoyed, books that have mattered to me in one way or another. And there is no right or wrong answer.
If you find something new to read from this list, great. If you have already read them, we have that in common.
Graphic Novels
• Triumph of Two Face, by Doug Moench and Tom Mandrake • The Empire Strikes Back, adapted by Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson
Books on Reading or Writing
• Confessions of an Advertising Man, by David Ogilvy • How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading, by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles van Doren • The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century, by Steven Pinker
History Books
• The Spartacus War, by Barry Strauss • The Education of Cyrus, by Xenophon • The Penguin History of Economics, by Roger Backhouse • The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, by William Shirer
Singapore History Books
• Diplomacy: A Singapore Experience, by S Jayakumar • Defending the Lion City: The Armed Forces of Singapore, by Tim Huxley • One Hundred Years of the Chinese in Singapore, by Sir Song Ong Siang
Self-Help and Other Books I Enjoy
• The Psychology of Money, by Morgan Housel • Same As Ever, also by Morgan Housel • How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie • Talent Is Overrated, by Geoffrey Colvin • Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, by Amy Chua • What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, by Marshall Goldsmith
Looking back at this list, I will admit that this looks like a rather eclectic and random list of books.
However, I personally like these books and enjoyed them, and these were at the top of my mind. Over the years, there were many other books, from a wide range of genres, that I enjoyed reading too.
How about you? What are the books that have brought you joy, shown you new insights, or made you think?
Starting your journey to become an author is both exciting and challenging. However, the journey is also full of challenges. I have made so many mistakes in writing, editing, self-publishing, and mainstream publishing. But I have also learnt from them.
Here are some key lessons and reflections every aspiring author should know before starting on their writing or publishing journey.
I hope my lessons and reflections (from hard experience) will be useful to you.
No one can actually guarantee a smooth journey, but if you are reading this, at least you can be properly informed before you make any decisions.
“Our Amazing Pioneers” series of books on pioneers like Seah Eu Chin, Tan Tock Seng, and Syed Omar Aljunied. Photograph by writer’s team.
First, don’t expect to make a fortune
Don’t be too quick to quit your day job once you start writing.
There are millions of books published each year (both through mainstream and self-publishing routes). In fact, most books do not sell more than a few hundred copies.
What this means is that statistically speaking, not every book you publish will be a bestseller (if you even publish a bestseller at all).
Not every book idea is going to be sheer genius.
As a result, the harsh reality is that few authors make significant money from their books.
Even if there is money to be made, it will not come from the books themselves, but from other sources, like additional programmes you deliver.
Trust me, I hate to be the one to tell you this hard truth, especially since I love writing, but I think it’s important to be realistic about the financial aspects.
If you don’t expect to make a fortune, and you eventually do, you will be pleasantly surprised.
Second, aim to be a professional
Treat your writing seriously, setting aside dedicated time and striving for high-quality work.
Yes, inspiration is important, but so is perspiration.
Writing is a skill that needs dedicated, committed, continuous practice.
Keep writing, reading, and learning.
Even the best writers keep improving upon their craft.
Third, be prepared to polish relentlessly
No one creates a perfect masterpiece on their first try (or even their seventh try; trust me).
Be prepared to edit your work many, many times. Edit your writing, take breaks, and come back with fresh eyes, and have an editor review it.
(An editor can help you with many aspects beyond copyediting and proofreading; an editor is more than someone who just fixes typos, spelling errors, and grammatical mistakes. However, at the end of the day, you still have to be able to edit your own writing.)
Polish your writing: remove redundancies; tighten up; keep sentences and paragraphs readable; correct spelling mistakes and typos; and check facts and figures. Relentless editing is crucial for creating a polished final product.
But I have to confess: no matter how hard you scrub, one or two mistakes will always get through. Pay special attention to figures: dates, numbers, financials. Despite my economics training, sometimes figures get mixed up.
Live and learn, as I always say. Be prepared to forgive yourself over and over again.
Fourth, understand yourself and your unique perspective
Ask yourself what makes you uniquely qualified to write this particular book. Why you?
Consider your personal experiences, educational qualifications, or background that make you the right person to write this book.
Your unique perspective is what will set your book apart from others’ books.
Fifth, distinguish your book(s) from comparable titles
On the one hand, your book needs to be similar enough to existing titles so that publishers know there is a market or existing demand for it.
On the other hand, it cannot be too similar, as it needs to stand out from the crowd, being a bit differentiated.
Think about what unique angle, data, or insight you can offer that others haven’t, and make sure this is clear in your book or book series.
Sixth, have a regular, consistent writing schedule
One of the biggest challenges facing any writer is maintaining a regular writing schedule.
Waiting for the “perfect moment to write” or for “inspiration to strike” often leads to procrastination.
Yes, it sounds a bit like work, but being professional means treating writing as work: hard work! As Denzel Washington rightly said, “Hard work works.”
Set up a routine that works for you.
Set achievable goals, like writing a certain number of words each day or week.
I often set myself modest goals, like “at least one sentence per night” or “at least one paragraph on weekend nights”.
Seventh, criticism will come. Deal with it
I think the biggest shock I received was how some people can be incredibly rude and unkind, but I have learnt to deal with it over the years.
(BUT I immediately hasten to add that the vast majority of readers I have come in contact with are kind, encouraging, and supportive people.)
Rude rats are real. I personally have been called “sh*t” in Hokkien; falsely accused of stealing other people’s ideas (they were not published, but I was); and heckled at book talks.
Sometimes, the funniest part of these criticisms is that the person has not even read the books in question and is just making unjustified ad hominem attacks.
Par for the course: criticism is an inevitable part of the writing journey.
Not everyone will love your work, and that’s OK.
Develop a thick skin and learn to deal with criticism constructively.
Where relevant, use criticism or constructive feedback to improve your writing, rather than being discouraged.
However, if it is irrelevant criticism or unconstructive feedback, then ignore the naysayers.
Remember, even the most successful authors face criticism. When you put yourself out there, there will be the occasional rude and unkind person. Learn to forgive them and yourself.
Eighth, understand the publishing landscape: traditional, mainstream publishing vs. self-publishing
The publishing industry offers several ways to bring your work to readers.
Traditional publishing provides credibility, editorial support, and marketing and distribution resources.
Self-publishing offers control and potentially higher royalties, and gives you the opportunity to handle everything from editing to marketing.
Ninth, build or strengthen your platform
Build an author platform to reach audiences and engage with readers. If you have an existing one, continue to strengthen it.
What is a platform? It is essentially like “street cred”, credibility, or expertise; existing popularity; and connection with your readership. How do you reach out to readers? How do your readers reach out to you? And how big is your support group, your fan base, your community?
Use social media, create a professional website, or start a blog to share your journey and connect with your audience.
Network with other writers, participate in literary events, and connect with many people.
For example, when I first started along my writing journey, it was difficult to reach out to readers in the beginning. I had to build my mailing list one email at a time, and network with people and make connections, one person at a time. Slowly, but surely, over many public talks, I have gradually built up and strengthened my platform.
Today, things are much easier now that I have a mailing list of kind people who are supportive of my writing. And I still keep growing my influence and community, bit by bit.
Build your platform.
Tenth, stay resilient: don’t give up
In any major undertaking, you will face challenges. That’s normal.
Rejection is an inevitable part of the writing journey. That’s normal too.
Feeling alone in the writing journey and wanting to give up is also normal.
And like I mentioned earlier, there will be all sorts of critics (you can count on it).
Not every publisher will be interested in your manuscript; not every editor will love your book proposal; and not every reader will love your work.
My word of advice: don’t give up.
Keep learning, growing, and writing.
Really, don’t give up easily
Keep your passion alive.
Write stories that matter to you.
Remember why you started writing in the first place and let passion drive you forward. But temper your passion with hard truths and realistic expectations.
The journey to becoming an author is filled with ups and downs, moments of self-doubt, and triumphs. But you can get better and better over time.
After reading about my personal experiences and lessons, at least you are better prepared to go on your own journey and experiences.
All the best and keep writing! May you contribute to positive change in the world, even if it is in your own, small way.
Thank you for reading.
Cheers, Shawn Seah
(The original story was first posted on my Medium blog on 1 June 2024. This story was reposted here and updated on 2 June 2024.)
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