Meet Our Contributor:
Youtao Cao, Age 9, Japan
A Landscape Painting Showing Mt. Fuji by Youtao Cao, painted at age 6, Japan.
We are delighted to re-introduce our Meet Our Contributor feature in Skipping Stones. Through an online interview, young authors, poets and/or artists will share what inspires them in this space. We’ll learn about their individual processes, what they like to read and other topics that are important to them.
We see this space as a way for the international Skipping Stones community to know each other better and to learn from one another.
It is with great pleasure that we introduce Youtao Cao, our 9-year-old contributor from Japan. (We recently published four of his poems, and we plan to publish his science fiction story in our upcoming print issue). We asked him many questions about his background, his inspirations and writing process. He shares books that he has read (and reread!), as well as films, TV series and documentaries. He has a variety of interests (including visual arts—see some of his artwork in this space) and the creativity and enthusiasm to learn from many sources. We’re sure you’ll be inspired as you meet him!
Now, here is Youtao to speak for himself.
—Judith Volem, Skipping Stones.
“Aurora.” I’ve always wanted to see the northern lights, so in this painting, the little person in the yellow coat at the bottom left is me, looking through a telescope to watch the Aurora Borealis. The white figure beside me is a polar bear lying down. Art by Youtao, painted at age 6, Japan.
I live in Tokyo, Japan—a city with a mix of quiet parks and lively streets, small toy shops and big malls. It’s a good balance, and I enjoy exploring both sides. I’m about to start 4th grade at K. International School in Tokyo. I’ve been in its preschool program since I was one and a half years old, so I’ve grown up in an English-speaking environment even though my parents don’t speak much English.
Over the years, many teachers have encouraged and guided me. School writing contests have also given me inspiration and space to create. Outside of school, my writing professor has been an important mentor, often reminding us to “show, not tell” and inspiring me to explore different styles and voices. Many people say I have a talent for writing, but I know there’s always more to learn, so I keep working hard to improve.
I choose books based on curiosity. Sometimes I pick stories that challenge me morally, like The Ox-Bow Incident, and other times I want to understand historical movements and the people who shaped the world, like Dr. King in Stride Toward Freedom. I also take recommendations from teachers or discover something new just by browsing the library shelves. My mom often helps me choose books, but she also believes—and I agree—that reading different kinds of books is the best way to learn. So I read across all genres: fiction and nonfiction, fairy tales and biographies, classics and science fiction, poetry and news articles.
Although I don’t often reread books, I do reread comics—and sometimes, I revisit my favorite novels. Lately, I’ve been reading the Percy Jackson series so much that my copies are falling apart. I also like to bring a book with me whenever I go out, so I can read whenever there’s a spare moment.
Since I was very young I’ve watched a wide range of original language films—starting with Disney classics and the Marvel series, then moving on to The Lord of the Rings, The Shawshank Redemption and the Transformer films, to name a few.
I get ideas from books, travel, art and even games. Sometimes I combine what I see with other influences. Recently, I blended a Roblox game event with the gilded doors of Florence to write a poem about beauty and hidden decay.
When I first started writing poems, my mom couldn’t believe I could come up with them entirely on my own, so she always turned off the WiFi router—just to be sure. Now it’s simply part of my writing routine.
I’d like to keep writing, whether as an author, journalist, or even a screenwriter. Whatever I do, I hope it involves creativity, critical thinking, empathy, and maybe a little weirdness.
If I could give advice to other young writers, I’d say: Don’t wait to be perfect before you start. Don’t let anyone stop you. The best stories come from being honest and curious. Write what you love, even if it doesn’t seem “serious” or “literary” enough at first. Be chaotic! Be weird! Be funny! Your voice matters! Don’t be afraid to rewrite, to take risks, and to share your work. Reading is part of developing writing skills. Every book you read teaches you something about how stories are told.
—Youtao Cao, age 9, Japan.
Our Family Dog, Yuanbao (元宝) by Youtao Cao, painted at age 6, Japan.
Editor’s Note: See four poems and a painting by Youtao Cao by clicking here.