FAQ

Got a question about any aspect of Start the Story? We’ve done our best to provide answers to the most frequently asked questions here.The list is by no means exhaustive, though, so if you have a question that isn’t answered here, please contact us and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.

Q. What’s this all about?

A. Start the Story is a bi-monthly digital magazine written by award-winning children’s authors Barry Hutchison and Tommy Donbavand. It is designed to be used by schools, librarians, parents, and anyone else with an interest in getting children reading and writing. Each issue is packed with writing tips, activites and games, as well as reading suggestions, homework exercises and more. Each issue also comes with five pupil worksheets which can be printed off and distributed in class.

Q. If my school subscribes, can more than one class use the magazine?

Absolutely! We encourage you to share it among the rest of the classes and staff. You are free to distribute electronically within the school, or print off hard copies and share that way instead. All we ask is that you don’t send your issue out to other schools or organisations. That’s fair, right?

Q. I can’t use Paypal. Can I still subscribe?

Not a problem. We can send you an invoice which you can pay either by cheque or via bank transfer. To do this first sign up for a free account, then send an email with your username and full billing details to: subscriptions@starthestory.co.uk. We’ll get you an invoice sent out with details on how to pay. Once your payment has been received, your account will be activated.

Q. How do I view the magazine?

A. First up, you have to be a member to view the magazines. There are two types of membership available – free membership, which gives you access to our first issue; and Premium Membership which grants you access to all our content.

Once you have selected your membership level you can view the magazines using Adobe’s free Acrobat Reader, which is installed on most computers as standard. The digital magazine file can also be transferred to iPads and other tablet computers, or even viewed on a smartphone.

Q. Why does the text look rubbish on my screen?

Don’t blame us, blame Adobe Reader. With Adobe Reader open, click on the “Edit” menu at the top of the screen, then choose “Preferences” from the menu that appears. In the window that pops up click the drop down next to where it says “Rendering” and make sure it is set to smooth for either PC monitor or laptop screen, depending on what you are using.

Q. Should I subscribe?

A. Yes you should. And here’s why.