This author is writing 365 children's stories — 1 each day — to 'make a better world' for his daughter

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Matt Zurbo isn't the first person to write a story, or even a book, after being inspired by the birth of a first child.

But the award-winning children's author and novelist based in Tasmania, Australia is going several hundred steps further: he's resolved to write one story a day, every day for an entire year.

"I just think that imagination trumps violence and ignorance, and I wanted to inspire stories and maybe make a better world for my little girl," Zurbo told The Current's guest host Anthony Germain.

"I was hoping to inspire with this a love of stories. [Out of] 365, surely one or two will hit a note somewhere along the way."

Zurbo is releasing each story for free on his blog 365 kids books in 365 days. He started the project on Aug. 15, 2018 when he made his first post titled The Dragon Who Breathed Letters. He's currently on Day 344, with Tin Box Boat.

Wide range of storytelling styles

Zurbo doesn't get to write his stories until the evening, sometimes posting the finished yarn well after midnight.

He starts his days at 5 a.m. to work on an oyster farm in southern Tasmania.

He hopes that as Cielo, now 21 months old, will learn both a love of stories and a lesson about commitment.

"As she grows up, these stories will be there as a legacy for her to dip into as she chooses," Zurbo said.

His stories run the gamut in terms of length, subject matter and tone.

In The Girl with 1,000 Teeth, a boy named Sammy is in love with, Lulu, the titular girl with an otherworldly smile. Unfortunately, Sammy has to deal with the fact that a literal family tree is growing out of the top of his head.

"It's one of my two or three favourites for its absurdity. But the thing that I guess inspired it was underneath all the absurdities, there's a kid who is dealing with his family history," said Zurbo.

"They all scream and shout and point in a thousand directions, and he wants their wisdom, but at the same time he has to be his own kid."

Others, like the simply titled For Cielo, are more personal ruminations on Zurbo's life and his loved ones.

Many, he says, are based on the stories told to him by other parents and children after learning about his project.

None of the stories are posted with accompanying illustrations, but many of them include artistic direction if readers wish to draw them on their own.

Zurbo hopes he'll be able to draw some of the stories together with Cielo when she gets older.

'It was my time to give something back'

Zurbo says it was important for him to post his stories for anyone to read.

"Writing's been good to me. I've been shortlisted. I've had a cartoon. It's been magnificent," he said. "It was my time to give something back, and that's what these stories are."

He explained that he was "in between publishers" when he started the project, and he showed a few publishers some of his stories early on, but they weren't interested in using any stories that had already been posted online for free.

"Some people wanted me to push harder to get them published. And I said, first things first, let's just write the stories and then see what happens after that."

I've done something for my daughter ... That's reward enough.- Matt Zurbo

He says he's more fulfilled by the positive reaction from readers so far, particularly by the parents and kids whose stories he's adapted. Some have even sent him illustrations of his stories.

"I've done something for my daughter, [and] I've already got some friends who are immensely happy to have their kids in stories and read them to their kids and have their kids get all excited," he said.

"That's reward enough."

With the project's wrap just 21 days away, Zurbo says he's looking forward to getting a good night's sleep but will miss the challenge.  

"When it's done we'll figure out what the next project idea will be," he said. 

"But first things first, finish tonight's story."  

Written by Jonathan Ore. Produced by Danielle Carr.