Hello again. I realise I owe you all an apology for forgetting in the previous post to mention the assignment. Thank you Amanda for pointing this out to me. The assignment for Session 5 was to write a story through the mediums of a poem or letter, I really don't mind which; it is down to the Young Writers' own personal preference.
Session 6 last Wednesday was very quiet - as I had known it would be with the schools closing and the peak holiday period beginning. It was actually rather nice, though, to be able to work a little more closely with those youngsters that were able to come along. We started with some feedback from the Young Writers themselves, about the sessions. It was all very positive; not just from the Creative Writing perspective, either. The general consensus seemed to be that they each felt they had thus far achieved a great deal, gained confidence and were thoroughly enjoying each new challenge. One young man admits he does not like the big shout at the beginning of each session and that is fine, too. I told him he was welcome to sit out at that point in future if it made him more comfortable, and just join in once the session itself actually got going. This consideration was something I hadn't thought of before, but the courtesy is, of course, extended to any others who do not like it.
For the last forty five minutes or so, we snuggled round two tables together and just wrote whatever was coming into our heads at the time. I concluded the session with the presentation of Red Certificates to those present. All others will be given out over the course of the next session or two. I also gave out a couple of consent forms with regards to the forthcoming Exhibition of Work and booklet. Those of you unable to attend will receive your copy through Snail Mail in the next few days. Finally, since there was so few of us there, I did not actually set an assignment as such. However, I did suggest the keeping of a holiday diary, even if it is only for days out. If your children would also like to join in with this, that'd be great.
I will only be holding one session in August and again, I am not expecting a huge turn-out. However for those likely to be available, it will be held on Wednesday 15th, usual place and time. Hopefully it will pick up again once the new school year commences in September.
If you are going away, I hope you have a lovely time and that the Young Writers find plenty to inspire them.
Good writing, everyone.
Sunday 29 July 2012
Wednesday 4 July 2012
Session 5 Feedback
Once again a big thank you to everyone who turned up today and a huge pat on the back for the Young Writers for enduring another hot and sticky hour with such good grace. I was genuinely surprised at the wonderful turn out - particularly since it had only been a week since the last session!
I know that the short interval between sessions meant that not everyone found time to complete the previous assignment and that is quite all right. As I said right at the beginning, there are no really hard and fast rules to Addiscombe Young Writers. If the children don't feel like doing their assignments - or the weather makes it very difficult as a couple of them found today - that is not a problem since the last thing I want is for them to start finding it a chore - and an unwelcome one at that. I'd much rather they have a little time out so that they can recharge and try again another time.
For those who were able to brave it out, the topic was letter writing. When I was a youngster I had penfriends all over the world - but of course the Technological Highway has changed all that. This is why I feel it is important that the art of letter writing does not fall by the wayside. I also wanted them to experience the infinite possibilities of letter writing - as I pointed out at the start of the session - a letter is merely another way with which to express oneself. I read "Dear Daddy" by Philippe Dupasquier (Andersen Press) because it is a story about a little girl told through the letters she writes to her sea-faring father during his calls of duty. I also pointed out that Beatrix Potter's "The Tale Of Peter Rabbit" started out as a letter written to a small boy who was sick. Letters are one of the most effective and flexible mediums there is (perhaps some of you are familiar with Jean Webster's "Dear Daddy Long Legs" which is in fact an entire novel told this way - albeit in a rather quaint and dated fashion), and one that should be embraced and utilised even with the advent of emails, facebook and tweets!
The assignment set at the end of the session was to write a story through a poem (bearing in mind the preference shown by many last week) - or through a series of poems. And since the next session is not until 25th July, they have got plenty of time to have a go and perhaps catch up with any unfinished assignments.
A couple of you asked me what was happening with AYW during the swiftly approaching summer holidays since many of you will be going away. I think that, initally, I may only run one session sometime around mid-August, which I understand will not be fully attended. But it will give me the opportunity to work more closely with fewer Young Writers just for that one session. And I won't set an assignment since many will not be around to take it on. We will probably then go back to two sessions a month once school re-opens in September. I will, however, still be available if any of the children - or indeed yourselves - want to get in touch in the meantime.
Finally a big thank you once again for your kind contributions - and for allowing me the privelage of working with your talented offspring.
Good writing.
Jilly
I know that the short interval between sessions meant that not everyone found time to complete the previous assignment and that is quite all right. As I said right at the beginning, there are no really hard and fast rules to Addiscombe Young Writers. If the children don't feel like doing their assignments - or the weather makes it very difficult as a couple of them found today - that is not a problem since the last thing I want is for them to start finding it a chore - and an unwelcome one at that. I'd much rather they have a little time out so that they can recharge and try again another time.
For those who were able to brave it out, the topic was letter writing. When I was a youngster I had penfriends all over the world - but of course the Technological Highway has changed all that. This is why I feel it is important that the art of letter writing does not fall by the wayside. I also wanted them to experience the infinite possibilities of letter writing - as I pointed out at the start of the session - a letter is merely another way with which to express oneself. I read "Dear Daddy" by Philippe Dupasquier (Andersen Press) because it is a story about a little girl told through the letters she writes to her sea-faring father during his calls of duty. I also pointed out that Beatrix Potter's "The Tale Of Peter Rabbit" started out as a letter written to a small boy who was sick. Letters are one of the most effective and flexible mediums there is (perhaps some of you are familiar with Jean Webster's "Dear Daddy Long Legs" which is in fact an entire novel told this way - albeit in a rather quaint and dated fashion), and one that should be embraced and utilised even with the advent of emails, facebook and tweets!
The assignment set at the end of the session was to write a story through a poem (bearing in mind the preference shown by many last week) - or through a series of poems. And since the next session is not until 25th July, they have got plenty of time to have a go and perhaps catch up with any unfinished assignments.
A couple of you asked me what was happening with AYW during the swiftly approaching summer holidays since many of you will be going away. I think that, initally, I may only run one session sometime around mid-August, which I understand will not be fully attended. But it will give me the opportunity to work more closely with fewer Young Writers just for that one session. And I won't set an assignment since many will not be around to take it on. We will probably then go back to two sessions a month once school re-opens in September. I will, however, still be available if any of the children - or indeed yourselves - want to get in touch in the meantime.
Finally a big thank you once again for your kind contributions - and for allowing me the privelage of working with your talented offspring.
Good writing.
Jilly
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