Yes - I know we didn't have a Session 22 exactly! But here's a quick update anyway. I was going to be collecting assignments about dads to tie in with father's day, so if your talented scribblers haven't had time to finish, they have got an extension to 14th July to get it done - that is a poem or story about dad, granddad or uncle. What I was going to start looking at was short poems like haiku and tanka. I thought it would be good to steer them away from fiction writing for a while, and most of them seem to enjoy writing poems. Won't go into the rudiments of such poetry forms just yet; I will wait until I see everyone, but to get them in the mood, I think the next assignment should be to write a nature poem, either about the seasons, wildlife, flowers, clouds, animals, birds - whatever they like as long as the central theme is nature. Here's a couple of mine from my book "Nature's Magic" which was published a few years back:
SITTING ON THE FIELD
So many shades of green,
dark - almost brown,
bright - almost glowing.
Leaf by leaf.
Tree by tree.
Grass by grass.
Hedge by hedge.
In the distance,
the hills look
almost turquoise.
So many shades of green!
(c) J P Henderson-Long - 2004
PUDDY MUDDLE!
I'm so excited,
I have to go,
the garden outside
is full of snow.
I run and play
then rush for a cuddle
after slipping into
a puddy muddle.
"A puddy muddle!" says my mum.
"A muddy puddle's
much more fun!"
(c) J P Henderson-Long - 2004
Please feel free to share these with the Young Writers so they get an idea of what I am looking for.
The next session will be from 3 - 4 on Sunday 14th July and it will be the Session in the Park (weather permitting). Ashburton Park is only ten minutes down Lower Addiscombe Road (towards Elmers End) and there is loads of space to spread out and write and a good park to play in afterwards. Bring along some snacks and drinks (and sun cream if it is really nice) to make something of an occasion of it, and maybe a picnic rug to sit on. Naturally if it is raining we will meet at PMT as usual. Should be good if we can have it in the park, though, so fingers crossed.
Think that is it for now. I am off to Ireland on Saturday so will be gone for a couple of weeks - but you can still email or text me if you have to, I will have my beloved Nokia with me.
Once again, sorry about yesterday's session - but I am sure with their writing and enthusiasm, the members will soon make up for it.
Good writing everyone!
Monday 17 June 2013
Saturday 15 June 2013
Sorry ...
Hi everyone. Have tried to contact you all but in case I missed anyone, tomorrow's session has had to be cancelled as the coffee shop is being used for a private function. I only found this out this morning or I'd have let you know sooner. Next session will be (weather permitting) Picnic Session In The Park on Sunday 14th July - watch this space for details. Once again - huge apologies.
Jilly
Jilly
Friday 14 June 2013
Sunday 2 June 2013
Session 21 - Feedback (and a suggestion ...)
Nice session at PMT today. Great to see Teva and Oliver back and to welcome three possible new members - Eloise, Issi and Ella (I hope I have spelt those correctly). I understand some of you are away because of Half Term so will hopefully see you at the next session which is Sunday 16th June (yes Dads - your big day) 3 - 4 as usual.
Today we were writing about our dads and the assignment was to take those ideas and put at least some of them into a poem. No prizes for this one - but don't forget, all completed assignments count towards the next Certificate, so still worth having a go. Since the next session actually falls on Father's Day, of course, I know you may not be able to make it, but even if the Young Writers have family commitments, they are still welcome to take part.
One of the things I suggested today was one of the July sessions being held in a local park (weather permitting, naturally), because sometimes, being in the fresh air, in different surroundings, heightens the senses - and to make it a special occasion, we could take drinks and snacks along and have a mini picnic. And once the writing's done, there is always the swings etc to let off steam with. Perhaps 14th July would be a good one because summer holidays will have begun by 28th. And hopefully by the 14th, the weather will have settled down.
Now mums and dads I have been very seriously thinking about the best way to keep the momentum going with this group. I am not prepared to give it up after everything the Young Writers have achieved and one of the possible ways forward would be to compromise on sessions. Since we started doing the Sunday sessions, several new members have come along because they cannot make it during the week. This is encouraging. It means we are reaching even more youngsters than before. But I also know Sundays are, by tradition, family days, with visits to grandparents, or days out planned, which makes it difficult for some of the Young Writers to attend.
I have settled in well enough at my new job to perhaps wrangle it so that one session per month can go back to a weekday afternoon, and the other session each month can stay on a Sunday. I know you are all rather shy and not over keen on being vocal, but it would sooooo help me out if you could come back to me with feedback on this idea ASAP. You can text me, email or phone, or, if you prefer, pop a comment on at the end of this post. Once I have your feedback, I will see what I can do and let you all know. This may be the best way forward - ensuring that those youngsters that have been missing out since the Sunday sessions began, can once again get involved - and also that those youngsters unable to attend midweek because of other after schools activities, can stay with us and continue to develop their skills.
Did not get the chance to chat with Amanda yesterday, by the way, so still cannot confirm about the Guest Speaker but I will get back to you on this, at least, before very much longer.
Still have the prizes for the poetry competition to give out, so please let me know when you'll be there so I can make sure I bring them to the session. And I completely forgot, today, to give back the work I have accumulated over the past few months, so please let me know when you will be around so I can make sure I have got it with me.
Don't forget you can contact me anytime and, in the meantime, Good Writing!
Today we were writing about our dads and the assignment was to take those ideas and put at least some of them into a poem. No prizes for this one - but don't forget, all completed assignments count towards the next Certificate, so still worth having a go. Since the next session actually falls on Father's Day, of course, I know you may not be able to make it, but even if the Young Writers have family commitments, they are still welcome to take part.
One of the things I suggested today was one of the July sessions being held in a local park (weather permitting, naturally), because sometimes, being in the fresh air, in different surroundings, heightens the senses - and to make it a special occasion, we could take drinks and snacks along and have a mini picnic. And once the writing's done, there is always the swings etc to let off steam with. Perhaps 14th July would be a good one because summer holidays will have begun by 28th. And hopefully by the 14th, the weather will have settled down.
Now mums and dads I have been very seriously thinking about the best way to keep the momentum going with this group. I am not prepared to give it up after everything the Young Writers have achieved and one of the possible ways forward would be to compromise on sessions. Since we started doing the Sunday sessions, several new members have come along because they cannot make it during the week. This is encouraging. It means we are reaching even more youngsters than before. But I also know Sundays are, by tradition, family days, with visits to grandparents, or days out planned, which makes it difficult for some of the Young Writers to attend.
I have settled in well enough at my new job to perhaps wrangle it so that one session per month can go back to a weekday afternoon, and the other session each month can stay on a Sunday. I know you are all rather shy and not over keen on being vocal, but it would sooooo help me out if you could come back to me with feedback on this idea ASAP. You can text me, email or phone, or, if you prefer, pop a comment on at the end of this post. Once I have your feedback, I will see what I can do and let you all know. This may be the best way forward - ensuring that those youngsters that have been missing out since the Sunday sessions began, can once again get involved - and also that those youngsters unable to attend midweek because of other after schools activities, can stay with us and continue to develop their skills.
Did not get the chance to chat with Amanda yesterday, by the way, so still cannot confirm about the Guest Speaker but I will get back to you on this, at least, before very much longer.
Still have the prizes for the poetry competition to give out, so please let me know when you'll be there so I can make sure I bring them to the session. And I completely forgot, today, to give back the work I have accumulated over the past few months, so please let me know when you will be around so I can make sure I have got it with me.
Don't forget you can contact me anytime and, in the meantime, Good Writing!
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