It was a lovely summer's afternoon when the Young Writers met at Ashburton Park in Lower Addiscombe Road. Numbers were down as I expected them to be, but I am sure that those who were able to make it got something out of it. I suggested they sit and listen for a few moments and then write a list of all the sounds around them. Then I asked them to look at all the colours and list those. This is an excellent exercise to carry out in the outdoors because our own perceptions are much higher, not only because we are outside, but also because we are not inside where our perceptions are blocked to a degree by the walls and ceilings surrounding us. It is a great tool if you want to write poetry about nature, or summer holidays because outside there is no limit to our imaginations, no ceilings or walls to hold us back. It really does make a difference.
Once the lists were done I asked the Young Writers to use at least some of the words from their lists in a short poem or story. I am quite happy for them to work on this all through the summer holidays since I did not set a specific assignment due to the peak holiday season. I will hold one session at some point in August and I will let you know when next time I write a post for this blog.
After 45 minutes of diligent work - which could not have been easy given the lure of the swings and roundabouts - the youngsters went off to exert some energy and the grown-ups squeezed onto Lisa's picnic blanket for half an hour or so just to chat. I gave out copies of the Parent Questionnaire and also information about the Big Short Story Competition which is open until 1st September. I will be dropping copies of the competition sheets at PMT and also at local libraries over the course of the next week or so, and posting out the questionnaires as I really need some feedback from yourselves in order to take the group forward. This is imperative if I am to continually improve the group so please please do your best to fill them out and either drop them at PMT or post them back to me; I'd really appreciate it.
All that remains to be said now is have a great summer, enjoy your holidays and day trips - and we will see you in September.
Good writing!
Tuesday 30 July 2013
Tuesday 16 July 2013
See You In The Park ...
Well - it looks as if the good weather is going to continue so I thought I'd remind everyone that this Sunday - 21st July - will see the Young Writers' session take place at Ashburton Park, Lower Addiscombe Road, between 3 and 4. There is a play area to the rear of the park and I thought we could meet there to start with. Don't forget that your children can bring any completed assignments with them to hand in. It would also be a good idea to bring along any drinks, hats, sunscreen - and maybe some snacky bits like crisps or crackers to keep them going. The idea behind this is not only to socialise (as with the Polka Theatre trip), but also to look, listen, sniff and write about what we are hearing, seeing and feeling out in the open air. Please drop me a text if you can't make it but hopefully at least some of you can.
I will bring along all the work I seem to have accumulated over the past couple of months to give back - and also some certificates still waiting to be awarded - and the prizes for the Mother's Day Poetry Competition. I shall also bring a short Parent Questionnaire and details of the AYW Short Story Competition.
As I said in the last Post, there will be only one other session this summer - around mid-August (tbc) and then - hopefully, in September, we can get back on a more regular footing, with regular sessions once again in place to help your Talented Scribes further develop their Creative Writing skills.
The article about the group looks likely to appear in the September issue of Writing Magazine (available mid-August), so I will keep a look out for that and let you know for sure.
Finally I would like to wish you all a very long, hot, sunny and pleasurable summer.
I will bring along all the work I seem to have accumulated over the past couple of months to give back - and also some certificates still waiting to be awarded - and the prizes for the Mother's Day Poetry Competition. I shall also bring a short Parent Questionnaire and details of the AYW Short Story Competition.
As I said in the last Post, there will be only one other session this summer - around mid-August (tbc) and then - hopefully, in September, we can get back on a more regular footing, with regular sessions once again in place to help your Talented Scribes further develop their Creative Writing skills.
The article about the group looks likely to appear in the September issue of Writing Magazine (available mid-August), so I will keep a look out for that and let you know for sure.
Finally I would like to wish you all a very long, hot, sunny and pleasurable summer.
Monday 8 July 2013
Session In The Park ... (or Not)
Hi everyone. Here I am - back from two lovely weeks in lovely Ireland. I feel well rested and refreshed and I have a lot of Young Writers admin to do so I will be busy over the next few nights. The first - and most important - thing to do is update the blog, so I am seated at my desk, in my study, window open to allow access to any passing evening breezes, and raring to go.
First thing I need to do is let you know that a little birdie has told me that the Norwood Festival finale takes place this weekend on Woodside Green and finishes on Sunday. Because of this I have moved the Session In The Park to Sunday 21st July rather than this Sunday so that there is more chance of getting a bigger group. If it rains on 21st, we will be at PMT as usual 3 - 4. Please let me know if your young writer can make it as that will be the last main session before the summer break. As I said before, there is likely to be one session in August - just to keep our toes in the door - and then in September, once the new school year has begun, we will get back to the more regular get-togethers. And I am still hoping to get back to one weekly and one Sunday session per month so that everyone has a fair chance of getting along.
At the 21st July session, I will have the parent's questionnaire ready, as well as entry forms for the Big Young Writers Group story writing competition I mentioned a couple of blogs ago, so please please drop me a text if you can make it on that Sunday. I also still have a number of prizes to give out for the poetry competition held back in March and it is very important I present these as the young winners earned them.
I know things have been a bit bumpy this year but I am still sure we can make this group work - and the exciting things is that the article I wrote about it looks most likely to appear in the September issue of Writing Magazine which is available mid-August time and I think that will also raise our profile a bit, so fingers crossed.
In the meantime, the invitation is still open for anyone to get in touch with me with any thoughts, ideas, comments or suggestions - but above all, I would really appreciate it if you could let me know about 21st.
Good writing!
First thing I need to do is let you know that a little birdie has told me that the Norwood Festival finale takes place this weekend on Woodside Green and finishes on Sunday. Because of this I have moved the Session In The Park to Sunday 21st July rather than this Sunday so that there is more chance of getting a bigger group. If it rains on 21st, we will be at PMT as usual 3 - 4. Please let me know if your young writer can make it as that will be the last main session before the summer break. As I said before, there is likely to be one session in August - just to keep our toes in the door - and then in September, once the new school year has begun, we will get back to the more regular get-togethers. And I am still hoping to get back to one weekly and one Sunday session per month so that everyone has a fair chance of getting along.
At the 21st July session, I will have the parent's questionnaire ready, as well as entry forms for the Big Young Writers Group story writing competition I mentioned a couple of blogs ago, so please please drop me a text if you can make it on that Sunday. I also still have a number of prizes to give out for the poetry competition held back in March and it is very important I present these as the young winners earned them.
I know things have been a bit bumpy this year but I am still sure we can make this group work - and the exciting things is that the article I wrote about it looks most likely to appear in the September issue of Writing Magazine which is available mid-August time and I think that will also raise our profile a bit, so fingers crossed.
In the meantime, the invitation is still open for anyone to get in touch with me with any thoughts, ideas, comments or suggestions - but above all, I would really appreciate it if you could let me know about 21st.
Good writing!
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