Brilliant ...

What a fab session we had last Saturday (27th September)!  Ten youngsters again, including two new members so big welcomes to Olivia and Sanshana and thanks for joining.  I hope you enjoyed your first session with us and will be back again for the next one which is on 11th October.  And huge thanks to everyone for handing in so much work for the exhibition, which I will now go through meticulously over the next week and a half.  Lots of comment slips too which is great so massive thanks all round really!

On Saturday I had everyone writing stories about Maddie Bear.  I started it off with an opening sentence and then asked the Young Writers to finish the stories off.  They worked almost feverishly for the next half hour or so and several that were handed in at the end were well over a page long!

What really surprised me (they never cease to surprise me actually) is the level of responsibility these children are now taking for their writing group!  Two fantabulous ideas were thrown at me! Sophia asked if the members could take it in turns to take Maddie home and write something in a special Maddie exercise book.  I was totally blown away by this idea.  I understand now that they have done something similar at school but at the time it had never even crossed my mind to try a scheme like this!  When I mentioned this idea to everyone they all got very excited so it will be great to see how it all pans out!

Phoebe asked me when the next Young Writer book can be put together - Word Magic 2 effectively - and I explained again that it is something I am considering for next year but a lot depends on whether I can raise the money (I am still out of pocket for the first one which may account for my caution). But this admittance threw them into another frenzy.  One youngster suggested a raffle.  Another suggested a jumble sale.  Phoebe suggested a jumble sale at Bingham Park!  For the second time that hour I was floored by their enthusiasm!  And I really mean that.  I have told them all I will look into all the possibilities - including sponsorship from local stores - and see what the options are, then I will get back to them after Christmas with some ideas.

One or two of the youngsters asked me how close they are to their next certificates.  Since we have been preparing for the exhibition, I have not been setting assignments.  But I am closely monitoring what is being produced and as a result of that several are due for their next certificates over the next couple of sessions,

For the benefit of our Newbies (and their grown-ups), let me just briefly explain about the Certificate Trail.  All members receive a Blue membership certificate for joining.  On completion of four written assignments, completed and returned to me for reading and comments, the next certificate is the Red one.  On completion of another four assignments, the Purple one is awarded and  the Rainbow one is awarded after a further four.  The Rainbow one is the highest award.  Once all the certificates have been earned, we start at Red again, but this will be a Red Band Two certificate which will distinguish it from the first Red and so on - Purple Band Two, Rainbow Band Two etc etc.  It is very important that these certificates are kept safely because they do mark the progress of each young writer and gives them something to work towards.  Seeing their own progress also keeps them focused - and gives the grown-ups something more to boast about!  And why not!  Their kids are amazing!

Anyway I think that is quite enough from me this week.  Once again, huge thanks to all of you - Young Writers and grown-ups alike for your enthusiasm and feedback.  Look our for the exhibition!

Good Writing.

Totally Amazing!

Excellent Young Writer session at the library yesterday.  Huge thanks to everyone that turned up and to those who have already submitted their comment slips.  There were ten members present yesterday! This is great stuff!  I took a number of trigger objects in and encouraged the children to let these inspire them.  Some of the ideas that came out of the next forty minutes were amazing.  These kids are amazing.  They are so enthusiastic and get so excited by every challenge set.  They all appear to be looking forward to the exhibition next month and I am getting repeated requests for a second volume of poetry.  I cannot blame them for this one iota and it is something I am considering for next year.  My problem is funding.  The first volume looks great and I am so proud of the work put in by the Young Writers.  But due to circumstances beyond my control at the time, it was published at a loss to me of around £60 - and I am still trying to recoup that.   It does not sound like much but until I recoup it, putting another volume together might not be realistic.   I might have to look at other options if we are to pursue the next one - perhaps local sponsorship is one and I will look into it next spring.    In the meantime, it is very exciting that this is what they all want.  It gives them all a common goal. And a common goal is a powerful thing!

I sent the youngsters home reminding them to bring in their work next week for consideration for display at the exhibition.  Even work they have not produced for the group would be massive asset, so anything at all they have written must be brought in next week and I will use as much of it as I can.  Also, there is still time to get your comment slips in if you haven't already.

The colouring pencils seemed to go down well yesterday.   I shall have to remember them in future.  I should have thought of it sooner because when I ran the junior workshops (many moons ago), I always made sure there were colouring pencils available and they always got used.
 
A great big Addiscombe Young Writers welcome to new member yesterday Amara (I hope I have spelt that correctly).  She did come along to a session with the original group once and it was lovely to be able to welcome her back.  She seemed to get stuck in ok and did not appear in the least bit phased to be meeting us all.   Look forward to seeing you again next week, Amara.

Just to confirm before I go that there will be another session next Saturday (27th), which has been brought forward from the following week as I have a wedding to go to that day and obviously won't be able to be there.  Please refer to the blog before last when I am sure I gave you a list of all the session dates up to Christmas.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again next Saturday.   Good Writing!

See You Saturday ...

Hi everyone.  Just a quick reminder that we have another session this Saturday  (20th Sept)    between 9.30 & 10.30 and also one the following week (27th Sept) which will be the very last day that work can be handed in for the exhibition that starts a couple of weeks after on October 10th.  If your budding authors have any assignment sheets they would like to hand in, that would be great.  What I will probably do on 27th is keep their notebooks so that I can go through them and pick out some work for display.

Comment Slips
If you have been kind enough to pen your thoughts about the group on the comment slips I handed out the other week, that would truly help, as well.  I have found some comments on the internet from the parents of previous members so I will also try to include those.

Trigger Objects
I know it is short notice but if your child can bring a small object - something that they particularly like or have an interest in - with them this Saturday, we can set them up on the tables and trigger some descriptive or imaginitive writing with items that are familiar, thus adding a truly personal touch.

Any other ideas, please get back to me ASAP or call me on my mobile.

See you Saturday then - and Good Writing!

Good To Be Back...

I know we only missed a couple of sessions between July & September but I really felt it!  It was brilliant to be back on Saturday and to see some of the holiday diaries!  Well done to everyone who stood up to the challenge.

I explained to the members present about the exhibition and that I want them to write whatever they most enjoy just till the end of September.  We had some great poems to kick off with - keep those handy, Young Writers!    And with the exhibition in mind, I did not set an assignment this week.  I just told the youngsters to go home and write anything they like - book reviews, reports, stories, poems, letters.  Even plays as I saw Abbie getting really stuck into one during the session.  Play writing is something I have not covered before - primarily because of the age diversity of the group. I am none too sure the six-year olds would really grasp it.  But certainly anyone who wants to give it a go, please do so.  It actually might help me to work out an actual play writing session!

I remembered to hand out the certificates - well done to everyone.  I also remembered the comment slips and the Information sheet so hopefully you got them okay.  As far as the comment slips are concerned, please do not feel obliged to take part.  It just occurred to me that your opinions might tempt other potential members in.  If you do submit one it doesn't need to be more than a few words long.  Anyway I'd appreciate your feedback!

One of the members asked me on Saturday if she could draw some pictures to go with her poem. This idea was pounced on very enthusiastically by other members so I have offered to bring colouring pencils in future.  I seriously cannot see any harm in that, despite the fact I personally have no artistic abilities at all.  But a splash of colour would certainly add some body to the work on display, so we'll give it a go and see how it goes!

Well I think that's it for tonight.  That's Number 1 of my Writing List Of Things To Do ticked off.  Better get on with the next one now.

Keep writing!  It's so magical!

Back To AYW...

Hi everyone.  Hope your summer has been brilliant.  Quick reminder - we are back to regular sessions from this Saturday (6th) 9.30 - 10.30 as per usual.  I will be handing out some letters etc, one of which will feature the dates of sessions planned right up to Christmas,  These are:

6th September
20th September
27th September
11th October
25th October
8th November
22nd November
6th December
20th December

I will publish the new year session dates nearer the time.

I am pleased to announce that I have a new book being published, hopefully in November.  More information on this a bit later, I just wanted to share my news.  I also have some poems being published later in the year so as you can see, I have had quite a busy summer!

The next few sessions will be wholly for the Exhibition.  I need all the nominated work by 27th September so I can get it all set up in time for the Exhibition.  The library staff have suggested we take some photographs of the children writing to enhance the display.  I know most of you have signed a form to this effect but if you have not yet returned it, please could you do so ASAP.  The shots will mainly be group shots and I am hoping the library staff will take them so that they look random and natural.   The children's names will not appear on the photographs.

Talking of the Exhibition, I will also be handing out comment slips over the next couple of sessions.  please do not feel obliged to complete and return these, but it would certainly add credence to our ever expanding and greatly improved group and will hopefully attract more new members for the future.

I think we are coming into extremely exciting times here at AYW.  I may call on some of you for assistance if things get too crazy - but we will see how it goes.

Looking forward to reading the Holiday Diaries!

See you Saturday!