Almost Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Excellent Young Writer session yesterday.  I had twelve young ladies in attendance including a new member Magisaa so a big welcome to her.  And huge thanks to Mateus for joining us for the last twenty minutes or so.  Being out-numbered 12 to 1 did not phase him at all and he got straight into the spirit of the session which was looking at First Person/Third Person narratives.

I've decided to start looking at the technical side of the writing as well as the creative side to help the Young Writers improve their skills.  The older members were quite well-versed in this already but they soldiered on, helping the younger ones to whom the whole First/Third person issue is considerably new.  I was very very excited when they began to grasp it within a few short minutes because it is not the easiest of the Creative Writing skills to get to grips with.  We shall also be looking at past and present tense,  how to tackle he said/she said and description over the coming sessions.  I have every confidence that they will grasp each and every one and rise to each new challenge because they are all incredibly talented and very dedicated.  I truly applaud them!

The assignment set was to write a story in the First Person so if they could have these done by the next session which is on 6th December, that would be terrific.  I have reminded them that completed assignments all lead to the next certificate which I know is important to them.  A couple told me they had not finished their previous assignment (writing about something an older family member experienced in their childhood) so it is not too late for these to be handed in on 6th either.  And it is perfectly all right for the children to write their assignments in their notebooks as long as they bear in mind that I will then have to take the notebook home so I can mark it.

And talking of Christmas (somewhat alarmingly close with only two sessions to go), I simply cannot think what to give them all to acknowledge all their hard work.  In the past I have given notebooks and pens but they all get one of these now when they join anyway so I was thinking I'd give them Selection Packs.  Please make sure you let me know ASAP if you would prefer for your child not  to receive sweets so that I can think again, but as long as you are happy with this idea, I shall go ahead with it.  Let me know by text before the next session.  Or send me an email - all contact details should be on the Info Sheets I give out as youngsters join.  Failing that you can always comment on here, if you prefer.   If I don't hear from you I shall assume you don't mind.  I am only talking little Selection Packs by the way, not great big ones.

On our last session before Christmas - 20th December - we will be doing something a bit different but I know they will enjoy it.

And finally - I am planning to have the proposed Session dates up to Easter 2015 within the next couple of days so watch this space but I will give out an Info Sheet that day anyway.  Oh yes and one little PS - I have asked for any suggestions for our new newsletter title to also be in by 6th December so please remind the children if they haven't already made theirs.

See you all on the 6th then - and Good Writing.

Fantastic

Brilliant session on Saturday!  I know I seem to say this after every session but that is because every session is fantastic!  Eleven children were in attendance and, in keeping with the Research theme started with the previous session's assignment, I split the children into pairs and had them interview one another.  This was a HUGE success.  It got them talking - even the really shy ones - and they used their initiatives - making lists of each other's answers.  I tell you with no hesitation that these youngsters never cease to amaze and surprise me!  I get so excited when a session is coming up because I never know what they might spring on me or how they'll interpret my suggestions. So so proud of them all!

The assignment set was to find out about something that a grown up in the family experienced when they were little and write a short story about it.  If these can be handed in next session, that would be great.

I have been asked by the library staff to come up with the post-Christmas session dates and as soon as I have these I will let you all know.

Maddie the AYW bear is still doing the rounds.  She is having more sleepovers than I have ever had in my life!  Zenani has her this time, so she is slowly working her way round everyone.  Be interesting to read the Maddie diaries when they are done.  I don't get a look in at the moment so I might pinch her back the last session before Christmas and read through them over the break.

Some excellent news, by the way!  I have had a couple of articles published about running AYW and I have recently heard that on the strength of the most recent one, at least one group has been started in Bristol and another is being developed somewhere else.  This is so exciting I can hardly contain myself! Getting more people to set up more groups has been one of the things driving me on to make this one - the pioneering one - such a success, so I shall be contacting the people behind these over the next few days because the more support we give each other, the stronger the scheme will become, so watch this space, I will be updating!

Next session is Saturday 22nd November - eek!  Christmas will then be just four and a bit weeks away!

Love Jilly xxx

Saturday Is Almost Here

Just a brief reminder that there will be a Young Writer session this weekend (Saturday 8th) at the library as usual, so looking forward to seeing you there.  Also to let you know I have compiled a scrap book featuring some of the work displayed in last month's exhibition which I will be bringing along to show everyone.  I hope you like it.  So see you Saturday and Good Writing.