Excellent ...!

Unbelievably successful is the only way I can describe last Saturday's Picnic In The Park Young Writer session at Ashburton Park!  Ten children came along (supported by around half a dozen parents) and the weather was very kind to us.  Just like last time, the first thing I did was send the children off to play on the swings and things and ten minutes later I called them all back and handed out the worksheets.  I asked the youngsters to write a list of colours they'd seen and also what sounds they had heard and had them writing down their experiences for the next fifteen minutes before sending them all off again for a runabout.

During their play, I noticed how the grown-ups had intermingled which was lovely and quite a few of them wanted to talk to me about the group itself, so it was all very sociable.  After another ten minutes or so, I called the Young Writers back and asked each in turn how the session had helped them and what they'd enjoyed.  Their eyes were sparkling, their faces flushed from the fresh air and the general consensus was that the session had helped them to notice thing more and had also helped with their descriptive skills.  So all in all - very satisfactory for everyone concerned.  I shall have to see if we can do it again.

No assignment set this time.  At the next session, on 7th June, we will move on and start  to put together our book.  We will decide exactly what kind of book it will be - whether it will be one long story, several short stories or poetry and whether or not they want to also illustrate it.  It is going to be very exciting.

So the next session is on 6th June, at the library this time so any assignments they have accrued should be brought along that day and I will hand back those I have read and commented on.

Thanks for making the last session so successful everyone; I am so pleased everyone enjoyed it.

Good writing!

Picnic In The Park Day!!!

Hoping the weather stays good for tomorrow's very special session at Ashburton Park in Lower Addiscombe Road.  We will meet at the library as usual and, as long as it is not raining (wasn't Thursday dreadful!  Cold and Wet! Yuck!) head over to the park at 9.40, so important you get to the library as near to 9.30 as possible.  If you are running late, and the weather is okay, meet us over near the swings where there are some picnic tables.  Don't forget - drinks, snacks, notebooks and pens!  I will bring worksheets over but nothing else so any outstanding Certificates or Marked Assignments I have got will have to wait until the next session on 6th June.

It should be good fun and an interesting experience so looking forward to a good turn-out.  See you tomorrow!

We Are Writers ...

Somewhat reduced group yesterday but good to have the six turn up that did.  Introduced those present to the new project - yep - we are each going to write a book.  This is something else we have not attempted before and it will be done in several stages.  Saturday's session saw me handing out two worksheets to kick-start it.  One explained the six stages which will get the Young Writers there, and the other was a questionnaire asking them what they like to read, what they enjoy writing, who their favourite authors are, who they'd like to be if they could be a writer for one day etc etc etc, so we have made a start.  Assignment set was for a Book review of their favourite book to be written.

Next session is our Picnic In The Park Day on 16th May.  We will be meeting at the library as usual so we can judge the weather.  Obviously if it is cold or wet, we will postpone it but, all being well we will head over to Ashburton Park no later than 9.40.  Please note I will need mums, dads or grandparents to stick around for this one as I will need some help, plus it would be for Health & Safety reasons.  Bring along drinks and snacks, notebooks and pens.  Not only will this be a great opportunty for the Young Writers to work in a totally different environment, it will give the grown-ups the opportunity to speak to me or ask any questions, make comments and suggestions - and it will give me the chance to get to know you all a bit.  So it is a win/win/win situation!

Another reminder to please let me know if there are any spring/summer/autumn/Christmas fairs coming up so I can book a table and sell some more copies of My Writer.

Sorry it is a bit short tonight but will try to get back in a day or two.