Looking forward to seeing everyone this Saturday. Had a busy evening yesterday updating the certificate trail, printing off certificates (including the Special Awards for the three members who completed their summer project book), catching up on the admin, writing critiques - excellent! Bring it on! I love being so busy. Especially with the Young Writers who are my pride and joy!
Don't forget it is Hallowe'en this Saturday so it would be good if the members could bring in their Hallowe'en stories - they could even come in fancy dress if they want to!
See you saturday!
Thursday 29 October 2015
Saturday 17 October 2015
Today's Session
Brilliant session again today. Huge welcome to new member Dhilan. Carrying on with the story theme, today's brief was much more straightforward - to write a story called The Hallowe'en Mystery.
I made some suggestions but then let them get on with it as I chatted to Dhilan's mum and told her a bit about the group. Did you realise we are almost four years old already? Young Writers come and go but the spirit of the group remains as passionate as ever.
Over the next couple of weeks I shall be reading and commenting on the summer project books I have had handed in. Their young authors will receive a Special Award Certificate next session. And I was happy to confirm that Ciaran Murtagh - our Guest Speaker - will be visiting us on 5th December And huge thanks to Sarah and Timothy for their input regarding the leaflet to be handed round at schools - and also to everyone else for saying they'd like to help distribute them.
We will be looking at poetry again from next session so I will put on my thinking cap and see if we can come up with a new twist on an old idea! Well - I have to keep their interest somehow!
Finally to draw attention to our appeal - please consider making a small donation to our cause. I am almost out of complimentary notebooks plus I'd like to buy some small prizes and look at either another book of their work or an exhibition. That is the last time I shall mention it for the time being. But thank you for reading anyway.
Love as always. Jilly
I made some suggestions but then let them get on with it as I chatted to Dhilan's mum and told her a bit about the group. Did you realise we are almost four years old already? Young Writers come and go but the spirit of the group remains as passionate as ever.
Over the next couple of weeks I shall be reading and commenting on the summer project books I have had handed in. Their young authors will receive a Special Award Certificate next session. And I was happy to confirm that Ciaran Murtagh - our Guest Speaker - will be visiting us on 5th December And huge thanks to Sarah and Timothy for their input regarding the leaflet to be handed round at schools - and also to everyone else for saying they'd like to help distribute them.
We will be looking at poetry again from next session so I will put on my thinking cap and see if we can come up with a new twist on an old idea! Well - I have to keep their interest somehow!
Finally to draw attention to our appeal - please consider making a small donation to our cause. I am almost out of complimentary notebooks plus I'd like to buy some small prizes and look at either another book of their work or an exhibition. That is the last time I shall mention it for the time being. But thank you for reading anyway.
Love as always. Jilly
Wednesday 14 October 2015
While I Think Of It ...
Dates for January to April 2016 are as follows:
JANUARY
16th
30th
FEBRUARY
13th
27th
MARCH
12th
19th
APRIL
2nd
16th
30th
These are, as usual, subject to change but I will endeavor to always give plenty of notice if such a situation arises.
See you Saturday.
Tuesday 13 October 2015
Onwards and Upwards ...
Great session with the Young Writers on 3rd October. For several it was their first session since before the summer holidays so it was very exciting to see that they have lost none of their enthusiasm! Sticking with story writing, this time I gave them a closing line And with a grin, she disappeared around the corner, never to be seen again. This left the brief wide open and had them scratching their heads. A couple wanted to know if they could slightly alter it - which, of course, is perfectly okay as long as the gist of it remained. The real puzzle came when I set the assignment though - because I said the assignment was to take that very same line and adapt it so that it could open a story. One said "But how can it?" So I replied "That's the challenge!" It will be interesting to see how they tackled it.
During the session I had quite a long chat with our eldest member Bethany who, at eleven and just into high school, clearly needs new challenges and responsibilities. I have also spoken to Bethany's mum and I have both their approval to slightly change her role within the group whilst tailoring her assignments to more suit her age. I will let the other members know at this Saturday's session that Bethany is now going to be helping me to help them and that will be beneficial to all of us. Anyway we can see how it goes.
I'd like to thank the mum who came to me last week, having read the previous post, and said she is happy to contribute something towards future competitions and the next book and I will be getting back to her. This appeal is still very much open and anything you can put in will truly help; it does not have to be a huge amount, so please think about this and either come and talk to me or call my mobile (07909518147) or email me on jillyhendersonlong@gmail.com Or comment on this blog.
All being well will see you all this weekend. Good Writing!
During the session I had quite a long chat with our eldest member Bethany who, at eleven and just into high school, clearly needs new challenges and responsibilities. I have also spoken to Bethany's mum and I have both their approval to slightly change her role within the group whilst tailoring her assignments to more suit her age. I will let the other members know at this Saturday's session that Bethany is now going to be helping me to help them and that will be beneficial to all of us. Anyway we can see how it goes.
I'd like to thank the mum who came to me last week, having read the previous post, and said she is happy to contribute something towards future competitions and the next book and I will be getting back to her. This appeal is still very much open and anything you can put in will truly help; it does not have to be a huge amount, so please think about this and either come and talk to me or call my mobile (07909518147) or email me on jillyhendersonlong@gmail.com Or comment on this blog.
All being well will see you all this weekend. Good Writing!
Thursday 1 October 2015
So Much Going On ...
I am sorry not to have updated this blog after the last session but time just sort of ran away and left me struggling to keep up! We will be looking at story writing for the next couple of sessions so, at the last session, I set the Young Writers an exercise - to write a story featuring all five of the following 's' words - snake, sand, spooky, spell and sing. The idea of setting certain prompts is to encourage the children to delve into their own imaginations and come up with something exclusive to them. I have found before that something like this brings forth dozens of different and unique pieces of work - no two are ever the same. It is surprising just how versatile trigger-words can be.
Don't forget that I will need the Young Writers to bring in their completed summer project books this Saturday in order for them to qualify for the Special Award Certificate. Any that follow in later sessions will still count towards their next Certificate in the Certificate Trail so all is not lost.
Now Mums and Dads, Grans, Grandads and grown-ups in general I am going to appeal for your help. As you know I run these sessions for free and I provide all the materials that the Young Writers need to keep their writing in full flow. This is going to continue I hasten to add. But I am sure I mentioned that I am looking to arrange at least one competition per quarter from now on and the reason for this is simple. Working to a deadline - or closing date - does tend to keep a writer on track whatever their age. But on top of that working towards a goal with the promise of a reward does add a certain edge and this is where I hope you can help.
I have had many requests from the Young Writers to produce another book of their work. I very very much want to do this for them because they deserve it. But I never did recoup the full cost of the first book so I am daring to ask if you would like to make a contribution? I would like to raise enough money to buy some proper prizes for the children and to produce the next Word Magic book to help me take this group forward. If you are able to help, I would be very grateful. But if you can't please don't worry because I will try and work out another way round it. This idea only occurred to me today and I am anxious to avoid anything that will jeopardize this group. Perhaps you could let me know what you think and how you feel about this?
Looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday!
Don't forget that I will need the Young Writers to bring in their completed summer project books this Saturday in order for them to qualify for the Special Award Certificate. Any that follow in later sessions will still count towards their next Certificate in the Certificate Trail so all is not lost.
Now Mums and Dads, Grans, Grandads and grown-ups in general I am going to appeal for your help. As you know I run these sessions for free and I provide all the materials that the Young Writers need to keep their writing in full flow. This is going to continue I hasten to add. But I am sure I mentioned that I am looking to arrange at least one competition per quarter from now on and the reason for this is simple. Working to a deadline - or closing date - does tend to keep a writer on track whatever their age. But on top of that working towards a goal with the promise of a reward does add a certain edge and this is where I hope you can help.
I have had many requests from the Young Writers to produce another book of their work. I very very much want to do this for them because they deserve it. But I never did recoup the full cost of the first book so I am daring to ask if you would like to make a contribution? I would like to raise enough money to buy some proper prizes for the children and to produce the next Word Magic book to help me take this group forward. If you are able to help, I would be very grateful. But if you can't please don't worry because I will try and work out another way round it. This idea only occurred to me today and I am anxious to avoid anything that will jeopardize this group. Perhaps you could let me know what you think and how you feel about this?
Looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday!
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