Brilliant session last Saturday when we looked at alphabet poems for younger children. Fourteen young writers came along, including several of our recent recruits - it is always nice when they think it's fun enough to come back to!
I had a few Certificates to give out and the assignment set was to write a story using as many words with the same letter as possible - for example: A boy called Ben loved bananas and the more bent the bananas were, the better Ben liked it! But one day, Ben came back from the bent banana shop with straight bananas! "Bother!" said Ben. "Better blend these bananas or make banana butter with them!" Repetitive sounds make good stories for little people just learning to read and they are fun to try. They don't even have to make a lot of sense as long as the letter sound is used often. I think most of them got it and, of course, any returned to me will count towards their next certificate.
It was such a good session with a great atmosphere and everyone seemed really relaxed. It got a bit crazy towards the end when lots of you came over to talk to me - which is great - but because I was answering questions and chatting I forgot to mention our new mascot until the very last second. So far I have had two name suggestions - Ted and Barnaby - but I would like some more so please could you do me a big favour and remind the members to bring their suggestions in next time so that we can carry on with the diary. Thank you.
Further to the vote a couple of weeks ago to mark our fifth anniversary with a party, I will be contacting the library team this week to ask how this can be accommodated. Once I know where and when, we can look at organising it and I will try to get some special guests along, so watch this space for further info.
Back next Saturday which is 4th February. See you then - and Good Writing!
Tuesday, 24 January 2017
Tuesday, 17 January 2017
Don't Forget ...
Hello everyone; hope you are all ok. Just a brief reminder that we have a session at Ashburton Library this Saturday so I hope the children have got some name ideas for our new mascot. It would also be really nice to see some of the newbies from the previous session who will, hopefully, have decided they want to come back.
I am still keen to hear from anyone who might be interested in staying at the sessions to help me with supervising the group. An interest in writing would be an advantage but mainly being able to commit to one hour twice a month is paramount if the group is to continue - or even if two of you did one hour each it would be helpful! Please come back to me ASAP if you would like to help out, or come and see me on Saturday.
Finally I am aware that I have not produced a newsletter for a few months and I am looking to rectify that this year - even if I only manage one every six months.
See you Saturday.
I am still keen to hear from anyone who might be interested in staying at the sessions to help me with supervising the group. An interest in writing would be an advantage but mainly being able to commit to one hour twice a month is paramount if the group is to continue - or even if two of you did one hour each it would be helpful! Please come back to me ASAP if you would like to help out, or come and see me on Saturday.
Finally I am aware that I have not produced a newsletter for a few months and I am looking to rectify that this year - even if I only manage one every six months.
See you Saturday.
Monday, 9 January 2017
Who Is Our New Bear ...
Amazing first session of the year last Saturday when fourteen Young Writers turned up, including five possible new members! What a cracking start to 2017! I am afraid I was not really at my best, though. I was feeling somewhat under the weather but I am pleased to relate that I am now feeling much better and I thank you all for your kind concern.
I was most pleased to be able to bring along the new Mascot having retired Maddy who had started coming apart at the seams (she is certainly a well loved bear who has had lots of exciting adventures). I asked the children for ideas for names and part of their challenge for the next session is to come up with some suggestions. The name that comes up most will be the winner. For the Young Writers' information, our new bear is male as opposed to female, so hopefully any suggestions will take that into consideration.
One of the key topics for last Saturday was to decide how Addiscombe Young Writers should celebrate its fifth birthday this year. I made a number of suggestions and the one that got the biggest show of hands was a party, so I will discuss this with our lovely librarians and find out the best way to proceed. I do have one other idea in mind which I will come back to in due course - I need to do some research first.
There was no specific assignment set - being the first session after the Christmas break - these will start again next session. But I did say that if the Young Writers want to write something and present it on the 21st at our next session, it will still count towards their next certificate. On this occasion anything goes - poem, story, letter, review - whatever they like.
Finally big thanks to all the members who presented letters to their favourite authors. I will go through these in time for the next session.
'Til then - have a good January.
I was most pleased to be able to bring along the new Mascot having retired Maddy who had started coming apart at the seams (she is certainly a well loved bear who has had lots of exciting adventures). I asked the children for ideas for names and part of their challenge for the next session is to come up with some suggestions. The name that comes up most will be the winner. For the Young Writers' information, our new bear is male as opposed to female, so hopefully any suggestions will take that into consideration.
One of the key topics for last Saturday was to decide how Addiscombe Young Writers should celebrate its fifth birthday this year. I made a number of suggestions and the one that got the biggest show of hands was a party, so I will discuss this with our lovely librarians and find out the best way to proceed. I do have one other idea in mind which I will come back to in due course - I need to do some research first.
There was no specific assignment set - being the first session after the Christmas break - these will start again next session. But I did say that if the Young Writers want to write something and present it on the 21st at our next session, it will still count towards their next certificate. On this occasion anything goes - poem, story, letter, review - whatever they like.
Finally big thanks to all the members who presented letters to their favourite authors. I will go through these in time for the next session.
'Til then - have a good January.
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
Heres To 2017!
Hello everyone and a very warm welcome to the first blog post of 2017! I hope you all had a great Christmas and that the Young Writers are raring to go. I think our Presentation session on 17th December went really well. I am so pleased everyone liked their present and I could see how proud they all were to receive their richly deserved awards. Many thanks to everyone who came along and for all your support. It was a lovely hour or so and, as I said at the time, I am so proud of everyone!
Thank you for all the cards and presents. It was very thoughtful and very much appreciated. Our Christmas went very well and was one long round of visits and nibbles. I now have enough chocolate to last me until Easter - and it probably will! On 30th December, we went away for New Year and stayed at a nice hotel in Paignton, Devon. So all in all it has been a busy but very enjoyable time.
This year, Addiscombe Young Writers celebrates its fifth birthday and I am hoping to organise something a little bit special to mark the occasion. I will also be launching a couple of competitions over the coming sessions so keep an eye on the blog.
Don't forget we have a session this Saturday, 7th January, same place, same time and I am looking forward to seeing you all. I also have a very special surprise ...
See you Saturday
Thank you for all the cards and presents. It was very thoughtful and very much appreciated. Our Christmas went very well and was one long round of visits and nibbles. I now have enough chocolate to last me until Easter - and it probably will! On 30th December, we went away for New Year and stayed at a nice hotel in Paignton, Devon. So all in all it has been a busy but very enjoyable time.
This year, Addiscombe Young Writers celebrates its fifth birthday and I am hoping to organise something a little bit special to mark the occasion. I will also be launching a couple of competitions over the coming sessions so keep an eye on the blog.
Don't forget we have a session this Saturday, 7th January, same place, same time and I am looking forward to seeing you all. I also have a very special surprise ...
See you Saturday
Monday, 5 December 2016
Can You Help?
Hi everyone. We had an amazing session on Saturday! Thirteen children came along, including five returning new members! And I had a barrage of enquiries after the session as well! This is brilliant for the group and shows that there is still a place out there for Young Writers! Even with the technological highway becoming more like the M1 during peak hours!
At Saturday's session, we were starting the build up to the festive season with the task being to create a Christmas or Winter story or poem. I gave the choice because I am aware that not everyone celebrates Christmas and I did not want anyone to feel left out. They practically all went for acrostic poems about Christmas anyway, but it was important they had the choice. The assignment was to write a letter to their favourite author, but this does not need handing in until our first session of the New Year, which is on January 7th.
The Young Writers were all delighted with their copies of Word Magic 2 last Saturday. Further copies can be bought for £2.00 each and would make a truly delightful gift for relatives and friends, so please buy, buy, buy!
Our next session is all about Party Time. It is on 17th December (not the 19th as stated in my previous post - now corrected, by the way) from 9.30 until 10.30, but if we over run a bit, it won't matter. On that day, we will be launching our new book Word Magic 2 and the group's first ever Trophies are going to be awarded, plus there'll be Certificates of Achievement to everyone who contributed to the book. I have had a word with Santa and he has given his blessing for me to distribute some early Christmas presents as well so it is going to be a manic but rather jolly affair as we will also be having nibbles. If you would like to bring along some crisps, or biscuits - that would be fine. I will bring some paper plates, along too.
Finally, I would like to put some feelers out and I could really use your help. With the group doing so well, and attendance figures continually on the rise, I really think I need an extra pair of hands during the sessions. Would any mums or dads be prepared to stay during the sessions or do you know anyone who would like to be a volunteer helper? An interest in writing would be an advantage, but mainly the ability to get on with children and meet them at their level would be paramount. If you think you can help - or know someone who may be able to help, please let me know.
See you all on 17th then - mums, dads, siblings - all are welcome to stay!
At Saturday's session, we were starting the build up to the festive season with the task being to create a Christmas or Winter story or poem. I gave the choice because I am aware that not everyone celebrates Christmas and I did not want anyone to feel left out. They practically all went for acrostic poems about Christmas anyway, but it was important they had the choice. The assignment was to write a letter to their favourite author, but this does not need handing in until our first session of the New Year, which is on January 7th.
The Young Writers were all delighted with their copies of Word Magic 2 last Saturday. Further copies can be bought for £2.00 each and would make a truly delightful gift for relatives and friends, so please buy, buy, buy!
Our next session is all about Party Time. It is on 17th December (not the 19th as stated in my previous post - now corrected, by the way) from 9.30 until 10.30, but if we over run a bit, it won't matter. On that day, we will be launching our new book Word Magic 2 and the group's first ever Trophies are going to be awarded, plus there'll be Certificates of Achievement to everyone who contributed to the book. I have had a word with Santa and he has given his blessing for me to distribute some early Christmas presents as well so it is going to be a manic but rather jolly affair as we will also be having nibbles. If you would like to bring along some crisps, or biscuits - that would be fine. I will bring some paper plates, along too.
Finally, I would like to put some feelers out and I could really use your help. With the group doing so well, and attendance figures continually on the rise, I really think I need an extra pair of hands during the sessions. Would any mums or dads be prepared to stay during the sessions or do you know anyone who would like to be a volunteer helper? An interest in writing would be an advantage, but mainly the ability to get on with children and meet them at their level would be paramount. If you think you can help - or know someone who may be able to help, please let me know.
See you all on 17th then - mums, dads, siblings - all are welcome to stay!
Thursday, 1 December 2016
Amazing!!!
The new Young Writer book "Word Magic 2" is all done and dusted and looks absolutely amazing! I took delivery of 150 copies yesterday and we will incorporate the launch with the final session of the year on 17th December - as long as the library staff don't mind. Every single contributor and active group member will receive a free copy of the book this weekend and any other copies required will cost £2.00 - not a lot - and will be available to buy at our session on 17th December. They will make lovely personal Christmas presents for friends, teachers and relations - especially if your young writer is encouraged to autograph it!
On that day, all contributors will also be awarded a Certificate of Achievement, plus the group's first ever trophies will be awarded so 19th December is going to be a Big Day for AYW!
At our previous session, on 19th November, we did a one-off session looking at research and writing reports. The idea was to find a period in history they find interesting and look up relevant facts using the library, the internet (with parental supervision) and also just by talking to people - and then to write it up like a newspaper report - a challenge I know the Young Writers can rise to!
Looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend, then!
On that day, all contributors will also be awarded a Certificate of Achievement, plus the group's first ever trophies will be awarded so 19th December is going to be a Big Day for AYW!
At our previous session, on 19th November, we did a one-off session looking at research and writing reports. The idea was to find a period in history they find interesting and look up relevant facts using the library, the internet (with parental supervision) and also just by talking to people - and then to write it up like a newspaper report - a challenge I know the Young Writers can rise to!
Looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend, then!
Monday, 14 November 2016
LOOKING GOOD!!!
Hi everyone. Had another cracking Young Writer session on 5th November - 10 children. This seems to be the average now, which is fine by me and pretty manageable.
I brought a dummy copy of the new book in to show the members and they all looked delighted. I am now awaiting a hard-copy proof from Cherrills (the printer), which should arrive any day. I have also asked for the cover of the finished books to be laminated - I think that will give it extra quality. PLUS I managed to match the 22 pages of the first book and I think it is going to be brilliant. Huge Well Done to everyone.
At the last session, we looked at setting the scene to add atmosphere to our fiction and the assignment was to incorporate everything we have covered since this topic began - developing realistic characters, developing plot and adding atmosphere through scene-setting - and write a brand new story using all the "ingredients". I must say I have been very very impressed by everything the members have accomplished during this period as it has been pretty intense. But - much to their relief (and mine to a degree) - we will be starting something new this weekend - something we have not really done previously, although we have touched on it.
I was delighted a few days ago to take delivery of the first ever AYW trophies! Such a thrill - and my hope is that these will be presented no later than January. They are absolutely gorgeous and I know just how much they will be appreciated, too! Plan now is to get everyone to this stage - but of course - much of it lies with the Young Writers themselves and how much work they are prepared to put in.
I don't think I will be disappointed.
See you Saturday.
I brought a dummy copy of the new book in to show the members and they all looked delighted. I am now awaiting a hard-copy proof from Cherrills (the printer), which should arrive any day. I have also asked for the cover of the finished books to be laminated - I think that will give it extra quality. PLUS I managed to match the 22 pages of the first book and I think it is going to be brilliant. Huge Well Done to everyone.
At the last session, we looked at setting the scene to add atmosphere to our fiction and the assignment was to incorporate everything we have covered since this topic began - developing realistic characters, developing plot and adding atmosphere through scene-setting - and write a brand new story using all the "ingredients". I must say I have been very very impressed by everything the members have accomplished during this period as it has been pretty intense. But - much to their relief (and mine to a degree) - we will be starting something new this weekend - something we have not really done previously, although we have touched on it.
I was delighted a few days ago to take delivery of the first ever AYW trophies! Such a thrill - and my hope is that these will be presented no later than January. They are absolutely gorgeous and I know just how much they will be appreciated, too! Plan now is to get everyone to this stage - but of course - much of it lies with the Young Writers themselves and how much work they are prepared to put in.
I don't think I will be disappointed.
See you Saturday.
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