Great great session on Saturday! Ten Young Writers came along including one new young lady who started off quite scared and shy and ended the session by starting a story. I have to tell you that is exactly why I run this group. It isn't so much what I get out of it as what they get out of it. If that young lady felt confident enough, within half an hour, to start a story then I know I am doing something right somewhere along the way - and why I am so very very proud of these children.
We were looking at letter writing this weekend. I set the scenario for them - a new boy or girl at school feeling lonely and a bit lost is cheered up by a friendly letter slipped secretly into their school bag. I asked the children how they would cheer the new kid up, what would cheer them up and what they would like someone to say to them if they felt a bit sad. They gave this their best shot and most had finished the letter in time to switch places and write a reply so very well done to all of them. The assignment set was to write a story in at least four letters, introducing at least two characters who communicate to resolve a problem. Who the characters are, what situation they resolve and how is entirely up to them. We haven't tackled letters for a while and, with the Post Card season coming up as the summer holidays roll tantalisingly close, it seemed an appropriate topic.
Long serving member Amber was celebrating her 10th birthday on Saturday. Amber joined the group in January 2014 and it has been a real pleasure watching her grow and develop her writing style in that three years so a very happy birthday to Amber.
The next session will be on Saturday 10th June as I am off to Devon for a few days so look forward to seeing you all then.
Monday, 22 May 2017
Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Quick Reminder - Saturday's Session...
Hi guys. Quick reminder that we have a Young Writer session at the library this Saturday 20th May. Looking forward to seeing everyone there.
Monday, 8 May 2017
Unbeaten by Cold Weather - Picnic in the Park 2017
The session at Ashburton Park last Saturday went very well as always, despite the overcast skies and chill winds. Eight Young Writers and six grown-ups braved the elements, bringing about another successful Picnic in the Park, with the Young Writers writing down their observations in between active bouts of play on the various apparatus and enjoying their snacks and drinks.
Writing out in the open is a different experience to writing indoors, with more scents, colours and sounds to draw inspiration from. One member was so enamoured when he discovered a fox-size den in the base of a tree that he wrote a poem about it there and then, plus the antics of the squirrels caught their imaginations, especially when one ventured almost within touching distance of a fallen potato crisp! The assignment set was to write a poem, drawing on their park experience and I am sure they will deliver as always. Well done to everyone for braving it and in particular to the mums who came along to support it; it was very much appreciated by me and most beneficial to the Young Writers.
The next session is on 20th May so look forward to seeing you back at the library as usual then.
Writing out in the open is a different experience to writing indoors, with more scents, colours and sounds to draw inspiration from. One member was so enamoured when he discovered a fox-size den in the base of a tree that he wrote a poem about it there and then, plus the antics of the squirrels caught their imaginations, especially when one ventured almost within touching distance of a fallen potato crisp! The assignment set was to write a poem, drawing on their park experience and I am sure they will deliver as always. Well done to everyone for braving it and in particular to the mums who came along to support it; it was very much appreciated by me and most beneficial to the Young Writers.
The next session is on 20th May so look forward to seeing you back at the library as usual then.
Wednesday, 26 April 2017
A NEW WORD - Tetractys
Had a brilliant session last Saturday with eleven Young Writers turning up including a couple of newbies so big welcomes to them. We were looking at a new poetry form which, rather like Haiku and Tanka, are syllable-themed non-rhyming poems. The Tetractys is made up of five lines with the following syllable pattern - 1, 2, 3, 4, 10. There were examples on the worksheet of how such a poem would read, one of which was:
The
flowers
that bloom in
spring, make me feel
so very happy. I love the colours.
I only discovered this poetry form myself very recently and I think it was completely new to the Young Writers, but they all had a good go at it. Some of the younger ones really struggled (and let's face it, at least two have not even learned about syllables yet) so I suggested they just write something in rhyme, reminding them of the nursery rhymes they themselves were very familiar with just a short while ago. As usual, I was astonished at their application to the exercises and I applaud them all for having a try. Well done to everyone.
The next session is on 6th May and that is our Picnic in the Park session (weather permitting) so would appreciate as many mums, dads or grannies as possible to come along with us. Don't forget your snacks and drinks as well. No need to bring folders (unless they want to) as I will supply the worksheets and writing implements. If the weather is against us, we will stay at the library but we have had three successful Picnic in the Park sessions so far, so fingers crossed for this one.
I have ordered some Addiscombe Young Writers business cards and I will be giving these out to everyone when they arrive. They feature all the contact details so probably a good idea to keep it safe somewhere just in case you need to contact me for any reason.
The assignment set last weekend was to continue working on the Tetractys and bring in at least one complete one with the correct form and number of syllables and - don't forget - all assignments returned count towards the next certificate in our Certificate Trail.
Take care and see you on the 6th!
The
flowers
that bloom in
spring, make me feel
so very happy. I love the colours.
I only discovered this poetry form myself very recently and I think it was completely new to the Young Writers, but they all had a good go at it. Some of the younger ones really struggled (and let's face it, at least two have not even learned about syllables yet) so I suggested they just write something in rhyme, reminding them of the nursery rhymes they themselves were very familiar with just a short while ago. As usual, I was astonished at their application to the exercises and I applaud them all for having a try. Well done to everyone.
The next session is on 6th May and that is our Picnic in the Park session (weather permitting) so would appreciate as many mums, dads or grannies as possible to come along with us. Don't forget your snacks and drinks as well. No need to bring folders (unless they want to) as I will supply the worksheets and writing implements. If the weather is against us, we will stay at the library but we have had three successful Picnic in the Park sessions so far, so fingers crossed for this one.
I have ordered some Addiscombe Young Writers business cards and I will be giving these out to everyone when they arrive. They feature all the contact details so probably a good idea to keep it safe somewhere just in case you need to contact me for any reason.
The assignment set last weekend was to continue working on the Tetractys and bring in at least one complete one with the correct form and number of syllables and - don't forget - all assignments returned count towards the next certificate in our Certificate Trail.
Take care and see you on the 6th!
Tuesday, 18 April 2017
Don't Forget Saturday's Session...
Hello everyone. Just got back from our Easter break in Suffolk and wanted to just remind you all that we have a Young Writers session this Saturday, 22nd April, same time, same place.
I have had a good idea for this year's summer project and I will let you all know about that nearer the time. In the meantime, we will be starting poetry this weekend - a new form I recently came across that I think will both challenge and excite the young writers, and I will be handing out details on Saturday.
Hope you all had a splendid Eater.
See you Saturday.
I have had a good idea for this year's summer project and I will let you all know about that nearer the time. In the meantime, we will be starting poetry this weekend - a new form I recently came across that I think will both challenge and excite the young writers, and I will be handing out details on Saturday.
Hope you all had a splendid Eater.
See you Saturday.
Monday, 3 April 2017
Eggs-ellent !
Slightly more manageable group last Saturday when we had twenty Young Writers come along - this week there was twelve! I actually split the session into two because at least five youngsters present had done comic books at least once before. For the benefit of these, I put together a sheet about writing a Headline Story which identified the differences between writing a piece of fiction and writing a report for a newspaper (although I am aware that some people would disagree). I gave a couple of examples and let them get on with it whilst the rest had a go at comic books. The assignment set for the Reporters was to write a headline story and for the comic-bookers to finish their superhero stories.
The hour seemed to just fly by and, just before they left I handed out some certificates and returned some work, then handed out chocolate Easter eggs as they head off home. And huge thanks to Alesha and Araf for the egg they presented to me - that was a nice surprise!
Our next session is not until 22nd April so all that remains is for me to wish you all a lovely Easter break. Be happy and Keep Writing!!!!
The hour seemed to just fly by and, just before they left I handed out some certificates and returned some work, then handed out chocolate Easter eggs as they head off home. And huge thanks to Alesha and Araf for the egg they presented to me - that was a nice surprise!
Our next session is not until 22nd April so all that remains is for me to wish you all a lovely Easter break. Be happy and Keep Writing!!!!
Monday, 27 March 2017
U N B E L I E V A B L E ! ! !
Hi guys. What a mega-session it tuned out to be on Saturday! Twenty children turned up which is the most I think we have had at any session since the library became our venue. The children were very patient as I kept moving them about to fit everyone in and massive thanks to the mums and dads for their help in getting extra chairs and tables to accommodate everyone!
Considering it was such a big group, the session went as well as ever. The topic was to invent a new Superhero and his or her nemesis and, as ever, the Young Writers did not fail to deliver. From slime heroes to BBQ rescuers they came up with an intrepid troop of Super Guys and Gals that could not only save the world a hundred times over but probably the whole universe! The assignment was to write a short story about their hero and anti-hero in preparation for the Comic Books sessions coming up.
Lots of certificates to give out, too. Huge congratulations to Jasmine - who got her Purple Band 2 and Rainbow Band 2 in one sitting, and similarly to Naku, who also got his Purple and Red - no mean feat since he only joined at the beginning of the year. But really I have to thank all the Young Writers for their input and hard work, all the parents for their continued support and also the library staff for giving the children's section over to us twice a month.
Because of Easter falling mid-April this year, our next two session dates are this Saturday, 1st April and then again on 22nd April, so look forward to seeing everyone there.
Considering it was such a big group, the session went as well as ever. The topic was to invent a new Superhero and his or her nemesis and, as ever, the Young Writers did not fail to deliver. From slime heroes to BBQ rescuers they came up with an intrepid troop of Super Guys and Gals that could not only save the world a hundred times over but probably the whole universe! The assignment was to write a short story about their hero and anti-hero in preparation for the Comic Books sessions coming up.
Lots of certificates to give out, too. Huge congratulations to Jasmine - who got her Purple Band 2 and Rainbow Band 2 in one sitting, and similarly to Naku, who also got his Purple and Red - no mean feat since he only joined at the beginning of the year. But really I have to thank all the Young Writers for their input and hard work, all the parents for their continued support and also the library staff for giving the children's section over to us twice a month.
Because of Easter falling mid-April this year, our next two session dates are this Saturday, 1st April and then again on 22nd April, so look forward to seeing everyone there.
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