Monique Polak

Hello, hello! It's Tuesday morning at five to nine and I'm feeling very lively. Today, picture book author Jane Barclay is coming to speak to my classes at Marianopolis College. That means I should have plenty to report to you on this blog tomorrow. Jane, author of the prize-winning How Cold Was It? is going to tell us how she gets her inspiration -- and how she goes about writing her books. Most people think picture books are easy to write -- but I know they're not. Of all the kinds of children's writing, texts for picture books are the closest to poetry. There aren't many words -- but every word counts. Anyway, I look forward to Jane's visit. She is also a good friend of mine and it's been a couple of weeks since I last saw her.

Speaking of authors, London YA author Meg Rosoff will be in town next week on Valentine's Day. She'll be doing a reading that night at the Westmount Library. And guess who gets to interview her for a Gazette story? Me!!! I am now reading Meg's new book What I Was. Her two earlier novels How I Live Now and Just in Case were big hits. So I'll get some writing tips from Meg -- and post them on this blog, too.

I'm still working on the rewrite. Yesterday, I wrote a historical foreword to the book. This was the editor's idea and I really like it. My editor (Sarah Harvey) thought there were too many sections in the book that sounded "teachy" -- so her idea was that I should produce a separate forward to fill readers in on the historical background to my story. Today, I start to reread the whole thing for flow. I'm hoping to be ready to re-submit the manuscript by Friday.

Talk to you tomorrow! By then, I'll have some notes on Jane Barclay's talk today. If you're reading this blog entry in Wemindji, can you tell Minnie Matches (one of the sewing ladies) that I've been wearing her sealskin pouch necklace -- and everyone loves it?! Warm wishes  to all of you -- wherever you are. 

Ahh, it feels nice to be back at my desk. I've already taught a class and I have a little school work to do, but soon I'll be back at work on that rewrite. My deadline is next week, so soon you won't have to hear about it anymore!!

Last night, I was re-reading a little of one of my favourite YA novels, Kit Pearson's Awake and Dreaming. The story is about Theo, a troubled girlwho dreams she is part of another family. In many ways, it's also a book about writing and the imagination. Today, I thought I'd quote my favourite part of the book. It's when a ghost (who is actually a writer) gives Theo some advice. The ghost says: "when you're young, you have to cope the best you can with what adults do with your life. But remember, they can only control your outer life. Your inner life -- your core -- is still your own. And when you grow up, you can control all your life."  I love that part about our inner core and how it is a part of us that exists separate from other people, even our own parents. Sometimes, kids' lives can be rough. In the book, Theo's life was certainly rough. But we have to keep that inner core strong. I believe being creative is a good way to strengthen our inner core. (For the outer core, sit-ups are good! But I prefer to write!) Talk to you tomorrow! 

Did I already tell you that the Cree word for grandmother is "Gookum"? Well, my story about gookums in Wemindji is in today's Gazette -- with Monique Dykstra's photos. We made page one! Here's the link, in case you want to check it out: http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=b48ab6ca-f6d1-4bb3-97eb-543172be114a

Also, in case you're wondering-- the Cree word for grandfather is "Joomshom."  Enjoy the rest of the weekend! If you're lucky enough to have a gookum and joomshom -- call them up and tell them you love them. Better yet, ask them to tell you THEIR stories!

HOME!

We made it back last night -- which was a good thing since there is a big snowstorm heading our way and a flight today would likely have been cancelled. It was -30 in Wimindji yesterday; -45 with the wind chill factor. I still went for a run!! Afterwards, people stopped me in the street and asked me if I was that crazy lady with the red hat and pink scarf!!

I read all the commentson the last few entries and you're right -- I've come home with lots of STORIES and even a new idea for a book. The stories about the elders' experiences in the residential schools really touched me.

I want to tell you a little about Wimindji. It's a Cree Community on the Maquatua (pronounced MAW-GAW-DO) River in the James Bay Region. The population is 1,300 -- of that number,  half are under the age of 25. There are kids everywhere!! Many have five or six siblings. The town is surrounded by black spruce trees, and apparently, there are also plenty of birch trees if you go out further into the bush. And there are teepees everywhere!! People use them in summer to prepare food like moose and caribou. I tasted bannock, which is like cake, only not sweet. The bannock I had was made with raisins. Grandmothers ("Gookums" in Cree) are an important part of the community. They help raise the kids and they pass on Cree culture.

Wimindji is a "dry" town,  meaning you can't buy alcohol or consume it in a public place. But there is a big bootlegging industry -- and many of the people in the town abuse alcohol and drugs. The Crees' lifstyle has changed so radically in the last half century -- they've gone from living on the land to living in a town. This seems to be part of the problem. Also, the years in residential schools were traumatic -- these were kids who were torn from their families. some were picked up on the street and sent off without being able to say good-bye to their mums and dads. Many of the kids who attended residential schools were abused. It's not surprising that even today, families are still paying the price. One thing I really felt about Wimindji is that despite the problems, it's a place for healing. Families are close and there are many support services in the community. I'm glad to be home, but I feel privileged that I got to visit Wimindji. My world feels a lot bigger -- and richer. 

I've got a ton of stuff to do -- school stuff, writing stuff, house stuff! So look out world, here I come! Thanks to all of you who wrote when I was stranded. I figured out a way to read your comments and they really helped cheer me up!! Have a great weekend. Try to enjoy the snowstorm!

 

So we're not on the plane -- the three of us (I'm with photographer Monique Dykstra nd filmmaker Louise Abbott) are snowed in!! I wouldn't mind so much if it didn't mean that I was missing another day of school tomorrow! If you're one of my stduents reading this, get ready to work like a dog next week!!

Unfortunately, I can't access my website email from here. I know, I know... I should be more savvy about such things. So if you're sending comments to the blog, I'll only be able to read and post them when I get home -- which may take a few days!! YIKES! There is a heavy wind warning for the region tomorrow, plus there will be a backlog of travelers.

We've been working with students at Maquatua School in Wemindji. They all speak Cree; English is their second language. Today, I helped them write two poems. One uses mostly verbs; the other poem is shaped like a teepee. I got the idea because you can see a teepee just outside the classroom window.

I have also been interviewing local grammas for a Gazette story. Several of the grammas spent years in residential schools when they were little girls. Their stories are very sad. Some of them hardly knew their own parents. Family has become very important for these women -- in part because they were torn from their families at a young age.

So hope you're fine and well wherever you are. I like the students here -- they're funny and smart -- but I do miss my own classes at home, too. And my own computer. And my family. Will write to you again when I have more news.

Wachiya is Cree for "Greetings!" -- so I'm greeting you from Wemindji, a Cree community in James Bay, where I am visiting until tomorrow. I'm about to head back into the classroom. Photographer Monique Dykstra is giving a little lesson on using a digital camera and I'm going to do a talk about writing -- how I get ideas for my stories and stuff like that. It's pretty amazingup here. We're in a town of 1,300 people -- loads of kids. Monique and I are working on a story for The Montreal Gazette about grandmothers, who are another important part of the community in Wemindji. Many of the grammas were born in teepees, in the days before Wemindji was settled. When I look outside, I see a huge forest of fir trees -- and snow, loads of it. Okay, I'd better zip off, but I did want to at least write a quick hello from the north. Home tomorrow -- back at my blog on Thursday!

The plane leaves at 10 to 8 this morning and I've got to catch a cab in 12 minutes. Just wanted to say a quick hello before I leave!! Talk to you soon!!

So, we made it through the first week of school! As usual, I've been discussing body language with my students, telling them how important it is to look alert and alive (and happy helps, too) in the classroom. I've also told students in both my Journalism and Writing for Children classes to pay attention to other people's body language since these details can really help bring a story(and your characters) to life. It just so happens that yesterday there was a great quote in The Globe & Mail newspaper about body language. It comes from Lord Chesterfield (I believe chesterfields -- a fancy word for couches -- are named for him). Here's the quote: "Mind not only what people say, but how they say it; and if you have any sagacity, you may discover more truth by your eyes than by your ears. People can say what they will, but they cannot look just as they will; and their looks frequently [reveal] what their words are calculated to conceal." Right on, Lord Sofa, I mean, Lord Chesterfield!!

Monday morning early, I'm taking a plane to Wemindji, a Cree community on James Bay. I'm going with my photographer friend Monique Dykstra -- and with another photographer/filmmaker/writer Louise Abbott, who will be filming us. We're going to spend a couple of days working with students in Wemindji. I get to tell them about my books -- and help them with their own writing. Not sure whether I'll be able to write my blog from there -- but if I can, I will. Either way, I should have plenty to report on by the end of next week. People are complaining about the cold here in Montreal... but something tells me Wemindji is going to be way colder. Time to figure out where I stashed the long underwear! Have a great weekend. Keep your eyes peeled for interesting body language. And if you see some, WRITE IT DOWN!!

This morning I got a very cool e-mail. It's from a Dutch woman named Moniek Polak -- so you see, our names are very similar, though she spells her first name differently than I do. Moniek is a photographer and she sent me the address of her website. If you want to check it out (I did, and she has some beautiful pics on it), it's: www.moniekpolak.nl

Anyway, it was fun to get her message. Moniek asked whether my friends call me "Mo" like her friends do, and I wrote back to tell her yes. And also that my dad calls me "Momo"!!

On another note -- and this one has to do more with the writing life (except, you know, I am already thinking about possible stories about these two people in different countries with the same name, who happen to cross paths!! REMEMBER WHAT I SAID: EVERYTHING'S A STORY!!), I wanted to share a great quote I read last night from Canadian children's writer Marthe Jocelyn. Marthe was interviewed in the latest Canscaip News (Canscaip stands for Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers) by another children's writer named Sharon Jennings. Marthe is the author of several prize-winning books, including Mable Riley. In the interview, Marthe says: "I write all the time, but I don't write all the time.... So I might be working when I'm relaxing in the hammock." Sound familiar? Maybe she also gets good ideas when she's in the shower. So, when you're next relaxing in a hammock -- bring your notepad along -- just in case!!  

Last night, Karla Dobritoiu, one of my former students, interviewed me. It was a role reversal because usually, I'm the one who gets to ask the questions. Actually, it was kind of fun! I got to lie on the couch, while Karla (who did the interview by phone) did all the hard work! Karla, who is doing a double major in Communications and English Lit., at Concordia University, is taking a coursecalled "The Creative Process." Her assignment was to interview someone who does creative work -- and so she thought of me. She had 21 questions, mostly about how I get my ideas and what my writing routine is like. The hardest question she asked me was, "How do you define creativity?" Hmm... that took some thinking. I explained that my definition of creativity is fairly broad. To me, creativity means making something from nothing -- whether it's a story, or a song, or even a sandwich. Anything really! Even how we interact with others can be creative. Karla promised that if anything comes up in her class that she thinks might interest readers of this blog, she'll post a comment. There are more than 100 students in her class at Concordia and they're all interviewing someone different for this assignment. So Karla, let us know what you learn -- and pass on any tips you discover for making the creative process work!

That's it for today. You already know what I'm going to say: "Back to the rewrite!"