monique polak

Monique Polak's Books

3 minutes reading time (658 words)

How Does One Small Woman Get To Be in Three Schools in One Day?

You may have guessed, dear blog reader, that the small woman mentioned in the title of today's  blog entry is me! I'm just home after a whirlwind kind of day -- and yes, I was at THREE schools... though the last one was my own school (Marianopolis College here in Montreal) and since classes don't  begin until next week, I was just there to drop off some photocopying.

So let me tell you about my other two school visits! At 8:45 A.M., I was working with Miss Adair's students at Perspectives I, an alternative high school near Boulevard Pie-IX. But because I'm headed back there again tomorrow, I'm going to wait till tomorrow to write a blog about that visit. All I'll say for now is that the  students at Perspectives I are bright and the air in their school is THICK WITH STORIES! (My favourite kind of air!) If I make the magic I'm hoping to make, by tomorrow at lunch time, some of Miss Adair's students will have started the stories they need to tell and really want to read.

At 1 P.M., I was at Bialik High School, a parochial school in  Cote St. Luc (the part of town where I grew up.) While I worked with small groups of students this morning (not more than nine or ten at a time), I talked to a whole gymnasium full of Grade 8's this afternoon. I had a little over an hour and I tried my best to pack in everything I know about writing. Because these students already know quite a lot about the Holocaust (in fact, they know more than many adults do about the subject), I was eager to tell them about my novel, What World Is Left, which is based on my mum's experience in a Nazi concentration camp.

I must say the gym got suddenly quiet when I started to talk about the Holocaust. I am always moved when young people care so much about this subject. Frankly, it gives me hope for the future.

There was some time for questions, but then I had a special treat. Librarian Marsha Lustigman (click here to check out Mrs. Lustigman's cool book blog) had invited a group of students, some of whom are members of the school's Junior Book Blasters club, to meet with me in the library (that's us in today's pic). So I moved out of presentation mode and into having-an-interesting-chat mode instead. The students had WONDERFUL questions -- and I was sorry when the school day came to an end.

Rebecca wanted to know what I recommend for writer's block. My answer: I recommend writing! (Even if all you write on your sheet is how much you  hate writing and how totally frustrated you are!!) Aaron, who's the philosophical type, asked, "Why do you write?" I must say I had to think about that one. I told Aaron it's because I love stories, I live for stories, but now I've got another answer, too: it's because I CAN'T STOP WRITING. I'm hooked! Stav wanted to know whether I use an outline (the answer to that one is: sometimes yes and sometimes no, and I don't  believe in sticking too rigidly to an outline... but if you don't outline at all, you can find yourself in a writer's  tizzy, juggling too many balls at a time!!)

Well then, that was a pretty long blog entry, wasn't it? Time now to start making din-din. Thanks to all the people who helped organize today's visits. That includes Anne Beamish, the English consultant at the Montreal English School Board (Anne is attending my workshops at Perspectives I!!), Marsha Lustigman and Lanie Smajovits at Bialik (I mention Lanie because some of those students with the great questions are Lanie's). And a special thanks to all the young people I met today -- you made this one small woman feel lucky to be a writer!

 

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Comments

Guest - jason downey on Thursday, 12 January 2012 10:25

miss Monique let me tell you something you wrote the name of are wrong you options 1 when its supposed to be perspectives 1

miss Monique let me tell you something you wrote the name of are wrong you options 1 when its supposed to be perspectives 1
Guest - jason downey on Friday, 13 January 2012 08:43

no problem monique you wouldnt have a notice the mistake

no problem monique you wouldnt have a notice the mistake
Guest - Marsha on Friday, 13 January 2012 13:47

A little Monique goes a long way and our students enjoyed a wonderful afternoon working and talking with her. She has the energy of 10 large construction workers, and is a wonderful storyteller and teacher, especially when it comes to talking about writing with young people. You are an inspiration. Keep up the great work and the wonderful books, Monique.

A little Monique goes a long way and our students enjoyed a wonderful afternoon working and talking with her. She has the energy of 10 large construction workers, and is a wonderful storyteller and teacher, especially when it comes to talking about writing with young people. You are an inspiration. Keep up the great work and the wonderful books, Monique.
Guest - Monique P on Friday, 13 January 2012 17:47

Hi Jason and Marsha,
How was the rest of your week, Jason? Hopefully, pretty good! Maybe you'll find a little time to keep writing your story this weekend!
Marsha, thanks for posting that comment. I am going to do a blog one of these days about librarians! (I'll send you a note when i do.) As you can imagine, I LOVE librarians -- especially ones who really really know their books, like you do. Hope to cross paths again soon! Thanks again for having me at Bialik. It was great to be able to work with students in a larger setting, and then in the smaller one. Hope you get to stay home and READ on this snowy weekend!!

Hi Jason and Marsha, How was the rest of your week, Jason? Hopefully, pretty good! Maybe you'll find a little time to keep writing your story this weekend! Marsha, thanks for posting that comment. I am going to do a blog one of these days about librarians! (I'll send you a note when i do.) As you can imagine, I LOVE librarians -- especially ones who really really know their books, like you do. Hope to cross paths again soon! Thanks again for having me at Bialik. It was great to be able to work with students in a larger setting, and then in the smaller one. Hope you get to stay home and READ on this snowy weekend!!
Guest - jason on Monday, 16 January 2012 12:39

ok i will keep on writing my stories 8)

ok i will keep on writing my stories :) :) 8)
Guest - Monique P on Monday, 16 January 2012 13:22

Hi Jason! NOW THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR. Readers will learn a lot -- and also be inspired -- by your stories!

Hi Jason! NOW THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR. Readers will learn a lot -- and also be inspired -- by your stories!
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