Well aren't I the luckiest writer in the WORLD?! Not just because I had fresh fish 'n chips for dinner last night, but because thanks to the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Book Week, I am doing school visits and writing talks in St. John's, Newfoundland!
I spent my morning with two large and wonderful groups of Grade Seven students at Frank Roberts Junior High School in Conception Bay.
I had a little over 30 minutes with the first group and a little over 40 with the second (I forced them all to stay longer so I could get them started on a small writing project of their own!!)... but I think it's safe to say we covered a lot of material. I basically told the kids everything I wish I'd known about writing when I was their age!
Today happened to be ELA day at Frank Roberts. Mrs. Penny, who helped arrange my visit, told me all about it. At lunch, there's going to be an activity called Blind Date With a Book! And there were English muffins for breakfast!
It's funny (and interesting) how two groups of students can be so different. There were about 50 kids in each group, but it's almost as if groups of people have characters! The first were calm and unusually focused. The second group was more boisterous, but included some very perceptive young people. More on them later....
Only a handful of students in each group said they hoped to write a book some day. I hope that after my visit and ELA day that others will join their ranks!!
I asked if any of the students in the first group had what I call a "What if" brain -- meaning they are always asking themselves "What if?" Emily's hand shot right up. And when she stayed a few minutes after class and returned to chat with me at recess, I got further evidence that she's a writer-in-the-making. In the memory exercise I like to do, Emily remembered her mother crying as she prepared Emily for her bath. "It was just after my pop [Emily's name for her grandfather] died," Emily explained. Right then and there, I knew Emily had a beautiful story to write. And as I'm ALWAYS saying, to me, MEMORIES ARE STORIES ASKING TO BE TOLD. (If you know me, you are probably tired of hearing me say this!! haha!!)
In the second group, I was dazzled by Gerogia and Xavier, who anticipated my writing tips before I even got to them! Georgia said, writers can "alter the reality" -- which is pretty much what I mean when I say ask, "What if?" And Xavier suggested "Don't give up!" which is another writing tip -- and living tip -- I believe in strongly.
So, I'll end today's blog entry (which is getting rather long! and it's nearly time for more fish 'n chips!!) with something fun. During my workshop with the second group I had the biggest laugh I've had in days -- and oh, doesn't that feel good?!! By the way, if you can make your stories funny DO SO!!
So I was telling the rather sad tale of how I had to write several manuscripts before I made my first book sale, and how I was feeling like a sad sack loser, and then how I felt even worse when my dad told me, "Give up! You're obviously not very good at making books for kids!" So I told the kids to write down "Never listen to your dad" as a tip. Of course, I added that I was joking, but they refused to listen to me -- and kept writing. (Which is when I cracked up!)
So, to the dads of the second group of Grade Sevens I met today at Frank Roberts, I apologize in advance for any unexpected disobedience. To be clear, I think your kids should (almost) always listen to you -- but I also believe that when something really matters to any of us, well, we mustn't ever give up!
And for the perfect ending to my story, I need to tell you that years later, my dad was the greatest supporter of my book writing, that he never missed one of my book launches... and that he DENIED ever having told me to give up.
Thanks to the CCBC; thanks to teachers Mrs. Penny, Miss Martin, Miss Delaney, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Higgins, Mr. Rideout, Miss Thistle and Miss Cooper for sharing your kids with me; thanks to the kids for being SPECTACULAR. Keep your palms open (the way I showed you) and catch the stories.