We've all got story telling magic inside us!
At my writer's talks children discover that I do just what they do. I find inspiration from the things around me - a little penguin that was washed up on the beach after a storm, an old boat moldering away under a creaky house, even a jar of anchovy stuffed olives past their expiry date!
I show them that I plan my stories the same way they are taught to plan their own stories and when I'm drafting I cross things out just as much, (actually more because that's a good thing.) I tell them that I don't really care about my spelling when I'm drafting and I'm not very neat, (I've thrown away my rubber,) but there's one thing I might do a little differently - I never stop until I've got it just right.
There's lots of magic at my talks. You could meet a mermaid or find a penguin sleeping in a box. You could discover you are holding something in your hands that is more precious than gold. (Don't spill it or waste it!) But the real magic is that you will always leave feeling that YOU can write too, better than you ever imagined.
All my talks have a small workshop element but if you want a full 90 minute workshop, (or two if you book me for a full day,) that's fine too! The workshop activities I've put together teach everything from basic structures to sparkling touches.
Either way children will always leave busting to go back to school to write.
I show them that I plan my stories the same way they are taught to plan their own stories and when I'm drafting I cross things out just as much, (actually more because that's a good thing.) I tell them that I don't really care about my spelling when I'm drafting and I'm not very neat, (I've thrown away my rubber,) but there's one thing I might do a little differently - I never stop until I've got it just right.
There's lots of magic at my talks. You could meet a mermaid or find a penguin sleeping in a box. You could discover you are holding something in your hands that is more precious than gold. (Don't spill it or waste it!) But the real magic is that you will always leave feeling that YOU can write too, better than you ever imagined.
All my talks have a small workshop element but if you want a full 90 minute workshop, (or two if you book me for a full day,) that's fine too! The workshop activities I've put together teach everything from basic structures to sparkling touches.
Either way children will always leave busting to go back to school to write.