By Easter I felt I was making some headway, at last. So, not wishing to lose that momentum, I enrolled for the summer term. Most of my classmates enrolled again, too. It was great to see them, as we'd built up a real rapport over the course since September.
Listening them read their homework assignments out loud, I realised what a talented, creative group this was. Some of them were laugh-out-loud funny. Surely everyone here deserved to get published?
This term, some story ideas finally came into my head. Hooray! So, over the course of the ten weeks, I wrote several picture book texts. I made little dummies of each one, to ensure they adhered to the structure and format of a picture book. I knew they weren't quite right but, with helpful suggestions from Susie and Alison, I was confident I could produce something that would have potential.
After all, I had the whole summer to perfect them.
Thursday 27 August 2009
Monday 24 August 2009
New term, new teacher
I decided that what I needed was more practise. So, I enrolled for the spring term. And the good news was, so did most of the others. This time, we had a different teacher who was called Susie.
We were effectively doing the same course again, since it was 10-week syllabus. However, since there were no newbies in the class, Susie was able to help us build on the knowledge we'd gained with Alison.
She was great at suggesting books we should read to see how they tackled the particular subject we were studying that week. She also came up with some really helpful suggestions on how we might improve the stories we had submitted for homework.
As a result, I completely rewrote the story I'd come up with two years previously. Same idea, same characters, but I came at it from a totally new angle. It was still two spreads too long for a picture book, but this was something I'd just have to resolve.
We were effectively doing the same course again, since it was 10-week syllabus. However, since there were no newbies in the class, Susie was able to help us build on the knowledge we'd gained with Alison.
She was great at suggesting books we should read to see how they tackled the particular subject we were studying that week. She also came up with some really helpful suggestions on how we might improve the stories we had submitted for homework.
As a result, I completely rewrote the story I'd come up with two years previously. Same idea, same characters, but I came at it from a totally new angle. It was still two spreads too long for a picture book, but this was something I'd just have to resolve.
Thursday 20 August 2009
The autumn term
Usually these kind of adult education classes have a high drop-off rate and about half tend to stay the course. Every single one of us made it to the end of term. Now that's quite an achievement. I put it down to having an excellent teacher.
Our teacher, Alison, would introduce a different topic each week, such as point of view, developing a character, convincing dialogue, 'show don't tell' etc etc. She showed us how to write beginnings that would grab the reader's interest, how to sustain this interest, and how to write great endings - preferably with a twist.
But it wasn't just about Alison's teaching. My fellow classmates were important, too. If someone was stuck with a storyline, everyone would chip in with their ideas and suggestions. They were a fun group, too. That's where attending a class wins hands down over a self-study book.
At the end of term, I looked back over the exercises I'd done in class and the homework I'd handed in.
None of it was any good.
I'd learned so much, so how come I hadn't made any progress?
Our teacher, Alison, would introduce a different topic each week, such as point of view, developing a character, convincing dialogue, 'show don't tell' etc etc. She showed us how to write beginnings that would grab the reader's interest, how to sustain this interest, and how to write great endings - preferably with a twist.
But it wasn't just about Alison's teaching. My fellow classmates were important, too. If someone was stuck with a storyline, everyone would chip in with their ideas and suggestions. They were a fun group, too. That's where attending a class wins hands down over a self-study book.
At the end of term, I looked back over the exercises I'd done in class and the homework I'd handed in.
None of it was any good.
I'd learned so much, so how come I hadn't made any progress?
Monday 17 August 2009
A writer is a person who writes
In September 08, I enrolled on the 'Writing for Children' class run by Hammersmith and Fulham. I suppose I could easily have continued with my various books on 'how to write children's books' and then ploughed my through all the exercises they suggested.
In fact, I did start to do this but it was all very ad hoc. I'd do a bit; I'd put it one side; I'd forget to do any more. No, what I needed was a weekly class and the discipline of a regular homework assignment. After all, a writer is a person who writes. Just like physical exercise, you have to keep your 'writing muscles' in trim if you want to imrpove.
So I bought myself a big A4 spiral bound pad, sharpened my pencils, and took myself off to the first class.
In fact, I did start to do this but it was all very ad hoc. I'd do a bit; I'd put it one side; I'd forget to do any more. No, what I needed was a weekly class and the discipline of a regular homework assignment. After all, a writer is a person who writes. Just like physical exercise, you have to keep your 'writing muscles' in trim if you want to imrpove.
So I bought myself a big A4 spiral bound pad, sharpened my pencils, and took myself off to the first class.
Sunday 9 August 2009
Where have all the bookworms gone?
Having attended the Society of Authors' conference for children's writers, it became all too apparent to me just how hard it is:
These days, there are too many children who don't give a monkey's about books. They're too intent on texting and on playing computer games. Thank goodness for JK Rowling.
- to find an agent
- to get published
- to earn any real money from writing children's books
These days, there are too many children who don't give a monkey's about books. They're too intent on texting and on playing computer games. Thank goodness for JK Rowling.
Thursday 6 August 2009
CWIG
Enthused by my evening class, I decided it was time to take my children's writing project off the back burner. So, in August 2008 I headed to Cambridge to the Society of Authors' conference for children's writers and illustrators - CWIG.
This was a brilliant opportunity for me to immerse myself in the world of children's literature for an entire weekend. There was an excellent line up of talks, workshops and discussion panels. I listened to some high-profile children's authors - there were even three past/present children's laureates who had been invited to speak.
I took every opportunity to chat to people at mealtimes and coffee breaks to find out as much as I could from 'real' authors who earned their living by writing for children.
I came away both highly enthused and very dispirited....
This was a brilliant opportunity for me to immerse myself in the world of children's literature for an entire weekend. There was an excellent line up of talks, workshops and discussion panels. I listened to some high-profile children's authors - there were even three past/present children's laureates who had been invited to speak.
I took every opportunity to chat to people at mealtimes and coffee breaks to find out as much as I could from 'real' authors who earned their living by writing for children.
I came away both highly enthused and very dispirited....
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