Raining Again.

Flash Flood

I thought
10 inches
in 24 hours
was a lot
of water but
6 inches
in 2 hours
is
much
much
MORE!

Yep – flooded again!

 

Last Night’s Light Show

Light Show

fanciful
fireflies
fritter
the night away,
flitting
and flashing
like flickering
festive
fairylights

This was the delight that awaited me when I switched off lights after writing my blog post last night. A sprinkling of fireflies…

 

Not a Twit!

One of my New Years Resolutions was to join Twitter. I was resolved – and I did it! Not for FUN, but as a way of making contacts and keeping my finger on the pulse of the publishing industry.

Talk about learning by doing! In the fortnight since I first became a twit (because before I could never have been called a twit) my understanding of the reading and writing game has exploded. And that can only be a good thing.

I have also met some lovely Australian writers and gleaned information that enriches both my writing AND my teaching.

Katrina Germein is one Aussie kids’ writer I’ve met through twitter. It was a delightful surprise to then find that one of the books we’ve chosen as an integral part of our Prep/One/Two water-based unit is in fact Katrina’s first PB, ‘Big Rain Coming’. What is more, while I was reading that PB to my class yesterday, Katrina was in fact launching her site into cyberspace. And when I visited last night I discovered it spilling rich resources to accompany her book – so many that our unit is now overflowing with exciting learning opportunities. Where will we fit them all??? (I just love God’s perfect timing in all that!)

So what have I learnt from Twitter? I think it’s best if I share a few links, and you can read and be inspired yourself.

1. Katrina Germein’s website. There’s something for teachers, writers and kids.

2. Jane Yolen’s 20 Rules of Writing. Great tips for children’s writers. (Any writer, actually.) Thanks Julie!

3. Agent Nathan Bransford’s wrap of the week that was.

4. Gabrielle Wang’s tweet about an exquisite chocolate torte inspired an impromptu dessert one night. It was divine – thanks Gabrielle!

AND I’ve learnt a new word – which you’ll need to know too if you’re reading Jane Yoder’s tips. Pejorative (No – that’s not a typo) means: belittling, derogatory, disparaging.

I don’t think I’m a twit to tweet about twitter! But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t FUN!

 

Road Rules

Look to the left…

and look to right…

Then if the road is clear of traffic…

Walk straight across the road…

Don’t run!

 

Fabulous February

When we were first married, people would talk about the ‘February Floods’. Apparently they were an annual event – yet we were married for about 7 years, before I saw one.

But times are changing, and in more recent years things have reverted to type… and this, the second day of February is proving to be no exception.

MORNING MATHS

2 inches Sunday

+ 10 inches Monday

+ 3 inches Tuesday by 7am…

(Who’s counting?)

= big floods

No school today!

 

Believable Worlds

My sons have been listening to a fantasy novel read by the teacher as a part of their school studies. Younger son, KitKat, is enjoying the novel – finds it interesting. Two good reasons for that; “You know he’s imaginary. And I like it when the teacher reads to us.”

Katfish was not so enthusiastic. “I’m not really into fantasy. They’re silly. You can have shoes that are suddenly flying, and it’s not believable.”

There was a pause, then he qualified, “Some fantasy books are good. When they build the world and explain how things work in the fantasy world, that’s really interesting. It actually sounds real – and believable.”

© Jim Warren (http://www.coolest-wallpapers.com/fantasy/wallpapers/unicorn-wallpapers.jpg)

Hmmm… Build your imaginary world, and be consistent within that world. Don’t throw impossible things around believing you have license because it is fantasy.

Sounds a bit like something I’ve heard at writing seminars. But it’s much more effective hearing it from a child. And it’s just one more time when one or other of my boys have amazed me by their perception.

It also explains why I don’t write fantasy. Building whole new worlds… I’m overwhelmed already!

 

Kat-amaran?

Winners were grinners!

There’s a saying amongst writers, and it’s good advice!

Write what you know.

Because when you know something, you can seamlessly inject the five senses into your writing so the reader shares the experience. You can include seemingly irrelevant details that add substance and depth to your story. You can make things real – because they are!

This week we had friends visit, and during the course of their coming and going, the kids quietly disappeared into the shed, eyes alight with possibilities…

It is amazing what kids can do with chunks of styrene, copious amounts of string, lengths of timber, metal and plastic, old feed bags and… just about anything that crosses their path. (It is also amazing the mess that they can make in a shed during this time!)

But at the end of three industrious days, we were looking at an engineering feat that should impress… anyone! An incredibly technical catamaran, which included sails that furled and unfurled on a movable beam – to catch the wind at different angles, of course!

We were in fact looking from the edges of the dam, where the glistening white craft was bobbing about, almost blown away with every whisper of wind. Drifting right alongside it was our bamboo raft – from an earlier project. And wading around both, with much wisecracking and witticism – with much anticipation! – were five eager boat builders, and one very big kid! (That was the Dad, dragged in to help crew the raft – but in truth, he is the biggest kid of the lot!)

Three families were in attendance for the afternoon’s feature event – a boat race across the dam! Even the paparazzi were out in force, with cameras and videos liberally sprinkled amongst the spectators.

Could the complexly crafted catamaran beat the tried-and-tested raft across the dam? Three crafty kids were convinced it could.

Could the catamaran sustain the weight of three kids (assuming they could weave the way onto a seat, amongst the intricate web of twine and timber) and remain in one piece? The adults were convinced it couldn’t.

There was evidence of sabotage… and cheating… and tomfoolery. And a fairly good soaking for all the ‘kids’… But a fantastic afternoon of fun and laughter was had by all. And it won’t be quickly forgotten.

I must admit that I’m looking forward to working this latest adventure into a children’s story of some sort. I may not have experienced it all for myself, but I know I have heard a lot about the building (and the virtues!) of that catamaran… and I know I have a mass of photos and video footage to help revive the memories. I also know a few kids who could fill in any gaps that I might have…

I’ll have a lot of fun writing that story, reliving the memories and laughing all over again at great times with family and friends!

We were all winners!

 

What Would You Do?

When writing a poem a day, sometimes you find rhythm (and even rhyme – but not this time) in the strangest places…

what would you do?

at the dress shop
two summer frocks
vie for attention;

bold black
with white spots
fitted bodice
nipped in waist
skirt flared over
ruffles of black tulle –
cute!

jade green
simply cut
featuring black
floral hem design
just a glimpse
of black tulle –
sweet

I can’t
choose…

what would you do?

 

Laying the words down on the page

Excitement of sorts – not because of an acceptance (I’d be making MUCH more noise!) but because of a milestone achieved – another manuscript ‘finished’ and away. Finished is such a funny word – because you finish a manuscript many times before it is a book. But in this instance it means that it has been completed, polished, settled, tweaked and finally, FINISHED and ready for submission. Hence the celebration – it is now off to my agent, and possibilities are… exciting!

The reason this finished manuscript rates a mention is because it is my first verse novel – and it tells a story that’s close to my heart.

Any country kid who has ever travelled to school on a bus will know that bullying is an ugly but undeniable fact of life. The younger you are, the worse it is! It’s a scenario I’ve experienced. It’s been a reality for my children. The stories I could tell about the bully on the bus…

Leroy’s story started three years ago as a short chapter book. Late 2009 I did a rigorous rewrite, developing my main character (Leroy) and strengthening his young voice.

I felt the story was showing great potential when I took it to a google wave critique session with Susan Stephenson and Karen Collum – and suddenly I was back to the drawing board again. NOT because they thought it was weak or pathetic, but because they could see the potential for so much more than a chapter book.

Susan:
I have an alternative to consider. I know it’s not a picture book, but maybe it’s a hybrid, and this is how I saw it written on the page, almost as a poem, giving emphasis to those nasty stabbing movements.

She hurts me with her hands.

Pushing

Pulling

Pinching

Prodding

Poking

Ouch! I wriggle… and squirm. I move away
but sly fingers follow. They don’t stop.

And suddenly that’s how we all saw it – as a verse novel.

As a chapter book, the story was always quite sparse. Not wallowing in the darkness of bullying, but giving enough that children could relate to the experiences of Leroy – and share his victory. When it evolved into a verse novel, the story was stripped to bare bones. Even just changing the format of words on the page made a phenomenal difference to the strength of each word – the power of the story. Superflous words were glaringly obvious. Cut them! But it worked the other way too, identifying areas that needed flesh and development.

Reworking this story into a verse novel was an exciting experience. The crazy thing is, I had been tempted to try a verse novel – had even made a faltering attempt midway through 2009… But almost without realising it, with a completely different story, I had done it.

I hope to have more news about this story. Meanwhile, I’m zipping and zinging inside, because in truth, I am just a little bit excited.

 

New Year Wordout

I have been indulging in a little poetry to herald the new year. A poem a day and more – because some are very short!

I think rhythm is important in all aspects of writing – and what better way to develop rhythm than through poetry. There’s also a lot to be said for brevity, while poetic devices like alliteration, metaphors and similes – and that simple ‘play on words’ – enrich all forms of writing.

A poem a day to start the new year is an exercise in creativity.

Here’s a couple of short poems, inspired by life in 2010…

—

dingoes,
dogged in
pursuit,
run the roos
and rue the ute
that roars beside
with slip
’n’ slide
and wheels
the wild dogs
off their stride.

—

working up a sweat
while jogging in the wet -
tRAINing