Weaving a Story at the Story Museum

Last week I went with Anita Loughrey and three eleven year-olds to the Story Museum in Oxford. I had heard about it at the London Book Fair a couple of years ago. Then I saw an article in the Sunday papers. My holiday in England was half-way through, so I grabbed the chance to go.  

I could spend hours telling you about everything in there: the helpful staff, the "26 Characters" whose names we had to guess and stamps we had to collect, the laughter and the "Oh this is sooo cool!"s of our three young friends.  But I don't want to spoil it if you are going there yourself.

So here's a round-up of our tour. And I should say it's equally fun for adults as for kids. No need to feel odd if you're not accompanied by young'uns. Though having Joe, Jack and Tanaka there made it even more fun.

1 The Changing Room.  Dress up in any way you choose, create your name, and sit on a throne while a voice magically announces you.  
-  Love the fur coat. Anyone for a sausage?

2  Check out the amazing Story Loom, invented by an imaginative Victorian, or not?  

[The boys were too busy dressing up. I was entranced by this contraption, though.]

3  Wander, wonder and explore... each room houses one or more stories.
Can you guess what they are?  And what sort of door we came through? 
Fake snow was a hit! 

4  Create your own story on the Story Spinner - a character, a place and a theme - then write and draw your picture.  Or just keep spinning for the fun of it.

5  Now for a portrait. Put yourself in the frame.  And check out all the real portraits. 

6  Choose your favourite place. Needless to say, Narnia was a real hit. 
For me it's hard to decide, but I did love Just William's Shed, and The Borrowers' drawer.

7 And finally ... once we'd filled up on panini, we climbed St Mary's Tower to gaze at the city.  Goodbye, and thank you so much, Oxford Story Museum. We had a fantastic morning.  

And a quick postscript - I loved the atmosphere inside the building, and the fact that it was in the back half of the Post Office. Not hard to imagine the telephone exchange and the canteen. The whole place gave me a sense of being 'back stage'...to so many different stories. 

The Story Museum: Home

www.storymuseum.org.uk/

WWW without the dot

Little Red Jot isn't on the Little Red Dot. She's travelling in the UK. And she's conscious that she hasn't blogged for ages.... so here goes!

Who can recognize the fuzzy feeling in the brain when everything seems to be shaking around like an old fashioned ‘snow scene’ toy?

I’m not talking about jetlag. Or hangover. Or too many coffees. I’m talking about WWW without the dot.

I thought of it after remembering some advice from my writing tutor, Josh Lacey, at City Lit.  A fellow writer was explaining that she’d reached the stage with her children’s novel where she knew she had to start her story all over again. She shook her head and rolled her eyes. Some of us sighed with her. But Josh nodded and said, “Welcome to the wonderful world of writing.” More nods rolled around the room. A few writers looked bewildered. But the unspoken words hung in the air – “You’ll reach that point too, don’t worry!”

It’s all about your characters.  There they are, down on the page. You’ve reached the end of the -nth draft. And now they’re in rebellion.  They want out. They want a new voice. They aren’t happy with the tone. Oh, for goodness sake! Yes, you’re in the Wonderful World of Writing. And you’re well on the way to convincing any future reader that this book is unputdownable. If only you can calm your characters down....  Welcome to this world.

The Writing Process - Bali Coffee for Starters!

The Writing Process Blog Tour

 - Bali Coffee for Starters!

These days I don’t have much time to ponder the whys and wherefores of my writing, but thanks to dear Anita Loughrey from the British SCBWI and her charming email of a month ago, this is what I’m about to do! 

What I'm working on

For the past two and a half years I’ve been mainly based in Singapore. This where my husband works which is really rather handy given that it's an expensive place.  I've made my own writing life here, helped by my wonderful Scooby friends.  It's a very hands-on, can-do society and as a result I'm working on several things right now. Here goes:  drafting the second chapter book for 6+, ‘Princess Petunia's Dragon’, published here by Bonnie Books; writing and editing a series of readers for 8-12s, based in Singapore;  contributing to a series of picture books, and finally, drafting a mystery adventure for 10-13 year olds based in the rainforest. Phew!

How it differs from others in the genre

I'll talk just about ‘Princess Petunia’s Dragon’ for the time being.  My voice is, I hope, what distinguishes it from other books for this age group - ie newly independent readers aged 6-9.  Petunia is a feisty child and won't take no for an answer.  She lives in a world where everyone eats together in the castle dining hall, onion soup is served every night, and small dragons live in a dragons’ home and eat blue gobstoppers to keep their scales shiny.

There's no magic in the story - leaving aside the fact that dragons are the main feature - so Petunia finds her way through sheer imagination and perseverance. 

I don't use fancy typefaces and I try to use illustrations judiciously to reach as wide an audience as possible. Bonnie Books published this book, but I commissioned the artwork and worked with my lovely illustrator, Charlotte Micklewright, to make the characters come alive. I suppose it’s because I'm a visual person who remembers pictures long after the plot has vanished from my memory.

Why I write what I do

There’s a very simple answer to that: I have no other strings to my bow.
        I've been a book editor and I occasionally write for magazines. Nothing will stop me writing. My stories are often higgledy piggledy, rather like my life, but they eventually come out straight (ish), and I've learned not to give up hope! I love talking to kids about my stories and seeing their jaws drop open.  Since publishing ‘Petunia’ I've made several school visits and hosted a bookstore launch.  The local market requires authors to be generous and proactive, to juggle a story-telling activity/craft event with handing out stickers, calendars, bookmarks...and cookies.  

How the writing process works

I write fiction, so I beg you, nothing I write now should be taken down and used against me in a court of law. 

"Every morning I wake at six.  The sun rises at 6.55, but the mynah birds are noisy before then.  I make a cup of Bali coffee (nothing fancy, but it comes from Bali and tastes sublime).  I turn on the balcony light, sit at the table and write.  By seven my husband is watching the BBC news, and at eight, I walk with him to the nearest train station in a huge shopping hub.  

             Spinelli's café has some seats that remain shaded until about ten thirty, giving me and my iPad plenty of time to garner more ideas.  My hands get a little sticky from the humidity, but when I'm "away with my characters" -- be it in the jungle or in 1920s Singapore -- I don't notice anything. The rest of the day is for thinking, reworking my morning scribbles, and applying calamine lotion to the patches on my arms that caught the sun outside the café."

Before coming to Singapore I spent many years at City Lit critique groups learning the ropes and writing for many age groups. Much of what I write is based on these stories, or on characters that took refuge somewhere in my mind.

I also read and reread my favourite books.  If you’re curious, here are a few of them: Hideous Kinky (Esther Freud), The Outsiders (Hinton), Catcher in the Rye.  Editing other writing friends’ work for middle-grade readers has been useful in helping me over hurdles with the dreaded first chapter, or resisting the delete button in early drafts. 

              Now I have a confession to make. I'm meant to pass the baton onto three other writers, but I've been slow in finding friends who haven't already done this. Or who have enough time to blog. Sorry, folks, I'll post my three friends' details later.  And thanks very much, Anita, for persuading me to share this with you.

Why I love .... Book Fairs

SO WHY DO I LOVE BOOK FAIRS?   This year I was lucky enough to go to Bologna and London and soak up just a tiny amount of the book world.  Book fairs are primarily for publishers to sell rights, but to me they are a sheer delight as I have no expectations and I'm not bound to any targets.  Here are a few thoughts:

BOLOGNA BOOK FAIR

Bologna through my eyes is all about illustration and design, from the Cambridge illustrator students' booth to the Japanese book-cum-knitting activity (spinning a yarn), and esoteric artwork from ... gosh, all over, but I noticed especially Taiwan and Korea.  I loved meeting writers and artists at the SCBWI stand, cheering on the illustrators in their 'duel' as they improvised and drew five spreads from an unknown pic book text.  In theory, the event is not for children, but I saw a few wandering round, both they and their parents entranced, dazed, dreaming .... Who could not be stunned by the beautiful work on display?

LONDON BOOK FAIR

By contrast, in London I always make a point of attending some of the talks, this year given by authors, illustrators, Julia Eccleshare of the Guardian, Viv Bird of Booktrust, members of Seven Stories...  They really help put the reading world into perspective. Here are some things I picked up:

Parents:  they are both the biggest enablers and the biggest blockers of reading. Why do we stop reading aloud to our kids when they can read independently? Children must get used to hearing their voices as they read aloud - silent reading should not be seen as the norm.

Reading for pleasure: this is the single biggest factor in finding success in life.

Feedback:  reading is like slow cooking - so don't ask kids for feedback, or insist they keep a book diary, let them lose themselves instead.

Libraries and bookshops:  for many they are too daunting, too posh. "Can I wear my trainers to go into a bookshop?"  They are a lifestyle choice and parents must be able to feel comfortable. In some remote areas a book crate in a shop or cafe constitutes the library.

Dyslexia and other needs: changing type size and shape within the story, as if often done in picture books and increasingly in chapter books, makes reading a huge challenge, and is often too daunting.  This really chimed with me.  At the 2012 book fair I heard Polly Dunbar stressing the usefulness of including children's 'other needs' discreetly (not just adding a hearing aids to a child in the illustration  but encompassing a whole range of things).  It's so easy to be inclusive... And also so easy to forget!

For designers:  allow the illustrator plenty of time to develop ideas. Time to think is of paramount importance.  (I quote the wonderfully warm illustrator of the new Harry P jackets, Andrew Davidson)

For writers: create a hit of excitement, do the unexpected and most of all, create an environment in which the child feels comfortable and enjoys the experience. (Author Steve Cole)

And lastly, you can't make a story accountable for improving a child's reading age.  BUT, and forgive me if  I repeat, children who read for pleasure will gain advantages that last their whole lives.

And by reading, of course I mean everything: artwork and text, on phones, screens, and printed.

And finally many heartfelt thanks from me for taking the time to read this.

"I don't want to have a pet dragon, but...."

So started the review by a reader of 'Princess Petunia Dragon'. 

The reviewer continues,   "... I agree that dragons are cute.  Especially, Petunia's dragon Freddy is pretty and clever. It was really fantastic and interesting.  I don't like her mother but I like Petunia because she thinks everything so simply."

Now this was written by a Japanese girl, Hanane SUZUKI, who has been learning English for only two years with her teacher, my friend Ikue.  Wow! I'm impressed not only by her written English, but also by the simple and clear way she expresses herself.  

Hanane wrote a summary as well:
"Princess Petunia wanted to have a pet dragon.  She read a weekly magazine about dragon.  One morning she tried to buy a dragon with her three pieces of silver but she knew that she needs thirty pieces of silver.  She'd never waste her moment.  She began working to earn to buy a dragon."

Thank you, Hanane, for letting me see your work, and thank you, Ikue, for sending it to me.  I hope that we can meet up one day.  In the meantime, I'm sending you a real, handwritten letter.  I hope you continue to enjoy reading books in English.  And maybe one day you'll have a clever, friendly, cute pet a little bit like Freddy!

Princess Petunia's first presentation

Princess Petunia may be used to speaking in front of very important people. After all, she lives in a Castle with a King and a Queen. But I'm not used to it.So my first talk to elementary school children this week made me just a little nervous.  But I need not have been because the staff at the ISS International School of Singapore were so so welcoming. And my distributor from Closetful of Books, Denise Tan, had thoughtfully prepared a huge banner designed like a scroll, announcing Petunia's arrival.

Thanks to librarian Graham Grant who organised the school's Book Week, I was given a 'solo' slot and two joint sessions with David Seow as well, along with other SCBWI authors. 

To kick off, I need to thank Sue Grant and Marilu Burden for preparing the students. They delved into my website and Facebook page and ensured that everyone knew almost as much about me and Charlotte my illustrator as I do myself!  And there were pictures of us for students and parents to see as they walked to the library to browse, and buy the books. Here I am with Sue and Graham outside the library. 

To prepare myself, I went to the school a day early with picture book author, Sarah Mounsey, and we tried not to distract David as he talked about his books to Grades 2 & 3. Then, on the day, I had two workshop slots with David before 'going solo'. We gave Grades 2 and 3 the low-down on how we get our ideas, setting them on a task to think up their own stories, based on a very funny made-up word.  I don't often think where I get my inspiration from - all I know is that I'm constantly bombarded with thoughts that one day may give birth to a story. And I could see that some of the students had exactly the same mindset. Making David the target of their story was one plot I particularly enjoyed! 

Of course, speaking alongside David can be a little tricky, especially when he gets carried away.  But I managed to stop him drawing a moustache on Sarah's picture:

...and later on, on my brand new scroll-banner too.  Hmmmm, watch out, David! 

Our two joint sessions over, David and I belted over the road for a quick lunch, and new batteries for his camera, arriving back just as the students of Grade 4 were filing into the Hall. (Hic!)

The students lapped up everything I said. No one made a peep when I was reading the first few pages of the book. And everyone had loads of answers to all my questions, even giving me plot ideas for the next book about Freddy and Petunia! And I especially enjoyed showing them cover and page proofs from the printers to demystify the whole process of creating a book.    

And there was more to come ...

Th students leapt up to have their books and bookmarks signed, then I chatted to staff and parents in the library. There's a super relaxed, inclusive feel to the school which must benefit the students enormously.  Sue showed me round the playgrounds, including the big old banyan tree with its hundreds of roots, which is just off-limits because of the creepy crawlies who live there. Although I already knew the school had to move, and tunnels for the new MRT train line are being built beneath its current site, I couldn't help feeling sad. These old buildings, formally British barracks, seem ideal for a school.  But I'm sure that the new school in Depot Road will be equally welcoming.  And no doubt easier all round. 

Finally, I couldn't resist making a new building for ISS myself. Petunia is seen here below on Closetful of Books' table alongside Sarah Mounsey's Purple Pawprint series and David's Sam Sebbie and Di-Di-Di, Blue Kangaroo and Emma's Elephant. 

(Please don't try this 'book house' in a library or book shop - unless you've already bought all the books!) And thank you, everyone, for making Princess Petunia's first Presentation a really royal occasion!  

Falling out of a tree with mirth ... and Princess Petunia

"I nearly fell out of the tree laughing"   A Princess Petunia's Dragon Moment

So wrote, and drew, an artist by the name of Jane Smith.  She was sitting in a tree in Finsbury Park. She hadn't read anything about Princess Petunia's Dragon before.  In fact, she hadn't read a whole book for five years.  So there's my claim to fame.  Encouraging Jane to read a whole book, in one go, one fell swoop ... or one missed fall.  

She goes on to say  - "in this sketch I seem to have one black eye and am huge compared to the tree."

But I think it's perfect.  Thanks a million, Jane!