The Spectacular Room 15

It is always special going into a class that has read one of my books. It’s neat hearing what students want to know about the story, what their favourite parts were, which characters they liked (or ARE the most like! ) So, visiting with the grade 5′s of Room 15 at Constable Finney was special – and then, there was more!

First, we had a wonderful talk and some great laughs about No TV? No Fair! and about writing books. Everyone had great questions for me – and even some “stumpers”! When I was asked “Besides writing, what are your other dreams?” or “What was the first book you ever read by yourself?” I really had to think. Hmmmmmm….I’m still thinking! (Although I think my first book may have been “Harry and the Terrible Whatzit” by Dick Gackenbach. Then again, I can picture about three other possibilities as I type. See – “stumpers!”).

Then, these exceptionally creative students showed me some of the projects they’ve been working on related to “No TV?” – there was a wall displaying graphs where students kept track of how much “screen time” they has one week, then they tried to reduce it the next week. I must say looking at those colourful charts that everyone did very well – I wonder how I would do? I should try it!

There was also a gorgeous art gallery of “mood” paintings, where students blended colours to express different moods, just as Chloe does. I saw another gallery of beautiful origami art, and a bound book of a whole range of moods. There was also a stunning drawing of Chloe surrounded by some of her best catchphrases – like, “TV is my life!”. I saw so many great things, I sure hope I’m not forgetting to mention anything!

We celebrated our visit with a mouth-watering snack of fresh pineapple, and I was given a lovely card signed by the class and a potted gerbera daisy for my desk (I’m looking at it right now!)

Thank you to the fantastic students of Room 15 and your wonderful teacher for a great and memorable visit – till we meet again…

Karin

Good Times and Memories at West K

It was fun going to the West K branch on August 24 for lots of reasons. The most important were were the awesome writers that I met! Loved the emphasis on poetry and interesting sayings that you like to write – that’s so cool! It really showed when it came to our workshop exercises – the language was very creative and expressive. And oh yeah, did I mention …FUNNY!!!!!! You had a great sense of humour. Thanks for sharing it with me and making me feel welcome!

Being at West K was like “coming home”! This is after all the branch I “grew up in”. I even went to Girl Guides here! There was this one Shark book that I always checked out after Guides from the Children’s Section. I’ve always had a fascination with sharks…I looked for it for old times’ sake, but it looks like another Shark enthusiast had it checked out! Oh well – next time!

Things have changed quite a bit at West K, with lots of new resources and freshened-up spaces in the building, but it’s still a place that I (and the young readers/writers I met) will be able to associate with GREAT reading memories!

Thanks to the friendly and helpful staff for your support, and for getting me set up for the day!

Till we meet again!
Karin

Blazing Creative Trails at Pembina Trail

When it comes to creative writing workshops, I have worked with small groups before – as few as three people. It’s fun to be able to get to know each participant when you have an intimate group. I have worked with classrooms before, and there the spirit of a large group where everyone knows each other helps make individuals comfortable and able to share. When I walked into the room at Pembina Trail library and saw that it was set up for 28 young writers, it was yet another kind of workshop to experience – a large group of writers who for the most part had never met each other before. Well, the result was FANTASTIC!

Before I move on to talking about your creativity, let me say a bit about your “positivity”. Some of you knew each other from school, which is cool. But a lot of you met for the first time at the workshop. Your respect, attentiveness, and good humour throughout the workshop was totally great. I think that everyone, including me, felt at ease and willing to share. It’s not easy walking into a room with lots of new people and instantly get creative, but you did it – boy, did you all do it!

This is a creative group with a HUGE love of fantasy, and also a talent for drawing and writing (love that!). I also met readers who enjoy magazines and medical mysteries – very original (makes me me want to find new kinds of books to read!). I was struck by your expressiveness as you read from your very colourful “apple” sentences. I know that the exercise was about the senses, but you reminded all of us that EMOTION is just as important to explore. In fact, I’m going to add that in to my next workshop – great writers not only make the senses tingle, but the emotions bubble. Thanks for reminding me with your vivid writing!

I hope that each and every one of you enjoyed yourselves – I most certainly did. I was smiling for the rest of the day!

Thank you to the excellent and friendly staff who set everything up, provided cool name cards for the participants, and made me feel right at home at a library I’ve never been to before (but would love to visit again!).

Karin

New Heights at River Heights Library!

I hadn’t given a workshop for about a month, and woke up on August 15 looking forward to meeting the young writers at River Heights Library. Not only was it fun, like I expected, the discussion made me laugh and think! It was incredibly inspiring for me, and I hope for those there, that it was for you, too!

The “Get Sense-sational” exercise we did – you know, the one with the apple? – was so full of “story”, I coudn’t get over it! When asked to describe an apple using language that makes the senses tingle, you not only did that, but you created a storyworld. That’s exactly what great writing should do – draw you into a whole other world. And you did it, while the clock was running. Bravo!

I was also struck by what several of you shared about what kind of writing came more naturally. For some, it was “experience” that made it easier to generate ideas. For others, it was a new and rich idea that sparked your imaginative fires and filled your mind with creative words and possibilities. How true! Creative writing is a blend of both of these things. You draw on what you know, but you use that experience to create something that has never “been” before.

A special thank you to everyone who shared about their favourite books, and the kinds of stories they like to write. We also had a reader who shared from his original story, along with a stunning graphic that he created himself – that was great! All the best to all of you as you continue the adventure of reading and writing – I’m so excited for you!

A huge thank you to the welcoming and accommodating staff who made sure I had more than everything I needed to make things run smoothly – there were even super cool name tags for the participants – fantastic! And thanks River Heights Writers for making the first of the August workshops Absolutely A for Awesome! (did I use enough A’s?).

Karin