Two weeks ago, I asked the children at my Writers' Club whether they would like to make readers laugh or cry. Three girls said they wanted to make readers laugh. 12 said they wanted to make readers cry. When a few said they would like to do both, those who had already raised their hands dithered.Finally, though, most agreed that making readers cry was more important. This was both surprising and not.Funny books that sparkle with humour are wonderful. Yet, I do know that the books that stay with me are books that make me cry. The best ones do both. I then asked the children what makes them cry in books.These were difficult conversations, by the way, and I was warmed by how much the girls opened up. A 12-year-old is not always comfortable talking about crying in front of a 9-year-old. The fact that they did - and passionately - was lovely.They spoke of happy moments … [Read more...]
Dear Future Reader …
Imagine that you are writing to a reader who has not yet been born. Perhaps you're writing to your own grandchild or great-grandchild. Or maybe you're writing to someone whom you don't know at all. What would you say?Here are a few of my favourites from this year's Writers' Club. There are many, many more!I do believe that a good book can change a life. Perhaps even yours Read if you like, but I'm sure both my GOGGLERS know the whole story by reading it many times. If you really want to find out what GOGGLER means, find other mysteries. How exciting it is to have a dog, but how hard it is to name it (him)! You would probably have shifted to Mars by now. I truly love to read Harry Potter and would totally recommend them to you (if at all they are found in Mars) Think before you read this book. You can roll down the chair with laughter!Also, many made lists of … [Read more...]
Writers’ Club 2018-19
The Writers' Club at St. Mary's School is now in its fourth year!We started so that we could commemorate the sesquicentennial year with a collection of work put together by the children, but then just carried on from there.Today, we discovered how we have stories within us, just waiting to be told. This is an activity I love to conduct with children and parents. I divide the children into pairs and each one narrates an anecdote to her partner. Never do I have more than ten seconds of silence - everyone has a story to tell. What comes after that is even more fun, where you pretend the story you just heard happened to someone else in the room ... We began our year with laughter; I hope to keep it going!In the first year, we had a collection of stories and poems published - Flickering Flames. In the second year, we were somehow too busy with a writing competition to … [Read more...]
Writers’ Club – Another Year Ends
The Writers' Club at St. Mary's School has been running for three years now! The third year ended on a high, with children (and me on the inside) running, shouting and celebrating. All through the year, we played games around writing, kept inspiring one another, wrote and rewrote - and this was the result.In 2016, the children had their work published in a collection called Flickering Flames. This year, a fourth standard child suggested the title that we finally chose - The Book that Speaks.To add to the excitement, the children took part in a competition that was judged by two ex-students of the Writers' Club, and we announced the results during the last session. Here's the winner of the first prize.Thanks to all the poetry we read together, many children played with style and form. Here's a poem that received a special mention from the judges.The … [Read more...]
Children’s Day at the Writers’ Club – Who Am I?
“I know that,” I said, irritably. “But that’s no reason to lose our heads. People are being downright careless, out on the streets in broad daylight, not even dressed in Muggle clothes, swapping rumours.” I threw a sharp, sideways glance at Dumbledore, hoping he was going to tell me something, but he didn’t, so I went on. “A fine thing it would be if, on the very day YouKnow-Who seems to have disappeared at last, the Muggles found out about us all. I suppose he really has gone, Dumbledore?” Who am I?I live in Oxford College in Jordan. My Uncle Asriel is researching something called Dust. There are evil people in my world, people who snatch children and cut them away from their daemons. I'm going to find out who they are. Who am I?I followed a rabbit down a hole because I was curious to know what I would find. Who am I?I live with my parents and my brother. My favourite … [Read more...]
Fortunately-Unfortunately
Option 1 "I am going to meet a monster today." "Fortunately, it doesn't bite." "Unfortunately, that means it will just gobble you up."Option 2 "I jumped into the swimming-pool today." "Fortunately, the pool was heated." "Unfortunately, I cannot swim." "Fortunately, it was not deep."Which beginning do you find more entertaining? I was very surprised to find that many, many girls at the Writers' Club find the second story more promising. I would choose the first, any day.How does this activity work? It's a hugely entertaining one, which I learned from the book Creating Stories with Children by Andrew Wright. Someone begins the story, and then each of the other participants must contribute one sentence, alternating between beginning with 'Fortunately' and 'Unfortunately'. It helps to introduce the idea of plotting and the wonder of surprising the reader. … [Read more...]
Mr Oliver’s Diary
I enjoyed reading this review of Mr Oliver's Diary written by Arwen Banerjee, one of the students of the Writers' Club at St. Mary's School. The theme of the month was school stories, and this review was a refreshing change from the ones on Malory Towers, St. Clare's and others! Mr Oliver's Diary: Review Arwen Banerjee Ruskin Bond has written a lot of enjoyable books but Mr Oliver’s Diary is my personal favourite.Mr Oliver, a PT, Maths and English teacher is the main character and this book is his diary. He has noted every incident that has occurred in his hostel. He also mentions Tata, Mirchi and Basu and other students and their mischievous acts in a lively manner.Some people think that a teacher’s life is just about books and studies, but Ruskin Bond has painted a totally different picture of Mr Oliver’s experience with his students. The language is simple and almost every … [Read more...]
The Puppy Who Wanted to Fly
I enjoyed reading this short, simple play by Caron Thomas, one of the girls at the Writers' Club at St. Mary's School. I've published it here for you to read (with her permission, of course).The Puppy Who Wanted to Fly Caron Thomas Characters Puppy Little bird Mommy Daddy Cat__Scene I A warm afternoon, under a tree. Stage right: A large field with many trees; stage left: a cottagePuppy: I wish I could fly just like the birds. (Goes around the tree and scratches his head) Yes! I have decided. I will go to the birds and ask them to teach me how to fly. (Looks at the tree) Hey, hey everyone please teach me to fly.Little bird: Ha, ha! How will you fly? You’re a dog, you don’t have beautiful wings like us! (Puppy runs away making a sad face)(Blackout) __Scene II A warm afternoon in a cottage. Stage right: a dining table; stage left: the living … [Read more...]
Flickering Flames at the Pune International Literary Festival
The authors of Flickering Flames, an anthology of short stories and poems, were part of the Pune International Literary Festival (PILF) 2016! The young girls, all in the age-group 11-13, got the opportunity to read excerpts from their work at an event that welcomed a range of eminent speakers and writers.Of the thirteen members of the Writers' Club at St. Mary's, ten spoke at PILF 2016. One girl spoke of how Flickering Flames was born, after which each of the girls read a little of what they had written. They spoke of their journey with me, writing, rewriting and editing. The audience asked questions, engaging in a lively discussion with the young writers. This was just a beginning for them; I hope to see them with more books to their credit in the years to come! … [Read more...]
Flickering Flames – A Review
Flickering Flames is a collection of short stories and poems written by the members of the Writers' Club at St. Mary's School. Here's a little about it.Ishitaa Shevate, one of the students in the next batch of the Writers' Club, reviewed the book: here's what she has to say!This is a very nice book. It draws the reader into each and every poem or story. I couldn't stop turning pages. It is by the girls of my school. My favourite story was 'Room 37'. This book is filled with excitement. I would recommend this book to people who like poetry, mystery and other genres. … [Read more...]