Karen Comer

Collecting Stories

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One true thing

September 9, 2015 by Karen Comer 6 Comments

One true thingone-true-thing
Nicole Hayes
Random House
2015

The story: Frankie is sixteen, a guitarist in a band, and lives with her father, an academic, her mother, a politician and her younger brother, a swimmer with asthma. Frankie’s mother, Rowena, is in the middle of an election campaign, working to be the first elected female premier of Victoria. Rowena is used to the criticism and taunts of the media, but when she is photographed with an unknown man at night, the media becomes relentless and Frankie’s family begins to fall apart.

The highlights: There’s so much passion in this book – Frankie’s passion for her band, Rowena’s passion for politics and Frankie’s passion for Jake, the new kid at her school with his own passion for photography. Frankie, Rowena, and Rowena’s mother (Gran) are strong women – each with their secrets, their strengths and weaknesses. The pace is fast, the tension of politics, love, family life and school keeps the story entwined and interesting. No wonder young adult fiction is so popular!

Filed Under: Young Adult Fiction

Go set a watchman

September 7, 2015 by Karen Comer 4 Comments

Go set a watchmango set a watchman
Harper Lee
2015
William Heinemann

The story: This book, of course, follows the same characters from To kill a mockingbird, published in 1960. This time, the setting is the same in Maycomb, Alabama but twenty-six year-old Jean-Louise Finch is no longer called Scout and she is merely visiting her father, Atticus, from New York City. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Adult Fiction

The Mapmaker Chronicles

September 3, 2015 by Karen Comer Leave a Comment

The Mapmaker ChroniclesMapmaker Chronicals - Karen Comer
Race to the end of the world
A. L. Tait
2014
Lothian

The story: Quinn is a farm boy with a remarkable visual memory, a gift he keeps hidden. He is chosen to sail on board the ship Libertas in a race to map the end of the world – the king of Verdania’s idea – but he doesn’t want to go. He’d rather stay with his family on their farm, but his family need the money he would earn. Onboard with Zain, (the king’s slave and ship captain), his friend Ash, (the stowaway, a girl disguised as a boy) and the rest of the crew, he works as the mapmaker. On their journey, they encounter fights, a benevolent sea monster and competition from the other two boats, racing to find the end of the world. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Children's Fiction

Ten tips to help children edit their writing

September 1, 2015 by Karen Comer 4 Comments

Female Elementary School Pupil Writing Book In Classroom There is a difference between writing and editing. Writing can be creative and messy and free-flowing. Editing needs to be logical and considered and thoughtful. It’s like switching on a different part of your brain! I hope these ideas help your children to improve their writing. These ideas are written directly to primary school children. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Writing, Writing Resources - Children

August writing

August 31, 2015 by Karen Comer Leave a Comment

August News - Karen ComerI thought I would hold myself accountable and put together a writing post at the end of each month. This month I have:

  • Rewritten two short stories for adults (retelling fairy tales) and sent them into two short story competitions – fingers crossed!
  • Attended three events at the Melbourne Writers’ Festival:
    • Creativity and motherhood with Rachel Power and Jessica Rowe, hosted by Tracee Hutchinson
    • Writing mothers with Maureen McCarthy and Rod Jones, hosted by Jane Sullivan
    • Eye of the Sheep with Sofie Laguna, hosted by Jo Case.
  • Attended a writing class at Writers’ Victoria – Page turning power with Margie Lawson.
  • Daydreamed a lot about the second book in my children’s series. The protagonist is Calvin, who appeared in the first book. I didn’t plan the first book and wrote 500-750 words every day – just showed up at the page and wrote. I want to try a different approach with this book and plan it out. Just a loose plan – I think I would feel too restricted with a detailed plan for every scene.
  • Written lots of blog posts for my website.

September is the month to plan my second children’s novel, launch my website, and attend two writing classes – with school holidays thrown in there, too!

 

Filed Under: Writing, Writing Notes

Taking stock – September

August 28, 2015 by Karen Comer 2 Comments

ID:71213308

This is a list to copy and join in from Pip Lincolne’s website

Making: a new website!
Cooking: rhubarb and orange cake
Drinking: chai latte
Reading: ‘The golden age’ by Joan London
Wanting: some more sleep
Looking: at our busy weekend schedule
Playing: guessing games with Mr 6
Deciding: which book to read next
Wishing: for more time
Enjoying: a quiet day
Waiting: for warmer weather
Liking: all the action around Book Week
Wondering: how noisy the school disco will be tonight!
Loving: a productive day
Pondering: what to serve with salmon tonight
Considering: some new recipes to try next week
Buying: not much!
Watching: the footy tomorrow night
Hoping: Essendon will win!
Marvelling: at how big-little Mr 6 is
Cringing: at supermarket conversations
Needing: more sleep
Questioning: how many sporting activities do we really need to do?
Smelling: lamb shank soup
Wearing: my cream poncho
Following: Allison Tait
Noticing: how little time there is until the school holidays
Knowing: I won’t finish everything I want to before then
Thinking: about my next book
Admiring: the dedication of Miss 8 to reading the Harry Potter series
Sorting: the washing
Getting: organised, somewhat!
Bookmarking: Natasha Lester
Coveting: my pillow
Disliking: the alarm
Opening: watercolour paint tubes
Giggling: at lunch with a friend
Feeling: hopeful
Snacking: on homemade hommus
Helping: Mr 11 with his homework
Hearing: the Australian Writers’ Centre podcast

Filed Under: Taking stock

Motherhood and creativity, the divided heart

August 23, 2015 by Karen Comer Leave a Comment

Motherhood and creativity, the divided heartThe Divided Heart

Rachel Power
Affirm Press
2015

The story: This book is the second edition – The divided heart originally came out in 2008. It is a collection of interviews with mother/artists or artist/mothers – however you want to put it! I devoured this book when it first came out when I was pregnant with Mr 6. I heard Rachel Power speak at the Melbourne Writers Festival in 2009 and felt like I wanted to contribute to the conversation with her guests on stage. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Adult Non-Fiction Tagged With: rachel power, the divided heart

Tips for writing picture books part 2

August 22, 2015 by Karen Comer Leave a Comment

Valentine background with children read a book under tree. Vecto

Last week, I posted some general tips for writing picture books. Today’s post focuses on specific writing tips.

  • What does your character want? How does he or she get it? Maybe they don’t get what they want? How do they deal with it?
  • Think of the story arc. It should slowly rise up to meet the climax, then drop down gently for the resolution. Often the protagonist in a picture book tries to solve the problem unsuccessfully twice, before solving the problem at the third attempt.
  • What is the problem IN your story? What is your character going to do to solve that problem? How many attempts will they make?
  • What is the problem WITH your story? Why doesn’t it sing? Is it the pacing? Is there too much in there? Is it too prosaic and bland? Does the language have rhythm? Does every word count and contribute to the story? Remember, you only have 500 words!
  • Put it aside. Leave it and write something else. Then look at it with fresh eyes a week later, a month later or even a year later.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Writing, Writing Resources - Adults Tagged With: picture books

Song for a scarlet runner

August 21, 2015 by Karen Comer Leave a Comment

Song for a scarlet runner9781743313589

Julie Hunt
Allen and Unwin
2013

The story: Peat, a nine-year-old girl, lives with her sister at the Overhang, a place four days’ walk from the nearest village. They tend cows, make cheese and wait for their aunt to bring supplies once a month. When a traveller brings sickness to the village, Peat is blamed – her looks do not fit in with the village. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Children's Fiction

Creative writing ideas for primary school kids

August 20, 2015 by Karen Comer Leave a Comment

creative writing for kids - karen comerNot all kids like writing, and some kids don’t mind writing but find it difficult to start or come up with ideas. I’ve put together some writing worksheets in pdf so you can print and write on them. They are linked to the points below, which can be used as guidelines to help you help your kids to develop a story at home or at school.

It’s so important at the beginning of a story to encourage wild brainstorming! No idea is too whacky to form into a story. Be open to all ideas and fragments – anything can be developed and teased out. If you have a child with a passionate idea for a story about black ice-cream but has no idea how to take it further, keep asking questions until you can stretch it out into a plan. Where does the black ice-cream come from? Who makes it? Where can you buy it? What happens when you eat it? Who wants the black ice-cream? Do you have to eat it – can you do something else with it? What texture does it have? What does it taste like? Do kids like it? Do adults like it? Who wants the black ice-cream most of all? What will that person/thing do to have the black ice-cream? Who will stop that person/thing who wants the black ice-cream? Your questions can really help your young writer to work out their story. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Writing, Writing Resources - Children

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