Karen Comer

Collecting Stories

Taking stock – September

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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

Motherhood and creativity, the divided heart

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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…]

Tips for writing picture books part 2

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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…]

Song for a scarlet runner

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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…]

Creative writing ideas for primary school kids

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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…]

The princess and the pea

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princess and the peaThe princess and the pea

Rachel Isadora – author/illustrator
G. P. Putnam and Sons
2007

The story: This is the stock standard version of the classic fairy tale. The illustrations, made with oil paints, printed paper and palette paper, are vibrant and vivid depictions of African princesses. The story also uses some African words, which are defined at the back of the book.

The highlights: The illustrations show that princesses don’t necessarily look like Disney ones. [Read more…]

Tips for writing picture books part 1

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Paper cut of children read a book under tree

I met a friend for coffee today to talk about writing. She told me she has lots of ideas for picture books and wasn’t sure where to start. When I walked home, I thought of all the things I wished I knew when I started to write picture books. So here’s a list for my friend – and for myself five years ago. Today’s blog post focuses on general tips for writing picture books. Part 2 – to follow soon – covers manuscript specifics. [Read more…]

Footy dreaming

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footy-dreaming book review

Footy dreaming

Michael Hyde
Ford Street Publishing
2015

The story: Ben Meredith and Noah Davies are fifteen-year-old boys, living and playing footy for opposing teams in a small country town. They both eat, live and breathe footy, and both have the potential to play for an AFL team, should they be selected for the Bushrangers training squad first. [Read more…]

Seven steps for choosing picture books

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My kids always receive books for birthdays and for Christmas. And I tend to buy books for my nieces and nephews, as well as other children whose parties my kids are invited to. I figure that if those kids are in a family who love books, the book will be appreciated. And if that particular family is not into books, well it’s my responsibility to provide a quality book for them! [Read more…]

Molly and Pim and the millions of stars

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Molly and Pim and the million of stars

Martine MurrayMolly and Pim
2015
The Text Publishing Company
Children’s fiction

The story: Molly lives with her Mama in a house that is next door to the horrible Grimshaws. Molly’s Mama, who knows all about herbs and potions, decides to plant a quick-growing tree to distract the Grimshaws from the noise of their rooster. But, Molly’s Mama accidentally turns herself into the tree, and it is up to Molly to work out a way to free her Mama. Instead of trusting her best friend Ellen with her terrible secret, Molly turns to Pim, an unusual, one-of-a-kind sort of boy. Molly needs a combination of courage, tears, friendship and potions to make everything turn out for the best. [Read more…]