school holidays

July musings

July 19, 2019 by Karen Comer 4 Comments

It’s been a little while since I posted! Four of my family of five have been sick, and I went down sick with the kids a month ago. We also had a holiday in sunny Queensland during the school break (everyone was well), and then we were back home with a sick daughter. So I thought I’d do a little catch-up post.

Workshops – I’ve presented two workshops over the last fortnight – a school holiday writing one for kids and an editing one for a marketing team. The kids’ workshop was fabulous and fun – 20 kids drawing characters, planning their stories and reading them aloud. The editing workshop was also fun – well, for me anyway! I hope the marketing team enjoyed it. We had discussed tools for brainstorming, planning and writing blog posts in an earlier workshop, and so I spent time with each participant, editing their blog post.
Editing – I’ve been collaborating with a pair of talented new writers who are writing their first book – a cross between a self-help guide and story for 9-12 year-old girls. Their manuscript has gone backwards and forwards between us, polishing and developing the story each time. I’m looking forward to checking the final draft next week.
Holidays – of course, holidays are lovely. But as well as the things you do on holidays, it’s also the things you don’t do that really make it. Things like driving your kids to all the activities, cooking dinner every night, making sure the sports uniforms are clean, answering text messages about sharing lifts, vacuuming etc. So that left plenty of time to sleep, read, eat and drink well, laze at the pool, have lovely conversations with my family and walk on the beach.
Reading – I’ve read an eclectic mix, everything from middle-grade fiction to adult non-fiction and fiction. Loved Jaclyn Moriarty’s Gravity is the thing, Angie Thomas’ On the come up and Sharon Kernot’s The art of taxidermy. Fascinated by Martha Beck’s Leaving the saints, her account of leaving her Mormon community. Enchanted by Roger Housden’s Ten poems to change your life, a selection of life-changing poems with a commentary on each one. (Note to self – read more poetry, not just on holidays!)
New website – friends of mine, Michael Hanrahan and Anna Clemman, launched their new website, Publish Central, yesterday. It’s a one-stop shop for anyone who is thinking about self-publishing a non-fiction or business book. There’s plenty of free resources and lots of information about the process of writing and publishing a book. It’s definitely worth having a look and passing on the details to any friends or family members who are thinking of self-publishing.
Eating – I’m eating more vegetarian dishes since Miss 12 is eating less meat. My favourite quick lunches to eat at home are chargrilled broccoli with smashed chickpeas, spicy eggplant with soba noodles and sweet potato salad with lentils. And then there was the lovely Thai restaurant on holidays, plus the delicious pizza, plus the wine, plus the ice-cream after dinner. Lots of pluses on holidays!
An anecdote – Mr 10 usually asks me for a puppy story when I pick him up from school – he’s interested to know if our ten-month golden retriever, Cleo, has been up to any adventures. This week, I had set out with her for a walk but we just turned the corner when she started sniffing frantically in the nature strip. Before I could stop her, she had gulped a bit of milk chocolate, still in its shiny foil wrapper. As you may or may not know, dogs are not supposed to have chocolate and often end up having their stomachs pumped. I called the vet, and they seemed to take forever to confer while I waited on the phone. They decided that because the amount of chocolate was so small – mini Easter egg size – and Cleo was large enough, she would be ok. And she was ok – phew! (Cleo’s photo taken by Miss 12.)

Let me know what you’ve been reading or eating or whether your dogs have been eating chocolate.

Different ways of thinking

October 5, 2018 by Karen Comer 4 Comments

There are so many different types of creativity and different ways to harness it. There’s also different ways to be logical and methodical and as many permutations as there are people for combining creativity and practicality.

I am a blend of inspirational and practical thinking – I do love to be organised because it means there’s more head space for creativity. So my pantry is ~~a little~~ obsessively neat and organised because that allows me to be more creative in the kitchen. But creativity comes first – this week, I forgot to put petrol in the car – yes, again!

In the children’s writing workshops I presented over the school holidays, the kids came up with many different ways to plan their stories. I offered both a linear approach and a more free-flowing, visual way to map out their stories in their writers’ notebooks.

Some kids naturally turned to the page with a list of questions and answered them chronologically. Others were drawn to the round diagram of the hero’s journey to generate ideas. Others drew pictures of their characters, created a flow chart or used a combination of stick figures and words to plan their story.

Our world needs diverse thinkers and doers, and encouraging kids to map out their stories creatively – both fictional and real-life – is an important life skill.

Quest writing workshops

September 28, 2018 by Karen Comer Leave a Comment

A vial full of unicorn tears, an old book with a hand drawn map, a pack of potion recipes, a feather, a baby dragon … these were just a few of the treasures found in my quest box for our writing workshops.

But really, the treasure was the dozen or so kids I taught writing to this week. They were enthusiastic about the writing activities and dedicated themselves to their stories with imagination, passion and skill. One of the workshop participants even came dressed in her unicorn onesie!

I felt I was doing exactly what I was put here on this earth to do – inspire kids to write with a blend of creativity and technique.

We looked at different quest books, we drew story maps in colour, we planned our stories with questions, we made up hilarious verbal quest stories about a marshmallow dragon who wanted to be a rainbow unicorn and a good wolf looking for a magic peacock feather, we used shadow puppets to tell a story and we wrote our own quest stories in writers’ notebooks.

I have so much hope for future adults when I observe the creativity, innovation and persistence of these children.

We had the perfect creative space at Side Door – lovely tables inside to write our stories and a light-filled courtyard for activities and breaks.

Next week, we are focusing on contemporary stories with everyday heroes. There are still spaces left on Tuesday and Thursday if you’d like to book your children into a workshop. No unicorn tears for next week but there will be plenty of courage and determination – within both the writers and their characters.

September holidays writing workshops for kids

August 31, 2018 by Karen Comer 6 Comments

Photo credit: Mandy Couzens

Do you have any imaginative and creative children or grandchildren who would like to spend a few hours in the holidays writing a story?

I’m running four writing workshops for kids in the September/October school holidays. I’ve presented these workshops in primary schools but this is the first time I’ve run them in the holidays.

The workshops are for children in grades 3-6. They’re invited to unlock their imaginations and craft a story, using writing techniques, art and games. Writing stories with both heart and technique is a life-skill in communicating with others and using language to express purpose and emotion.

Young writers can create a fantasy world where characters go on a quest to find something or save someone AND/OR create an ordinary character with extraordinary qualities that help to save the day in a modern setting.

They will learn how to:

– create characters
– plan their story
– write with passion
– use art and games to spark ideas

Writer’s Notebook

Each child will work in a special Writer’s Notebook, which contains prompts for further writing, reading suggestions, editing tips and much more. The Writer’s Notebook is a useful tool to take home for writing at school and home.

The writing workshops cater for children who are passionate readers and writers, as well as children who need a little more encouragement.

Dates

Tuesday 25th September – 9.30-12.30 – grades 3 & 4 – fantasy – quest theme
Thursday 27th September – 9.30-12.30 – grades 5 & 6 – fantasy – quest theme
Tuesday 2nd October – 9.30-12.30 – grades 3 & 4 – contemporary – heroes theme
Thursday 4th October – 9.30-12.30 – grades 5 & 6 – contemporary – heroes theme

Venue
All workshops will be held at Side Door – 72 Willsmere Rd, Kew. It’s a fabulous space, with an indoor section for writing and an outdoor section for breaks and games, and is next door to Flatiron, fashion and homewares store. For more information about Side Door, please see www.flatironmelbourne.com.au/side-door/ or email Emma Bangay at emma@flatironmelbourne.com.au

Logistics

BYO – drink bottle and snack.

All writing materials will be supplied.

Cost for each workshop is $50. Payment must be made by Friday 21^st September.

Karen Comer
Acc. no: 1119 3537
BSB: 063-791

Please email me at karen@karencomer.com.au to register your child and bring the signed form – link here – to the workshop.

Please forward this post on to your friends and family. I’m really looking forward to working with your children to create some amazing stories!

The Grand Imaginarium writing workshops for kids

October 6, 2017 by Karen Comer 6 Comments

On the loveliest of spring days these school holidays, my friend Renee and I took our kids to the Abbotsford Convent for a writing workshop with Lucinda Gifford, run through the Grand Imaginarium.

Lucinda is an illustrator and writer. She showed the kids her sketchbook – it was amazing. If I could choose an instant new talent, it would be drawing. I love looking at artists’ sketchbooks and Lucinda’s was fabulous.

Lucinda guided the kids through a group drawing, then set them off, creating their own alien.

Renee and I left at this stage, and went across to the other side of the quadrangle to the cafe where we discussed our own writing projects.

The kids reappeared two hours later with a mini library – their own books about aliens, complete with imprint details on the back page.

It’s not easy to find kids’ activities that cater for kids from 5-12, so it was a workshop that worked well for our family. The Grand Imaginarium run many programs – their vision is ‘a world where books by children for children strengthen culture, language and literacy in all communities’.

As the kids received two copies of their story, as well as the original, Mr 8 decided he could sell the copies. Please look out for his book, Kailback crash landing, available in all good bookshops – unless he cons his grandparents into buying a copy first!

Mothers and daughters – books and excursions

October 7, 2016 by Karen Comer 6 Comments

Mothers and daughters – this is a subject that has been extensively used in mediocre, sentimental movies and rather ordinary novels with family sagas but it is also the source of brilliant books, movies and plays.

I’m back from a lovely long weekend trip to Sydney with Miss 10 and my Mum. As Miss 10 broke her ankle during the first week of the holidays – collided with her big brother on her bike! – we hired a wheelchair, which meant Miss 10 was treated like royalty everywhere we went.

We went to the Taronga Zoo, ate out, painted our nails, saw Aladdin (magical!), meandered through bookstores, shopped, went to mass at the cathedral, caught a ferry or two and had lunch with a lovely friend.

In honour of our three-generation girls’ weekend, I have looked up some books which cover at least two generations of women. I know I’m missing heaps of titles – let me know if I’ve missed any of your favourites!

Little women by Louise May Alcott – I don’t know how many times I’ve read this book, and I’m probably ready to read it again, then share it with Miss 10. Four sisters, guided by Marmee, going through many trials and tribulations of finding work, getting along with each other, falling in love, marrying, having children of their own against the background of the American Civil War – it sounds like a modern day soap opera but it’s so much more than this.

The women’s pages – Debra Adelaide – young women who have imagined different alternatives for themselves, who are missing adopted mothers, searching for the true story of their mother, giving up babies for adoption – there are many sensitively portrayed stories of mothers and daughters here.

The poisonwood bible – Barbara Kingsolver – this is such an amazing story of another mother with four daughters, starting a new life in the Congo. I’m ready to read this one again, too!

Finding Serendipity – Angelica Banks – a wonderful children’s novel, first in a trilogy, about a writer mother and her writer daughter and their adventures in literary worlds.

The convent – Maureen McCarthy – an adopted daughter, a biological mother looking for her adopted-out daughter, a grandmother filling in a few details in her letters – this story weaves in and out of the past and present with a dual narrative.

Hope Farm – Peggy Frew – an irresponsible mother who still deserves our empathy, a resilient daughter who eventually chooses a new life for herself – there are many different choices and paths in this book.

Mother and child (film) – I have only seen this once but it was powerful and evocative. Three different women, unknown to each other but connected by the end of the film. Three daughters, with mothers and without mothers.

Our weekend away was not worthy of a novel because there weren’t any family secrets to keep a reader intrigued, there wasn’t any tension to sustain a whole narrative, and there weren’t any complex relationships to add to the plot. A beautiful Sydney setting was the only essential narrative tool. Miss 10 did cry out once in mock terror, in the middle of a city street as I was pushing her in her wheelchair, ‘Help, help, I’m being kidnapped!’ But as Mum pointed out, she looks too much like me for anyone to think she was being kidnapped so no suspenseful moments there! I think I’m happy to keep the intrigue and tension in my books but out of my life!

Holiday reading for kids

April 8, 2016 by Karen Comer 6 Comments

I took Miss 9 to the library twice in two days this week – it is a terrible burden to have kids who like to read! Thank goodness for our local library. Otherwise, I would be broke from buying books to keep up with our family’s reading habits. And I am definitely the worst offender here!

Over the holidays, Mr 12 has been reading Two wolves by Tristan Bancks. I thought this book was original because in this story, the parents are the baddies. It reminded me slightly of Roald Dahl stories where the adults are incompetent and mean. However, Two wolves has a more realistic tone, and I found the Dad character horribly inadequate as a father as he uses shaming techniques towards his thirteen-year-old son, Ben. Ben is in the awful position of wanting to believe in his parents, that they are capable of change and knowing deep inside that his parents did the wrong thing and there is no turning back from their crime. While the story is fast-paced and full of action, there is room for reflection. Here’s the story which runs as a theme throughout the book –

‘An old man tells his grandson that there is a battle raging inside him, inside all of us. A terrible battle between two wolves.

One wolf is bad – pride, jealousy, greed. The other wolf is good – kindness, hope, truth.

The child asks, “Who will win?”

The grandfather answers simply. “The one you feed.”‘

A really powerful book about growth and gaining courage and making choices.

Miss 9 has read Iris and the tiger, a new book by Leanne Hall, published earlier this year. Again, Iris has parents who put their own interests above hers. (Clearly a theme here for my kids – not sure what it says about me?) Iris is sent to stay with great-aunt Ursula in Spain. Things are not how they appear – music notes turn into ants, there are shoes which take Iris into mysterious places and even the people around Aunt Ursula are not who they seem. Like all the best fantasy books, this book has realistic characters who behave like real, flawed people which makes the magic seem quite believable.

Miss 9 would recommend this book because ‘it was an adventurous book which told a great story.’

Mr 6 is going through a Famous Five phase – again, more absent parents so that kid characters can get up to all sorts of adventures. He’s also reading the Usborne illustrated stories for boys – he views chapter books as grown-up so now I have to almost tie him down to read a picture book with him!

We are also listening to Matilda on audio book in the car, as we drive around looking at kitchen appliance places and seeing movies. I am impressed by the many voices from one actor.

And now Miss 9 has set up a home library, complete with borrowing system and printed receipts. Even though neither of her brothers want to borrow from her, she appears to be very busy on the phone, sorting out overdue books and recommending interesting ones. And as I write this, she’s running a class to teach children how to be a librarian!

I’m looking for recommendations – good books for kids, ovens and hotplates for our new kitchen or games to fill up the rest of the holidays! Happy to hear whatever you have!

How to make blank books for kids

April 5, 2016 by Karen Comer 4 Comments

As well as reading books, the kids and I have been making some books as well. Perfect holiday activity. Here’s instructions for two different types of books to make – one with a sewn binding and the other with a stick and rubber band.

Excuse my photos – I don’t usually post my own photos as I can’t claim any skill with a camera!

Sewn binding blank book

Place five pieces of white A4 paper on top of a coloured piece of A4 paper.
Make sure they are stacked neatly, and then fold in the middle to make an A5 size book.
Use a sewing machine to sew down the crease, doubling over your stitching at the top and bottom.
You can use white cotton and snip off your threads to make it look neat or you can use a contrasting cotton like red and leave the thread ends dangling for an artistic look.
It will take you longer to thread your sewing machine than sew these books – so it’s worth making a pile of them at once!

Rubber band and stick book

Place three pieces of white A4 paper on top of a coloured piece of A4 paper.
Make sure they are stacked neatly, and then fold in the middle to make an A5 size book.
Use a guillotine or scissors to cut your books. Our books measured 10.5cm long and 7cm wide but you can make them smaller than this. You can make two books from the A4 size paper, with some scraps left over.
Choose a sturdy twig from your garden or the park and snap it if necessary so it is just a little shorter than the length of your book.
Use a single hole punch to punch a hole about 1.5cm in from both ends of your book, along the folded side.
Put the stick on top of your book, with an end over each hole.
Thread the doubled loop of a rubber band through one hole from the back and put it over the stick.
Thread the other doubled loop of the rubber band through the other hole from the back and put it over the stick.

Of course, you can use your blank books for any type of writing or drawing project. Mr 6 started to write a story about Jack and his soccer boots. Miss 9 began a story about a girl who wanted a tiger for a pet. With each story, we used these writing worksheets as prompts for the story. I find it’s easier to start with the character, then ask what the character wants. Often kids are great at coming up with a character, but then don’t know what to do with their character. The writing worksheets guide kids to

create their character
work out what their character wants
think of some obstacles or an antagonist that might stop their character getting what they want.

And there, you have your story started!

Let me know if you find these worksheets or blank books useful.

School holiday soundtrack

October 6, 2015 by Karen Comer 6 Comments

Today, the kids will all be back at school and the house will be wonderfully quiet. This was my soundtrack for the school holidays. Perhaps yours is similar? Let me know if you have any variations!

Mum …. Mum!
But you said …
It’s not fair!
Can I use the ipad?
Can I watch some TV?
Thanks, Mum, you’re awesome!
I’m bored, Mum.
There’s nothing to eat.
Is that all there is to eat?
You make really good sausage rolls, Mum!
But it’s holidays, Mum, I don’t have to go to bed now.
Look at my ipad movie, Mum.
When’s Dad coming home?
But my room is tidy!
God bless the cook!
But you always let her …
But you always let him …
But my grey hoodie wasn’t dirty – how come it’s in the wash again?
That’s epic!
Mum, well once I had this dream, and I’ve had it before, but now I can’t remember.
Look at me, Mum!
She started it!
No, he started it!
Love you, Mum!
Look at my big pile of books to read, Mum!
I’ve run out of books to read …
I don’t know what to do …
Want to play soccer, Mum?
Want to play chess, Mum?
Want to draw with me, Mum?
God bless the cook!
Can we go out?
Can we go home?
When’s Dad coming home?
I am SO going to wear this!
You’re the best, Mum!
You’re the worst Mum ever!
But I have done my hair!
You’re actually pretty good at soccer, Mum!
But why not, Mum?
Look at this, Mum!
What’s for dinner?
Oh, not that dinner!
I’m so hungry, I can’t wait for dinner.
I don’t want dinner now, I’m still playing.
Love you, Mum!
But I have brushed my teeth – smell me – minty fresh!
Can I tell you a story, Mum? A scary story? Well, once upon a time, there was an evil wizard …
Can I have a friend over to play?
Can I go to a friend’s house?
When’s Dad coming home?
Can I play on the ipad?
Can I have a hug?
A really long hug.
You always take his side!
You always take her side!
Want to play soccer, Mum? I’ll go easy on you, promise!
God bless the cook!
Love you, Mum!