writing workshops

July musings

July 19, 2019 by Karen Comer Leave a Comment

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!

Guest lecture on writing and blogging

September 22, 2017 by Karen Comer 10 Comments

I had the pleasure of presenting a university guest lecture this week for third-year teaching students. My topic was writing and blogging, with a focus on writing workshops for primary school students.

As I caught the tram to the university, it reminded me of my own uni days – a long time ago! I spent mornings at uni studying literature, and worked at an after-school-care program in the afternoons.

As a twenty-year-old coordinator for the after-school-care program, often responsible for up to sixty children an afternoon, I felt hugely accountable for these children. Sometimes I was the first person they could talk to if they had a tough day at school, a transition person between school and home. Sometimes I helped them negotiate playground matters or helped with homework. Often I heard about problems at school or home, while making hama bead pictures or shooting a basketball.

I thought about how important these teaching students are, and what an impact they’ll have on so many children. While I never had to worry about curriculum as an after-school-care coordinator, these teaching students will teach the curriculum, as well as resilience, overcoming obstacles, social behaviour and communication. And think abut the technology changes they will see over the course of a teaching career!

When I was a coordinator, even at age 20, I felt I would never have another job with so much responsibility. Publishing books and editing websites may have more accountability sometimes but it doesn’t have the same consequences if something goes wrong.

So I did get on my soapbox and talk about the importance of communication. After all, these teaching students, and their future students, will need to deliver a eulogy at a funeral, give a speech at a wedding, send a passionate email to a girlfriend or boyfriend overseas and present a talk asking for funding. We will all need to do some of those things, so it’s important to be intentional about whatever you’re presenting, however you’re presenting.

I spoke a lot about the writing workshops I offer, how to guide kids through creating characters and following their plots. All of the worksheets I’ve created can be downloaded and printed.

I recommended some of my favourite picture books and middle grade books, with ideas for how to use them in the classroom.

My favourite part of the lecture was when I invited the students to create a story with me, because it’s important that we understand what we ask children to do. The students made up an amazingly funny and gorgeous story about a boy called George who wanted a monkey to cuddle. The stakes were high, the problems seemingly insurmountable but George won through in the end!

Thank you so much to the teaching students who have subscribed to my blog – I look forward to sharing more writing tips for children with you.

In the margins

June 16, 2017 by Karen Comer 4 Comments

I stared at the file in dismay. My words from my middle-grade manuscript had been kindly and meticulously edited by my friend Renee. There were almost 5,000 words in four chapters. Renee’s comments were in purple. She’d given me quite a few ticks, but there were more suggestions and deletions than ticks.

Out of the four chapters, the one she liked the best was the one I wrote in a café the day before. I had suddenly realised I needed a scene where my protagonist apologised to someone she had hurt. (Because it’s good to make twelve-year-old characters do things they don’t want to do, and no one likes to admit they’re wrong!) A chai latte, an hour, about 1,000 words – done. Renee gave me lots of ticks for that one.

At first I was really disappointed. I knew the chapters weren’t singing yet but I didn’t think they were THAT bad. Then I became analytical. Why was my fresh, raw new chapter better than the ones I’d spent hours crafting?

It’s partly because the olds ones had been written about a year ago and I’m a better writer now. I’ve absorbed all the many books on writing I’ve read, and the many writing podcasts I’ve listened to and the hours spent discussing the finer points of writing with friends.

And it’s partly because we think that it’s easier sometimes to work around the edges, polish a few sentences and it’ll do. But sometimes a blank page and an hour offers no limits and no preconceived ideas.

I spent some of last weekend editing grade four stories for a writing workshop, and went into their class this week to talk to them about their stories. I showed them a few of my pages which had been reviewed by an editor – all the comments scrawled in the margins, the lines crossed out, suggestions written in between the lines.

‘This is a good thing!’ I told these nine and ten-year-old students, when I gave them their edited pages. ‘It means someone is responding to your work, and that’s what you want as a writer.’

I think I need to listen to my own advice. Sometimes illumination happens in the margins.

Writers be warned – do not describe eyes!

October 28, 2016 by Karen Comer 8 Comments

Last night I went to a structural editing workshop presented by author Paddy O’Reilly through Writers Victoria. Structural editing can feel like wading through wet concrete because you sink deeper into the mire with every step and feel further away from where you’re trying to go. At least, that’s what it feels like to me.

Paddy talked us through the common mistakes that authors make when writing their first draft, and how to fix them in the editing process.

There is a delicate art to weaving together the main plot and subplots. Usually, a novel will focus on one plotline, theme or series of events which is the driving force for the book. But there are often a couple of minor threads to keep the book interesting or to mirror or contrast the main focus. Paddy talked about using colour coding to identify the different threads. It’s a pretty clear way to see that your gardening metaphor is prominent in the first third of the book but fades out later. Or perhaps your love interest is clumped together in one section and has no appearance earlier or later.

Paddy warned us that we might slow down the pace of our book if our main character was frequently ruminating, reflecting, remembering. I’m not looking forward to checking my manuscript to see how many times my protagonist is alone with her thoughts! Paddy did say that writers are often observant types, and we tend to think a lot. Guilty as charged! But we can’t pass that trait on to our character, at least, not without providing them with a lot of action.

As writers, we need to avoid describing eyes – because how do you come up with an original way to describe eyes? Smokey grey eyes. Eyes as blue as a summer sky. Twinkling eyes – a la Enid Blyton. She looked deep into his eyes. His eyes flashed with anger. Her eyes darted about the room. His glance told her everything she needed to know. Her eyes filled with tears. Instead, we could focus on how our characters move.
When stuck plotwise, brainstorm twenty unexpected but plausible events. This is where I’m up to – going to find time this long weekend to brainstorm. Because that is the sign of a wonderful book – that as a reader you are surprised by a turn of events so you keep turning the page but yet it seems inevitable so you are left with a sense of satisfaction.

My friend Renee (also a middle-grade fiction writer) and I took lots of notes, then went out to dinner to dissect our own books. We tried to come up with unexpected but plausible alternatives and to work out whether we were clumping our subplots together. After going to a workshop like that, where I simultaneously realised that I do have the tools to fix my manuscript but it’s going to take a lot of rewriting, it’s essential to debrief with a fellow writer. Let the rewriting begin …

Glimpse of greatness

September 16, 2016 by Karen Comer 17 Comments

As a reader, we want the protagonist of our story to be interesting but not perfect. We want them to reach their goal or follow their quest. They need to be vulnerable, so we can identify with them. And we want to see a glimpse of greatness – not too much because that would make them too perfect. But just enough to make us believe in their ability to reach their goal.

Last weekend, I went to a course run by Faber and Faber with Allen and Unwin – Getting published as a writer for children. Susannah Chambers, commissioning editor, was a wonderful presenter, giving us specific details about publishing proposals, editorial meetings and pitching. She explained that for Allen and Unwin to publish a book, the editors must catch a glimpse of greatness in the writer.

We all had a chance to pitch our novel to her, as well as receive feedback on the first chapter of our work in progress. Susannah’s encouraging presence made this daunting task seem possible! This kind of individual attention to aspiring authors is what sets Allen and Unwin apart from other publishers. I’ve been to many writing courses over the last six years but there’s not many that offer this kind of feedback. Susannah’s passion for books and her instinct for what worked and what didn’t work rang true throughout the whole workshop.

We also listened to Chris Miles, a children’s author, talk about his road to publication. A couple of non-fiction books, a couple of Zac Powers books, and then his children’s novel, Spurt. He reminded us that there are many opportunities out there, even if they’re not the opportunities we’re dreaming of.

We heard from Ann James, an illustrator of many, many, many picture books. She showed us her dummy books, her sketches, her finished work for books like Lucy Goosy, I’m a dirty dinosaur and Audrey of the outback. She spoke to us about the importance of ‘finding books that remind us of possibilities’. I have been to Ann’s bookshop, Books Illustrated, and I’m looking forward to visiting their new location in Albert Park one day. Now that is a place full of possibilities!

Apart from the discount Readings voucher, the discount offer on subsequent Faber and Faber course, the useful handouts and the gift of an Allen and Unwin book – yes, apart from all of that goodness! – Allen and Unwin also encourage Faber and Faber graduates to send in their work via their Friday pitch.

One of the best things about going to the Faber and Faber workshop was that my creative energy was renewed, my commitment to my writing strengthened and I felt just so delighted to be in the company of people who care about writing and publishing beautiful books.

So, my first book in my four book series for middle grade is almost complete. I’m working on a last structural edit, moving scenes around, adding in a few new ones. I’m checking my characters’ motivations, making sure I’m showing and not telling. I’m colour coding elements like setting and external goals and internal goals and tension so I can see the pacing more clearly. My writing group have offered to read another draft – thanks, team! It feels like I’m holding a woven piece on a loom, tying all the loose threads, making sure the patterns are there in the light of day, that the colours shine through, that none of the threads slip and become lost.

I’m chasing the glimpses of greatness in my protagonist, so I can send my manuscript to Allen and Unwin later in the year.

Faber and Faber workshop – revise, revise, revise

June 7, 2016 by Karen Comer 6 Comments

Writers can make the worst audience. We’re observant – we notice the over-expansive gestures, the nervous hand movements, the change in voice timbre, the long look at notes, the unusually long silence between points, the nod of approval when someone asks an intelligent question, the red flush up the neck if the technology doesn’t work, the genuine smile as someone mentions a well-loved book …

We also have so many questions. Who handles the submission process? Do I need an agent? How do I find an agent? Explain show and don’t tell again, please. What do you mean – the slush pile is 1200 manuscripts deep? Can I have your email address? What’s the difference between a structural edit and a copy-edit? Can I make you my Nana’s sausage rolls in return for a publishing deal?

And we’re so hungry for any knowledge that will improve our manuscript or smooth our way to a publishing contract. Luckily for myself and fourteen other writers, Elise Jones, senior editor at Allen and Unwin, had all the answers for us in her workshop at 100 Story Building last Saturday. And she certainly did not show any of the negative traits above!

Elise is definitely the friendliest editor I have ever met. And she was so passionate about not only her industry, but also her workplace at Allen and Unwin. She was generous in sharing her insider knowledge and tips, and her handouts really weighed my bag down on the train and tram home!

But it was the way Elise spoke about her relationships with the authors she works with that highlighted the calibre of Allen and Unwin’s editors. She talked about the authors and their books with respect and passion, and it was clear how much she loved her job, how much fun she had with the authors and how much she cared about making their books into their best possible version. As a freelance non-fiction editor, I understand how connected you become with authors and how invested you become in the success of their books, but Elise took this to a whole new level. She was inspiring.

I sat next to my middle-grade fiction friend, Renee – I want her books to be published so my kids can read them! Between us, we asked Elise a lot of questions – apologies to the other participants if we took up too much time!

Then, we listened to Kim Kane, author of picture books, middle-grade fiction and a young adult novel talk to us about her experience of publication with Allen and Unwin. Kim’s word to describe the difference between a published author and an unpublished author was tenacity. This is not to discount talent, but tenacity – sending your work out again and again, dealing with rejection again and again, revising your manuscript again and again – is what really matters.

Twenty-three drafts over five years with many rejections for my first book – think I’m starting to learn the meaning of the word tenacity!