The calendars we have made in our writing club combine words and visual images. We prioritise the words and create images later. We have often chosen simple painting and pattern making techniques -wax resist, collage with objects and collage using paper. You will have many ideas about what medium to choose. We have not yet … Continue reading Start with the image
Month: November 2021
Seasons
It is possible for one person to create a whole calendar alone. It would be a labour of love. Twelve months. Twelve illustrations. If you are part of a class or group, then the work can be shared. Start with a theme. One that easily comes to mind is the seasons and the months within … Continue reading Seasons
The Names of the Months
We are approaching the end of the year and may be thinking about gifts and new diaries. Even though we can find the date quickly on our phones, it is nice to have a calendar to remind us of the days and the passing of the seasons. You might like to create your own calendar … Continue reading The Names of the Months
Letter box
I found this box in a shop that was full of second hand furniture and trinkets and nick nacks of all kinds. It is not an especially attractive box, but something made me open it. Inside was a folded sheet of paper, blotches and faded with old age. I discovered that it was part of … Continue reading Letter box
A box of rings
Sometimes a box might contain a collection. This bejewelled box seemed to invite a collection of sparkly things. It contains a collection of rings … …. which could also be a collection of characters. Four rings, four characters many more than four stories. Choose a ring and build the character who might wear it. Give … Continue reading A box of rings
What’s in the box?
Make a collection of small boxes and tines. Save small food tins – cream of tartar, Colman’s mustard, mini mints. Find decorative tins and boxes in charity shops. Hold on to interesting boxes: camembert boxes, small chocolate boxes,. They have a gazillion uses. Boxes can slightly push writers to step out of their comfort zone. … Continue reading What’s in the box?
This box
Many years ago I was given a carved sandalwood box. When I opened it, I discovered that it contained a collection of smaller boxes, neatly fitted into the space. My students knew me well. I still use this collection of boxes. Each box, just like the one that holds them, is filled with surprises. It … Continue reading This box
Treasure boxes
Here’s a way of looking closely and writing poems, as a group, in pairs or alone. We were prompted to write about it now, because pumpkins are such a good subject for this approach. However, there are all kinds of fruit and vegetables which work well. The idea is fairly simple. Start with a fruit … Continue reading Treasure boxes
Firework makers
In Philip Pullman’s magic novel, The Firework Maker’s Daughter, Lila, the daughter in question, learns to invent and make fireworks herself. When she does so, her father encourages her to name them. She makes Golden SneezesCrackle DragonsTumbling DemonsShimmering CoinsJava LightsLeaping Monkeys. Invent some names for your own fireworks. Make a list. Choose one and describe … Continue reading Firework makers
More fireworks
Here is another way of writing about fireworks that could be displayed in your firework books. Yesterday we focused on sound. Now think about the whole experience of watching a single firework or a whole display. Continue to think about sound. Add movement, pattern, colour. Think about pace: crescendo and diminuendo; how some fireworks are … Continue reading More fireworks
Writing Box 