Simon Rose's Blog, page 213

PlayWriting Camp this July with the Calgary Arts Summer School Association

[image error] PlayWriting Camp will once again take place this summer from July 18 to 22 with the Calgary Arts Summer School Association. This is a half-day camp (either morning or afternoon) for students ages 8 to 12. In a dramatic and fun-filled week, children will learn how to write, rehearse and perform their own unique play in just five days. Children will create the plot, craft the script, write dialogue and hone their acting skills for their very own dramatic production, which will then be performed at the end of the week.Participants of this camp may also wish to attend the CASSA PlayActing Camp on July 25 - 29.

Further details and registration information for PlayWriting Camp can be found here.

Flags of Forgotten Countries @ Dark Roasted Blend

Check out my article Flags of Forgotten Countries at Dark Roasted Blend.
In recent decades, we've seen a number of countries disappear, along with their flags. The Soviet Union came to an end, to be replaced by a multitude of new or revived republics, all with their own flags. Czechoslovakia split into its two component parts, while Yugoslavia splintered, as the individual nationalities all asserted their independence. All this happened very recently, but many states have vanished from the map before over the centuries. Flags of Forgotten Countries takes a look at some flags of those long gone - and in many cases forgotten - kingdoms and countries. 

Dark Roasted Blend is among the finest locations online to find the weird, the wonderful and the fantastic, crammed with great articles, stunning photography, plus fabulous new content appears daily.

Hooking the Reader: Great Beginnings - This week's teleclass at the Children's Writer's Coaching Club

[image error] Join me on March 16 at 7 pm, Mountain Standard Time,
at the Children's Writers' Coaching Club at the National Writing for Children Center. 
In this month's class, entitled Hooking the Reader: Great Beginnings, we take a look at the crucial role of great beginnings when crafting your story, examining the importance of dramatic beginnings to grab the reader's attention, the role of cover art and concise story descriptions, ways to keep your readers interested in the story as it progresses and how to create cliffhanger chapter endings and page-turning action.
Registration is available here for this class and you can also obtain copies of archived teleclasses. Check out the Children's Writers' Coaching Club today.

Sir Rodney and the Delicate Dragon - Looking for Interested Publishers For This Wonderful Picture Book for Younger Readers

Calgary illustrator Val Lawton and I have teamed up to do some creative work on spec.
When I'm not busy writing my next novel, and Val's not working on illustrations for her next children's picture book, we've been transforming my manuscripts for younger readers into book dummies -- or miniature picture books -- that we can then approach potential publishers with.

Our first foray was with a manuscript about a renaissance dragon -- a dragon who likes the finer things in life. We broke the copy up into pages, and Val created draft images to accompany those pages. It's an interesting exercise, as you realize along the way what needs to be illustrated, what DOESN'T need to be illustrated and what copy is superfluous. Here's the draft cover -- notice that everything's done in black & white, and very loosely rendered ... the interior images are likewise. Val scans all the images, and set the text in Photoshop.
The beauty of creating a book dummy or a mock-up, is that you get an excellent feeling for the story's pacing and flow -- and most importantly, if the story is compelling enough to get readers to turn to the next page. Another reason Val likes to make book dummies is that it makes a nice little package to hand over to a kid to critique-- whereas a sheet of thumbnails needs some explanation.

For interested publishing houses, story synopses and book dummies are available on request. You can see examples of Val's previous books and a portfolio of her work, such as the illustration on the right, here or visit her blog at http://vallawton.blogspot.com/

Online Writing Workshops for Children and Young Adults

[image error] With my Online Workshops for Children and Young Adults, through a series of e mail assignments, details of which are available here, we explore where ideas come from and how to turn them into stories, basic story structure, plot development, creating characters, developing dialogue and more to help develop writing ability. A set of workshops can be started at any time. Following registration, all assignments are sent by e mail and are completed at your own pace, to be sent to me by return e mail. There is no time limit and participants may take as long as they wish to complete their full set of workshops.
Check out Online Workshops for Children and Young Adults today.

Creative Writing Class @ West Hillhurst Community in NW Calgary April/May

Join me for an exciting series of creative writing classes at West Hillhurst Community Centre on Fridays from 1.30 to 3.30 pm on April 8, 15, 29 and May 6, 13 and 20.

Spectacular Story Starters

What if you received a letter telling you you'd been accepted into a school for wizards? Or discovered a door into another universe at the back of your bedroom closet? Or a flying boy dressed all in green appeared at your bedroom window, inviting you to take a journey to a magical land? Perhaps you followed a rabbit down a hole and ended up in a bizarre underground universe? If you could travel back in time, where would you go? What would you do if you had a clone for the day? 
Learn where ideas come from and how writers turn them into stories in these classes guaranteed to provide inspiration, spark imagination and stimulate invention.

For further details on Spectacular Story Starters call 403 283 0464 ext 105 or e mail info@westhillhurst.com or visit the website at www.westhillhurst.com to register for these wonderful creative writing classes.

Cheers to Beers @ Dark Roasted Blend

Check out my article Cheers to Beers at Dark Roasted Blend.
Beer is the most popular beverage in the world after water and tea and has been produced for thousands of years.This article examines the weird, the fascinating, the potent and the expensive, from around the world, with a selection of beers that simply boggle the mind.
Dark Roasted Blend is among the finest locations online to find the weird, the wonderful and the fantastic, crammed with great articles, stunning photography, plus fabulous new content appears daily.

Classes with Chinook Learning Services in Calgary, Saturday March 12

[image error] The Calgary Board of Education provides adult and continuing education through  Chinook Learning Services . This spring, I am pleased to be offering the following courses.
Writing Children's Books: Intro - 9.30 am to Noon March 12In this workshop you will discover how to balance youthful imagination with adult professionalism, and gain awareness of writing for various age ranges. This workshop explores the do's and don'ts of writing for younger readers, turning ideas into stories, the writing process, the importance of editing and revision, story structure, and the role of research. Come and get a taste of a wonderful craft!
Forming Fictional Characters - 1.00 pm to 3.30 pm March 12Characters are the heart of every story - their actions drive the plot. Their individuality is what readers or audiences most remember. This workshop explores where writers get ideas for characters, and how to use descriptive language to build them. Participants will invent their own unique characters and learn how to write engaging dialogue and lifelike scenarios. Create an unforgettable story with unforgettable characters.
Register now with Chinook Learning Services.

Cramped Efficiency: Inside a Submarine - The latest article at Dark Roasted Blend

Check out the latest article at Dark Roasted Blend entitled Cramped Efficiency: Inside a Submarine.
Submarines have to be some of the most sophisticated pieces of machinery so far devised by mankind, with the possible exception of space vehicles. This article takes a look at the interiors of some of these remarkable vessels, from models dating from World War Two, through the Cold War, to the present day. 
Cramped Efficiency: Inside a Submarine is now published at Dark Roasted Blend, among the finest locations online to find the weird, the wonderful and the fantastic, crammed with great articles, stunning photography, plus fabulous new content which appears daily.

Creative Writing Class @ West Hillhurst Community in NW Calgary April/May

Join me for an exciting series of creative writing classes at West Hillhurst Community Centre on Fridays from 1.30 to 3.30 pm on April 8, 15, 29 and May 6, 13 and 20.

Spectacular Story Starters

What if you received a letter telling you you'd been accepted into a school for wizards? Or discovered a door into another universe at the back of your bedroom closet? Or a flying boy dressed all in green appeared at your bedroom window, inviting you to take a journey to a magical land? Perhaps you followed a rabbit down a hole and ended up in a bizarre underground universe? If you could travel back in time, where would you go? What would you do if you had a clone for the day? 


Learn where ideas come from and how writers turn them into stories in these classes guaranteed to provide inspiration, spark imagination and stimulate invention.

For further details on Spectacular Story Starters call 403 283 0464 ext 105 or e mail info@westhillhurst.com or visit the website at www.westhillhurst.com to register for these wonderful creative writing classes.