Marc Tyler Nobleman's Blog, page 23
July 1, 2019
Young writers with big twists
During the summer, I teach a creative writing camp. During the camp, I introduce kids to a book from early in my authorial career, 5-Minute Daily Practice: Writing. It consists of story prompts for teachers to use with their students, and unlike other writing prompts books I’ve seen, it includes not only story beginnings but also story endings.
Last year, one of my camper-writers did something very clever.
I showed the kids two of the story endings:
This proves that ordering a pizza is not always as easy as it’s supposed to be.
Only two of us had gone in, but three of us came out.
I asked them to pick one and write a story that could lead up to it. The camp routine: everyone reads aloud everything they write.
One of the girls (about age 11) began to share her story with the group. It took place in a pizzeria (as did the stories of several others), so it was obvious which of the two endings she’d chosen…
…or so we thought. At the last minute, she hurled a curveball (or tossed a pizza in the air)—she seamlessly ended with the other line. It was a brilliant bait and switch.
This year, another student (age 12) also surprised me and the other campers—perhaps even topping what I heard last year. His story was about a pregnant woman who was ordering a pizza when she went into labor, which, of course, made completing the ordinarily simple task considerably more challenging—hence leading to the ending line about pizza.
But it also cheekily and naturally led to the other ending line…and this camper indeed used both.
Bravo, young writers!
Last year, one of my camper-writers did something very clever.
I showed the kids two of the story endings:
This proves that ordering a pizza is not always as easy as it’s supposed to be.
Only two of us had gone in, but three of us came out.
I asked them to pick one and write a story that could lead up to it. The camp routine: everyone reads aloud everything they write.
One of the girls (about age 11) began to share her story with the group. It took place in a pizzeria (as did the stories of several others), so it was obvious which of the two endings she’d chosen…
…or so we thought. At the last minute, she hurled a curveball (or tossed a pizza in the air)—she seamlessly ended with the other line. It was a brilliant bait and switch.
This year, another student (age 12) also surprised me and the other campers—perhaps even topping what I heard last year. His story was about a pregnant woman who was ordering a pizza when she went into labor, which, of course, made completing the ordinarily simple task considerably more challenging—hence leading to the ending line about pizza.
But it also cheekily and naturally led to the other ending line…and this camper indeed used both.
Bravo, young writers!
June 30, 2019
A comment that got away while filming "Batman & Bill"
When filming Batman & Bill, co-director Don Argott asked me to show a few books I’d written. When I pulled out my first, I simply introduced it by name and jokingly referred to it as a tour de force.
But this is what I wish I'd said: “When Prince was 24, he wrote Purple Rain. When I was 24, I wrote The Felix Activity Book.”
Don, too, wished I’d said it.
But this is what I wish I'd said: “When Prince was 24, he wrote Purple Rain. When I was 24, I wrote The Felix Activity Book.”
Don, too, wished I’d said it.
June 24, 2019
School visit testimonials, word bubble style
Some magazines round up what they consider the best quotations of the previous week and display them within word bubbles; exhibit 1: Entertainment Weekly (which, effective after this week’s issue, is going monthly):
This inspired me to present some school visit testimonials in a similar fashion (sans heads):
This inspired me to present some school visit testimonials in a similar fashion (sans heads):
May 22, 2019
Back-to-back military schools
On 5/20/19, I did author visits at two Maryland schools connected to the military: Pershing Hill Elementary on Fort George G. Meade (though it’s a public school) and Naval Academy Primary in Annapolis.
I am honored to speak regardless of the venue but especially like when invitations expose me to an environment that is new to me. I’ve presented on a Native American reservation and at a hospital; I have long hoped to speak with youth at a juvenile detention center. Fort Meade marks the first time I have spoken (or even been) on an army base.
I am honored to speak regardless of the venue but especially like when invitations expose me to an environment that is new to me. I’ve presented on a Native American reservation and at a hospital; I have long hoped to speak with youth at a juvenile detention center. Fort Meade marks the first time I have spoken (or even been) on an army base.
May 2, 2019
“Thirty Minutes Over Oregon” on 2019 ILA Teachers’ Choices Reading List
The embargo has lifted!
In March, I learned that Thirty Minutes Over Oregon has been selected for the International Literacy Association 2019 Teachers’ Choices Reading List.
But honorees were asked to keep it under wraps till the announcement was posted on the ILA site.
The distinction is bestowed annually upon new books that teachers, reading specialists, and librarians feel will be of particular interest to readers ages 5-14 and can be used across the curriculum.
Thank you, ILA, congrats to the other honorees!
In March, I learned that Thirty Minutes Over Oregon has been selected for the International Literacy Association 2019 Teachers’ Choices Reading List.
But honorees were asked to keep it under wraps till the announcement was posted on the ILA site.
The distinction is bestowed annually upon new books that teachers, reading specialists, and librarians feel will be of particular interest to readers ages 5-14 and can be used across the curriculum.
Thank you, ILA, congrats to the other honorees!
April 29, 2019
Take Your Child to Work Day at the U.S. State Department
I don’t work at the State Department in Washington DC, but I took one of my kids—and my wife—there on Take Your Child to Work Day 2019. Technically, I did work there that day; they kindly asked me to give a presentation at the Ralph Bunche Library.
The audience: State Department employees and their children.
They requested that I speak about Thirty Minutes Over Oregon; an employee had seen the New York Times review and suggested reaching out to me. The State Department invites authors and others to speak, but this was the first time they’ve done it for TYCTWD.
An unexpected opportunity. A lovely turnout. An honor indeed. Thank you again!
The audience: State Department employees and their children.
They requested that I speak about Thirty Minutes Over Oregon; an employee had seen the New York Times review and suggested reaching out to me. The State Department invites authors and others to speak, but this was the first time they’ve done it for TYCTWD.
An unexpected opportunity. A lovely turnout. An honor indeed. Thank you again!
April 27, 2019
Is the Flash REALLY the fastest superhero?
Strange how often he is not in the lead when shown running with a group.
Flash Fact: the alleged Fastest Man Alive shouldn’t even be visible in such scenes…
Flash Fact: the alleged Fastest Man Alive shouldn’t even be visible in such scenes…
April 26, 2019
Meet me at the Scholastic reception desk
Several months ago, my longtime author friend Bill Doyle told me that Scholastic had redone their lobby. It’s been almost twenty years since I lived in New York City and I’ve been to Scholastic only once or twice since then. I don’t remember what it used to look like. On 4/23/19, after a school visit in Mahopac, NY, and the day before a school visit in Manhattan, I got the chance to see how it looks now.
The focal point of its new, minimalist design is a long reception desk “composed” of rows of books by Scholastic authors; the books wrap around both sides of the desk. But the books are not actual books by Scholastic authors. Rather they are other books (of equal height) papered over with a solid-colored jacket (either orange or gray) marked only with an author’s name (no title).
And though none of my Scholastic books are mainstream bestsellers, I’m included.
Bill spotted my name front and center, second row down. Though the placement is surely arbitrary, it is an honor to be part of the desk at all; Scholastic has published many hundreds of authors over the years and all are not represented.
Weirdly, however, I saw my name on at least three spines. This is definitely an oversight, a glitch in the system; I noticed only one or two others who also appear more than once. Also weirdly: all three of my books are in the same row.
Look closely and you can see them shelved between these names:
book 1—Melinda Salisbury and Jennifer Serravallo
book 2—M.T. Anderson and Sally Christie
book 3—Daniel José Older and Richard Egielski
books 1 and 2
book 3
As I said, an honor.
The focal point of its new, minimalist design is a long reception desk “composed” of rows of books by Scholastic authors; the books wrap around both sides of the desk. But the books are not actual books by Scholastic authors. Rather they are other books (of equal height) papered over with a solid-colored jacket (either orange or gray) marked only with an author’s name (no title).
And though none of my Scholastic books are mainstream bestsellers, I’m included.
Bill spotted my name front and center, second row down. Though the placement is surely arbitrary, it is an honor to be part of the desk at all; Scholastic has published many hundreds of authors over the years and all are not represented.
Weirdly, however, I saw my name on at least three spines. This is definitely an oversight, a glitch in the system; I noticed only one or two others who also appear more than once. Also weirdly: all three of my books are in the same row.
Look closely and you can see them shelved between these names:
book 1—Melinda Salisbury and Jennifer Serravallo
book 2—M.T. Anderson and Sally Christie
book 3—Daniel José Older and Richard Egielski
books 1 and 2
book 3As I said, an honor.
April 25, 2019
Back where Batman was born
On 4/23/19, sandwiched between school visits, I had half a day to tool around New York City. My primary destinations were Bill Finger-related.
Second, I went to Bill Finger Way alongside Poe Park in the Bronx. It was the first time I’d been there since the sign unveiling ceremony in December 2017.
The only difference: now a pair of sneakers hangs from the adjoining streetlight. (This is not, as sometimes said, automatically a sign that drugs are sold nearby. Search it.)
And first, I went to one of the twelve addresses I found (oh those many years ago) for Bill, and perhaps the most storied (for reasons beyond Bill). He lived at 45 Grove Street in Greenwich Village from late 1943 or 1944 to 1950. While living in that building, he co-created the Riddler.
A previous time I was there with Don Argott and Sheena Joyce, directors of Batman & Bill, when, mere moments after (or before?) the camera was rolling, a mother and child walked by. What makes that memorable: the child was wearing a Batman shirt. Would have made a wonderful little moment on film.
This time, another fortuitous occurrence happened during the few minutes I was in the vicinity. A tour group stopped in front of the building.
I lingered and eavesdropped. The tour guide didn’t mention Bill/Batman, so when she asked if anyone had questions, I raised my hand...with a comment.
(She didn’t seem to appreciate it, but some members of the tour did.)
Second, I went to Bill Finger Way alongside Poe Park in the Bronx. It was the first time I’d been there since the sign unveiling ceremony in December 2017.
The only difference: now a pair of sneakers hangs from the adjoining streetlight. (This is not, as sometimes said, automatically a sign that drugs are sold nearby. Search it.)
And first, I went to one of the twelve addresses I found (oh those many years ago) for Bill, and perhaps the most storied (for reasons beyond Bill). He lived at 45 Grove Street in Greenwich Village from late 1943 or 1944 to 1950. While living in that building, he co-created the Riddler.
A previous time I was there with Don Argott and Sheena Joyce, directors of Batman & Bill, when, mere moments after (or before?) the camera was rolling, a mother and child walked by. What makes that memorable: the child was wearing a Batman shirt. Would have made a wonderful little moment on film.
This time, another fortuitous occurrence happened during the few minutes I was in the vicinity. A tour group stopped in front of the building.
I lingered and eavesdropped. The tour guide didn’t mention Bill/Batman, so when she asked if anyone had questions, I raised my hand...with a comment.
(She didn’t seem to appreciate it, but some members of the tour did.)
April 23, 2019
Superheroes with swords
Most DC Comics superheroes in present-day settings did not originate with swords, but a good number went on to use them at one point. Some (Wonder Woman, Robin) even adopted a sword as a regular weapon.
Not including medieval characters (Silent Knight, Shining Knight) and characters who debuted with swords (Katana, Azrael), below is a gallery of mainstream DC heroes who took up the blade. The list is incomplete and the image shown is not necessarily the first time that character used a sword. Please identify any oversights in the comments.
Atom
Wonder Woman
Robin (Damian Wayne)
Aquaman (Arthur Joseph Curry)
Hawkman
Batman(most famously versus Ra’s al Ghul, but not shown on the cover of that issue soI used this one instead)
Green Lantern
Superman
Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman
Not including medieval characters (Silent Knight, Shining Knight) and characters who debuted with swords (Katana, Azrael), below is a gallery of mainstream DC heroes who took up the blade. The list is incomplete and the image shown is not necessarily the first time that character used a sword. Please identify any oversights in the comments.
Atom
Wonder Woman
Robin (Damian Wayne)
Aquaman (Arthur Joseph Curry)
Hawkman
Batman(most famously versus Ra’s al Ghul, but not shown on the cover of that issue soI used this one instead)
Green Lantern
Superman
Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman
