Dave Cousins's Blog, page 3

Writing Prompt – To be continued …

Writing Prompt – ABC …

Your challenge today is to write a story of no more than 26 words, each one starting with a different letter of the alphabet … in order!
This one can be quite a laugh and produces some interesting and unexpected results! 
It might help to start by writing the letters of the alphabet across the top of a piece of paper, or screen. Then write a story where the first word begins with A, the second B, the third C, and so on.
Here are a couple of my attempts from earlier today – I’m sure you can do better:

A big cat drooled Eager for grub He insisted, "Just kill like me!" Nice! One plump queen rat So tasty!
Unusually velvety whiskers Xcellent! Yawn Zzzzzzz!
  “AAAAAAAAGGH!” beasts criedDeafening everyone. Former guard, Harold instinctively jumped “Keep Low Miss! Not one peep!” “Quiet,” Rachel suggested tracking unseen vultures with x-rays “Yikes, Zoos!!”

A bat came diving Eerily floating Gnashing her inky jaws Killing little monsters noiselessly One pounce quick! Riding silent under velvet wings X-raying … Yelling Za-ha!

I’ll admit X and Z can be tricky (so I often cheat a bit, as above!), but give it a go. See if you can make something that makes sense using each letter once in the right order. 
Nonsense is OK too – just play with the words and see what happens. Like most of these prompts, this is just a spark to help get some words on paper. Once you have something down, you can do what you like with it. For example, you might want to add some extra words in the next draft to help it make sense, or rhyme.
For another challenge try one word for every letter but in any order you like! Will this be easier or harder? Try it and let me know.
Good luck!

Writing Prompt - IN THE BAG!

Today’s prompt is the start of a story. 
I have no idea what happens next. The only way to find out is to start writing …
Or draw a comic strip. Maybe start by drawing the opening I’ve written below, then carry on with the discovery of what is in the bag. 
Or write a poem, or make a video … whatever idea it sparks in you. After all, there could be anything in that bag …

IT STARTED like a million other Mondays. Sleepy. Late for school. A vague bad mood hovering. There was nothing to suggest that something was about to happen that would change my life forever.            Then Mac leaned across my desk during registration. ‘Meet us by the bins at break,’ he said. ‘Got something to show you.’ The gleam in his eyes triggered a familiar shiver—one part excitement, one part dread.            My stomach was jumping by the time I arrived at the back of the school kitchens two hours later. The others were already there—gathered around an old maroon Adidas kit bag, all scuffed up and covered in graffiti.             ‘You dragged me here for that?’Tash rolled her eyes. ‘Look inside,’ she said, grinning in a way that made me suspect I was being set-up.                          All eyes were on me, so I shrugged like this was no biggie, then crouched over the bag, my guts squirming like a sack of snakes. Knowing Mac, there could be ANYTHING in here—a dead cat, stolen booze, a live rat perhaps . . .             I pulled back the zip, bracing myself not to react.            I’ll be honest—of all the possibilities scrolling through my mind, none of them prepared me for what was actually inside.            I swore. ‘Is that . . .?’

The Great Escape! Writing Prompts.

Hi folks,

I hope you and yours are well, and coping with these unusual and difficult times.

We might be physically confined to our homes at the moment, but stories provide a great way to escape. In stories we can go anywhere, at any time, with anyone!

With this in mind I thought I'd post a daily writing prompt in case they might be of interest to anyone looking for some ideas on how to fill these school and work-free days.

I'm hoping these prompts will provide a spark. Let your imagination run with them any way you like. Write a story, a poem, draw a comic strip, compose a song or a piece of music, make a video, an animated flick book, draw something, make a sculpture from pasta shells, blu-tack and unicorn tears – whatever idea drops into your head. (Just don't go outside hunting for unicorns, as I suspect that's on the forbidden list).

Most importantly – have some fun with it and I hope you'll feel a sense of freedom! Let me know how you get on. You can tag me on social media or contact via the usual place on my website.

Look after yourselves and each other.
Cheers,
Dave


WRITING PROMPT 240320 – THE GREAT ESCAPE
In stories we can go anywhere. If you could go anywhere right now – where would you go? Who would you go with? What would you do when you got there? 

PS. I'll post the next one around noon tomorrow.

ROBOTS! EVERYWHERE! "Is My Teacher a Robot?" paperback and "My Babysitter is a Robot" AUDIOBOOK - OUT NOW!

Hi folks,

You know how you can sit around for ages waiting for a robot to arrive and then suddenly two show up at once? No wait … that's buses! (Does that joke still work in these days of service cuts? Let's not go there.)

Anyway, I am very happy to announce that the next book in the series, that started with My Babysitter is a Robot last year, is now available.

  
IS MY TEACHER A ROBOT? is illustrated by the very talented Catalina Echeverri who is currently working on the pages for the third installment, due out in August.

Lots of stories start with an idle WHAT IF? For example, what if you woke up one day and could understand what animals were saying? (Feed me, probably!) Or maybe, what if you turned up at school to discover that your teacher had been replaced by a robot. Would that be good or bad? The answers are all here!

I promised you two robots and I'm a man of my word …

I've always been a big fan of audiobooks. From the days when I would sit in my bedroom making Airfix models while listening to James Herriot's vet books on cassette and getting gently high on the fumes of Polystyrene Cement and White Spirit (as a result Herriot has always been the Hendrix of the literary world for me!) to long car journeys with my own kids listening to Terry Pratchett's Wee Free Men. 

Therefore, I was delighted to be invited to narrate the audiobook for WAITING FOR GONZO a few years ago, but even more chuffed to discover that Peter Kenny would be reading the first two robot stories. My Babysitter is a Robot audiobook is available now and had me laughing out loud (I'm probably not supposed to say that, but hey …) So if you need something to keep the nippers quiet on the motorway up to see Grandma …

That's it. No more robots until the summer, unless you happen to see me at an event somewhere, in which case please do come and say hello.

As always, thanks for your support and for taking the time to read this rambling nonsense.

Take care of yourselves
Dave

Dave9000 presents Robot Babysitter LIVE at the Edinburgh International Book Festival!

Regular visitors to the blog will know that my new book My Babysitter is a Robot lurched robotically into bookshops, scaring staff and dislodging celebrity biographies from the shelves, last month. So far nobody has asked for their money back and I've had some lovely reviews and responses from readers.

Furthermore, on Monday (12th) my robot will be clanking onto the stage of the Baillie Gifford Imagination Lab at this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival . If you're in the area and would like an hour of robot inspired shenanigans you'd be very welcome to join us. You might even catch the odd useful writing or drawing tip! 

To secure a seat for this showcase of futuristic storytelling, point your web navigation device here. Transmission will begin at 10am on Monday (12th August). I'd be delighted to see you there …

Best wishes, 
The Dave9000 – your robot storyteller for the future

My Babysitter is a Robot! New book – out now!

Hi folks! I hope this message finds you well. It's been a while since I posted here, but I've been busy touring schools, moving house, and most importantly, writing a new series of books for Stripes / Little Tiger Press. The first of which, I'm delighted to announce, is out today!

When Grandma creates a robot babysitter for twins Jake and Jess, chaos ensues! Robin is embarrassing, clumsy and, worst of all, programmed to make them do their homework. They're also pretty sure he thinks their dog is a baby. The twins decide they have to do something before everyone realizes that Robin is a robot. But getting rid of their new babysitter will mean putting aside their sibling squabbles and working together, which might be an even bigger challenge...

Illustrated by the talented Catalina Echeverri,  My Babysitter is a Robot  is the first of four books about a robot and the family he is supposed to be looking after. If you're aged 7+ and like to laugh at robots getting into mischief, this could be one for you!

Best wishes, Dave

My Favourite Football Books and other World Cup resources

Hi folks!

I'm sure you've already heard, but I believe there's a wee sport thing taking place this summer over in Russia. While football and reading may not be an obvious pairing, I've always held a place in my heart for both. So when my librarian friend George Kirk asked if I'd record a video recommending a few of my favourite football books I jumped at the chance. We're hoping that some of the football fans at George's school will be inspired to pick up a book to fill the gaps between matches! Anyway, I thought it was such a good idea, I decided to post the video in case anybody else found it useful. Watch it below or on my YouTube channel here .

On a similar theme, I finally found some time to make a Charlie Merrick's Misfits poster (see above) to add to my library display set. A3 and A4 sized posters in jpeg format can be downloaded here.

A Charlie Merrick 2018 WORLD CUP WALLCHART is also underway and will be ready for download before kick-off on the 14th June. Watch this space!

Finally . . . and I promise to wrap this up before we get dragged into extra-time and penalties . . . I've collected a few more links to various reading, writing and drawing resources that might be of interest in the current football crazy climate:

An 8 day scheme of work based on the Charlie Merrick football book is available on the TES website. (Please note - I had no involvement in the production of this resource, but I've been told by teachers that it's good. There's a small fee to download.)

The National Literacy Trust World Cup Kit Bag

The OUP Charlie Merrick Activity Pack, including design your own squad cards, comics and match sheet templates .

Finally my step-by-step guide to drawing a football action scene from the  Guardian Children's Books website .

These and a few more links are also available via my website.

Thanks as always for your support. Have a great summer and enjoy the football!

Cheers for now,
Dave

General Data Protection Regulation

Hi folks,

I'm sure you're being bombarded with GDPR emails at the moment, so apologies for adding to the deluge. With that in mind, I'll keep this short.

First of all, thanks for originally signing up to receive these occasional ramblings – I hope they have been of interest. If you'd like them to stop, please click the Unsubscribe link at the end of this email. If you're happy to carry on, you don't need to do anything. 

OK, so now the GDPR bit . . . 
By signing up to receive these emails, the details you gave are stored by Google. I do not store this data myself or have access to it. Each time I write a post it is automatically emailed to everyone on the list. I don't know how many people are on the list (it could just be my mum!) 

Here's a link to Google's GDPR statement, if you'd like to read it.

Here's a link to my own general GDPR compliance statement and privacy policy for my website.

The bottom line is that I appreciate your support and would never pass on your information. I will continue to take reasonable measures to protect any personal data provided to me. I hope that puts your mind at rest (if you were worried in the first place!).

Thanks and best wishes
Dave

Event News: Linton Children's Book Festival 19-20th May

Hi folks! If you're anywhere near Cambridge this weekend and feel like a FREE book festival, why not drop by Linton Children's Book Festival? 

Linton Village College is hosting a full weekend of events with some fantastic authors, poets and illustrators giving talks and workshops. Did I mention it was FREE!?

I'll be there on Sunday, running a couple of drawing and writing workshops. For further details of the full line up and booking info, click here . 

It would be great to see you there!

Cheers
Dave