Writing Stories for Children

Workshop One: Writing Stories for Children

A Two-part Interactive Course
With Award-winning UK Author Alan Durant

Venue:  Soulistic Expressions, Melville Johannesburg (See www.soulisticexpressions.co.za )

Date: Tuesday 9 October 2018
Time: 10:00 – 15:00
Cost:  R300 SCBWI members, R700 non-members (per workshop)
RSVP: To Jenny at SCBWI.SA.Gauteng@mweb.co.za

About the event: This workshop is the first of two. The second workshop will be held in February 2019 and will give participants the opportunity to discuss work-in-progress. (It is possible to attend one or both workshops.)

 Whether you want to write picture books, middle grade stories or young adult fiction, for yourself, your own children or relatives, or for publication, this workshop with award-winning UK author Alan Durant will explore some of the key techniques and considerations involved. Characterisation, voice, language, style, plot and more will be covered in this fun, practical and informative workshop, suitable for writers of all levels, providing plenty of opportunities for writing and discussion. Book now!

Tutor profile
Alan Durant is an award-winning author of one hundred books for children – from picture books to young adult novels. His titles include Billy Monster’s Daymare, winner of the Royal Mail Scottish Children’s Book Award, Burger Boy, Angus Rides the Goods Train, Always and Forever, Dear Father Christmas, Game Boy and Blood. Alan is an experienced writing tutor, who has run many workshops for children and adults around the world. Find out more on his website, www.alandurant.co.uk More about Alan…
http://www.alandurant.co.uk/discover.html
http://www.alandurant.co.uk/mybooks.html

Bring your writing, illustration to share with participants and for feedback.

This event is for illustrators and writers.

Jozi Book Fair

The Jozi Book Fair was held from 1-4 September at the Wits Science Stadium, a lovely open and sunny venue surrounded by tutorial rooms. The theme  was “Youth Rising” and young people were in evidence everywhere, singing, dancing, acting and talking about books and reading. 

Young people were invited to send short stories  in to a school competition. Ten of these were selected by Jenny Hatton, Mohale Mashigo and Joan Rankin for publication and the book was launched at the fair.

SCBWI had a stall at the Jozi Book Fair. 

SCBWI members were invited to display their work and assist at the stall. This was all organised by  Matina Genkova-Mpofu.

Joan Rankin sat at a nearby table and helped young people to be creative. Many went away with their own little books which they had illustrated.

Thursday and Friday’s programme for school children was followed by workshops for the general public on Saturday and Sunday. These included ones for aspiring and established  writers and illustrators of children’s books such as the one offered by Joan Rankin and Jenny Hatton: Stealing Ideas – learning from the experts. See the website www.jozibookfair.org.za  

Alan Durant, author of over 100 books for children and young adults, was a special visitor to the fair and his workshop on picture books was a highlight for many.

SCBWI Retreat with Alan Durant

If you are thinking about joining SCBWI or have allowed your membership to lapse, go to www.scbwi.org to sign up or activate your membership right away. This retreat is one of the wonderful benefits that membership of SCBWI offers.

Dates for retreat in the Gauteng: 6 - 8 Nov; the Retreat starts at 17:00 on Friday and goes through to 14:00 on Sunday (Option to stay over on Sunday night at extra cost)

Amazing value at R3 000 each.

Retreat Venue: Isilwane Bush Farm, see www.sleeping-out.co.za/md/Isilwane-Bush-Camp/27668 Physical Address: Unit 20, Pride of Africa, Dinokeng, Gauteng, Close to Pretoria and Johannesburg

 

Cost: R3 000 per person. This includes food, accommodation and all fees.

What you must do: Book your spot right away - but no later than 7 October 2015.
Pay a deposit of R1 500 by 15 October and the rest by 30 October (or pay R2 700 by 15 October and save R300)
Book for Gauteng retreat: Jenny at SCBWI.SA.Gauteng@mweb.co.za

 

Critiques/Reviews by ALAN DURANT

IN GAUTENG
Date: 10 November – individual times to be confirmed

Request for a review: to Jenny at SCBWI.SA.Gauteng@mweb.co.za

WHAT THE RETREAT WILL COVER

Note: You can send in the questions you would like answered during the retreat - we will make sure these are included.

The broad thrust will be to give you a sense of what you need to do in order to write a good story and, if you have already written your book, how to improve your manuscript.

The practical application of the presentations in the mornings will be workshopped in the afternoons

 

The presentations / workshops will include:

How to

·         develop your creativity

• find a story
• create a credible setting
• develop and refine a plot
• develop your writing craft
• develop/ shape the characters
• take account of the other elements in a compelling children’s book
• edit and redraft your manuscript to refine your use of language and get your manuscript ready to be submitted

Practical tips

·         the commercial possibilities of your manuscript

• how to approach publishers – submission criteria and etiquette

Evening Group sessions

·         how to brainstorm solutions

·         develop your skills as a creator of children’s books

• stimulate and support your colleagues

Who is Alan Durant?

 

In a nutshell, he is the author of a range of books from picture books such as Burger Boy to top-end teenage thrillers. He also writes prize-winning poetry.

He is married to Jinny, a reception year teacher, and has three children, Amy, Kit and Josie, otherwise known as his ‘guinea pigs’ He has been a National Reading Campaign Reading Champion and is a frequent visitor to schools, libraries and festivals around the UK and abroad where he gives talks and readings and runs writing workshops. He is a member of NAWE and The Society of Authors.

 

Alan’s first book, the young adult novel Hamlet, Bananas and all that Jazz, was published in 1991. Since then, he has written more than 80 stories. He writes for children of all ages – from pre-school to teenage – and in a variety of styles. He has written picture books, first readers, and series such as Creepe Hall, Leggs United and Bad Boyz and thrillers for older readers.

His work was featured in the BBC series English Express, which won a Children's Bafta Award, as did Bookaboo (Series 2) in which his picture book Burger Boy was broadcast. That episode also won a British Animation Award. He appeared too in two programmes in the award-winning Let's Write A Story series.

 

Alan’s Books: www.alandurant.co.uk

 

Awards:

2007: Portsmouth Children's Picture Book Award for Burger Boy, Stockport Children's Book Award for Football Fever
2008: The Royal Mail Award for Scottish Children's Books for Billy Monster's Daymare
2009: Portsmouth Children's Book Award for Billy Monster’s Daymare

BAFTA and British Animation Award.
Kate Greenaway Medal for Always and forever
Nottingham Children’s Book Award (Gameboy)
Shortlisted for Red House Children’s Book Award (Dear Tooth Fairy)
Kingston Borough/Waterstone's Poetry Prize on two occasions.

“Writing for children can be very rewarding but it certainly isn't easy – and getting published is harder still. Having the opportunity to talk with other writers and get the advice of experienced published authors is always helpful – it certainly helped me when I began my career as a children's book author twenty years ago.

http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/english-association/sigs/childrens-literature/authors/durant https://www.newwritingsouth.com/?location_id=237