Comments on: School visits http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:42:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Simon Haynes http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/#comment-163 Simon Haynes Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:52:13 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/#comment-163 Yep, I've done the manuscript trick. However, I tell them it's my speech, and today I combined it with Stephen's suggestion and said I'd read it if they stopped asking questions. 8 groups down, one more to go tomorrow. Sore thoat now, but it's been fun. One teacher even handed me 15-20 sheets with a question on each from all the kids. I just spent a couple of hours hand-writing individual replies. Deadline? What deadline? (I'm supposed to hand my latest MS in next Monday.) Yep, I’ve done the manuscript trick. However, I tell them it’s my speech, and today I combined it with Stephen’s suggestion and said I’d read it if they stopped asking questions.

8 groups down, one more to go tomorrow. Sore thoat now, but it’s been fun. One teacher even handed me 15-20 sheets with a question on each from all the kids. I just spent a couple of hours hand-writing individual replies. Deadline? What deadline? (I’m supposed to hand my latest MS in next Monday.)

]]> By: Maria V. Snyder http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/#comment-153 Maria V. Snyder Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:59:47 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/#comment-153 Hi Simon! I found with school visits that even if the kids are too young to read your book, their parents aren't. I will talk a little about my books (but mostly about writing etc.) and give all the kids a bookmark to take home. Later, during school events, I always get one or two mothers who come up to me and say they heard about me from their child and bought a book. I also like to bring in my 500 page manuscript to show the kids - I'm a bit of a show-off and do a skit where I pretend to type on a cordless keyboard and then say, "...after 9 months of hard work here's what I have..." Then I slam the thick wad on the floor. The kids jump a foot, but they love it (a grown-up making noise in school). Hi Simon! I found with school visits that even if the kids are too young to read your book, their parents aren’t. I will talk a little about my books (but mostly about writing etc.) and give all the kids a bookmark to take home. Later, during school events, I always get one or two mothers who come up to me and say they heard about me from their child and bought a book.

I also like to bring in my 500 page manuscript to show the kids - I’m a bit of a show-off and do a skit where I pretend to type on a cordless keyboard and then say, “…after 9 months of hard work here’s what I have…” Then I slam the thick wad on the floor. The kids jump a foot, but they love it (a grown-up making noise in school).

]]> By: Simon Haynes http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/#comment-133 Simon Haynes Sun, 19 Aug 2007 09:30:38 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/#comment-133 I totally agree on the years 4-7. My kids are roughly in that age group, which helps, and I always ask for that range if I have a choice. I've spoken to other groups with more or less success, and individual classes can all be different, but I think years 4-7 still find the idea of writing exciting where older kids have been forced to read one too many classics. (In other words, we get the same reception as the author of a text-book.) I totally agree on the years 4-7. My kids are roughly in that age group, which helps, and I always ask for that range if I have a choice.

I’ve spoken to other groups with more or less success, and individual classes can all be different, but I think years 4-7 still find the idea of writing exciting where older kids have been forced to read one too many classics. (In other words, we get the same reception as the author of a text-book.)

]]> By: Stephen Dedman http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/#comment-131 Stephen Dedman Sun, 19 Aug 2007 07:11:15 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/#comment-131 I've done a few school visits, and even though they're not the group I mostly write for, I've found upper primary classes (4-7) to be the most fun. Year 8s are too self-conscious, Years 10+ too fixated on exams. Most discouraging response I ever had was from a Year 9 who hissed as she left "We COULD have had a video!" The trick I use most often to keep the kids involved is to say that if they run out of questions to ask, I'll make them write something. I’ve done a few school visits, and even though they’re not the group I mostly write for, I’ve found upper primary classes (4-7) to be the most fun. Year 8s are too self-conscious, Years 10+ too fixated on exams. Most discouraging response I ever had was from a Year 9 who hissed as she left “We COULD have had a video!”

The trick I use most often to keep the kids involved is to say that if they run out of questions to ask, I’ll make them write something.

]]> By: S.C. Butler http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/#comment-127 S.C. Butler Sun, 19 Aug 2007 00:47:16 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/#comment-127 In connection with your comment about kids asking how much money you make from your books, I often find them somewhat incredulous when I tell them I gave up a financial job for the relative penury of writing. But then the teachers love the fact that I'm encouraging the kids to look beyond the cash. In connection with your comment about kids asking how much money you make from your books, I often find them somewhat incredulous when I tell them I gave up a financial job for the relative penury of writing.

But then the teachers love the fact that I’m encouraging the kids to look beyond the cash.

]]> By: Simon Haynes http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/#comment-122 Simon Haynes Sat, 18 Aug 2007 01:47:33 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/#comment-122 Here are a few at random. If I don't feel like talking about one at that particular moment I just shove it to the back and take the next. Also, if the kids ask questions I go with it. These are just for the moments when they're all staring at you, willing you to say something. Before the talk I usually go through the cards and pull the ones I think will suit. E.g. younger groups aren't that interested in publishing, stories about working with an editor and so on. "How do you come up with your characters?" "Are you worried about copying from other authors?" "How much money do you make from each book?" (They're often interested in this one. Most thing authors get the entire sticker price.) "Where does the rest go?" Comment on reviews, good and bad. And reviewers. How many words a day. How many words in a novel (and how long is a piece of string!) Anecdote about an intro I once got before a talk. "Where do you get your ideas?" (They're going to ask that one anyway ...) Favourite authors, books. Discover what theirs are and why. The futuristic technology they're using right now. What other tech would they like to see? Plotting, planning, outlining. Here are a few at random. If I don’t feel like talking about one at that particular moment I just shove it to the back and take the next. Also, if the kids ask questions I go with it. These are just for the moments when they’re all staring at you, willing you to say something.
Before the talk I usually go through the cards and pull the ones I think will suit. E.g. younger groups aren’t that interested in publishing, stories about working with an editor and so on.

“How do you come up with your characters?”
“Are you worried about copying from other authors?”
“How much money do you make from each book?” (They’re often interested in this one. Most thing authors get the entire sticker price.)
“Where does the rest go?”
Comment on reviews, good and bad. And reviewers.
How many words a day.
How many words in a novel (and how long is a piece of string!)
Anecdote about an intro I once got before a talk.
“Where do you get your ideas?” (They’re going to ask that one anyway …)
Favourite authors, books. Discover what theirs are and why.
The futuristic technology they’re using right now. What other tech would they like to see?
Plotting, planning, outlining.

]]> By: Diana Pharaoh Francis http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/#comment-120 Diana Pharaoh Francis Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:54:32 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/08/17/school-visits/#comment-120 So what are some of the examples of your prompts? Di So what are some of the examples of your prompts?

Di

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