From the Writer's Desk - Writing Tips for Kids

Currently, I'm guest editor for BOOK BEAT - a Children's Book Council newsletter. Often I'll include a writing tip or exercise in BOOK BEAT, so I thought I'd post a collection of them here. I hope to add more in the coming months.

Tip # 1: Improve your writing with word pictures

Sometimes when we’re reading a book, it’s almost as if we’re watching a movie. The author uses words that help us to see the story. Try reading this extract from Deb Abela’s latest book Grimsden, and you’ll understand.

“Sneddon looked into a small, rounded mirror and ran his hands along either side of his hair, sweeping it upwards into a smooth, wave-like quiff.”

Did you see Sneddon fussing with his hair? Descriptions or ‘word pictures’ like this make reading fun. They help us to create pictures in our minds so that we become involved in the story.

Activity: Find an interesting picture of a person in a magazine and write a description of that person using word pictures.

Tip # 2: Taking a Look at Dialogue

What is dialogue? If you open any novel, you’ll find it. It’s the parts of the story where the characters speak to each other, and it looks like this:
“I mean it, Arnie. You need some sparring practice,” said Belly. He nodded fast. “I can teach you.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. “What? You?”
“Yeah, me. Dad used to be a boxer, you know.”
Dialogue helps to make our stories interesting, but it should give us new information and move the story forward. It should draw us in and help us get to know the characters. Here are some tips to improve your dialogue:
1. Listen to people talking. Dialogue is a cut down version of real conversation – just the interesting bits.
2. Read your dialogue out loud to see how it sounds. Would real people speak that way?
3. Try to break up your dialogue with small pieces of action to make it easier to read. Take another look at the example above – he nodded fast, and Now it was my turn to laugh are pieces of action (the characters are doing something).
4. Your dialogue should have purpose. Maybe your characters could befriend someone, reveal a secret, argue or tell a lie. It’s your job to make something happen!

Activity: Choose a partner and write a conversation between two characters. Takes turns writing a sentence of dialogue each, beginning with:

“You’ll never guess what happened.”

My Writing Shed

My Writing Shed: Trees have featured a lot in my writing lately. I wonder if that's why this one decided to pay a visit. I'm thankful I wasn't working when it dropped in.

Amazing Dogs

Today I received copies of my latest non-fiction book Guide Dogs. Here's the cover, together with a photo of Angel, who inspired the book. We puppy raised Angel and this photo is of her after her Graduation...proud parents we were!

Reviews and Interviews for Arnie Avery

"Arnie Avery is about birds, bullying, brothers and broken families. A memorable read of substance and purpose..." The Sun Herald, 22 August 2010

"Arnie Avery is an engaging story about growing up and making choices. The story is both humorous and moving, exploring themes of loyalty, friendship and coping with bullying and grief." Chosen as an outstanding book - Reading Time Magazine, July 2010

Arnie Avery "A moving story of growing up"
5 stars and PICK OF THE MONTH - Bookseller & Publisher, June 2010

http://auslit.net/2010/10/14/sue-walker-author-interview/
http://southern-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/des-renford-pool-inspires-sue-walker/
http://www.thebookchook.com/2010/06/interview-with-sue-walker.html
http://www.femail.com.au/arnie-avery.htm
http://content.boomerangbooks.com.au/kids-book-capers-blog/always-a-writer-meet-sue-walker/2010/06
http://soupblog.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/lights-out-sue-walker/

Book Feast 2010

This week I went to Book Feast 2010 - a fantastic annual event organised by Librarian, Michael Fraser. Forty five authors and illustrators had the privilege of lunching with enthusiastic children from schools all over Sydney. I had the honour of sitting with students and librarians from Marayong Public School. Here I am with lovely Ann and Suzanne from Marayong.

Out and About

I have lots planned over the coming months...places to go, people to see... I hope to meet you when I'm out and about.

31 May 2010, Creative Writing Workshops at OLSH Primary School, Randwick

26 June 2010, 1:00-2:30 Book Signing for Arnie Avery at Angus & Robertson, Pagewood Eastgardens

3 July 2010, Official Book Launch for Arnie Avery at the Children's & Young Adult Literature Festival The Writer's Centre, Rozelle http://www.nswwriterscentre.org.au/ (All welcome!)

22 July 2010, Literature Live! Video Conferencing Literature Festival with various schools

27 July 2010, Author Talk at OLSH Primary School, Randwick

2 August 2010, Children's Book Council Afternoon Tea at Haberfield Public School

3 August 2010, Illawarra-South Coast CBCA children's literary lunch, Fraternity Club, Wollongong

18 August 2010, Author Talk at Coogee Public School

20 August 2010, Author Talk - Primary School Youth Reviews, Innaburra Christian School, Bangor

7 September 2010, CBC Book Week Lunch with the Stars, Manly

8 September 2010, Author Talk at Maroubra Public School

16 September 2010, Bookfeast 2010 at Burwood RSL

Arnie's First Review

I'm thrilled with the first review of "Arnie Avery." Bookseller & Publisher gave it a 5 starred rating and listed it as one of their 4 top picks for June. (Source Bookseller & Publisher).