Shaping a Story

In early March, a group of young writers from St. Scholastica's Academy Marikina invited me to talk about my writing life and creative process. In the online session I had with them, I included pointers in writing a children's story that will be illustrated by an artist or illustrator. I showed them formats and structures to follow and model. The young writers, a mix of Junior and Senior high schoolers, are aiming to finish a book project.

A couple of weeks after, I received a manuscript where a dream is used as a key literary device. I replied:

 A dream can be used in another way to push the plot forward: as foreshadowing; as a warning; words of caution. There is fear when this happens. However, I would deter you from using a dream as technique to change behavior for plot and character development.

Empower the child character by NOT instilling fear, but by making the child character experience a life changing event. Moving him or her to make the right choice to be a better person or child.

What could happen to a child who bad mouths other people? 

Kahit pag sabihan siya ng parents and teachers niya, ginagawa niya pa din. 

Ano yung cause and effect nito sa child.

What if you show this cause and effect situation?

How will the child learn?

Who will help the child?

 What did the child resolve to do?

There is definitely a part 2! 

 

Online Author Talk with Scholasticans of St. Scholastica's Academy, Marikina

Among the many things we learned from the Lockdown Years in the Covid Era, it is the skill to go online for meetings, assemblies and learning sessions. When Brianna, a high school student from St. Scholastica's Academy Marikina hit me up on Messenger asking about a writing workshop, I offered to do one via online. After months of planning, it pushed through!

As a priming activity, I sent her a link to a video recording on developing character and made her a member of our Early Readers' Project on Facebook. That is why, when I met her and her club members online, they had questions prepared for me.

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Of the many questions they asked, one stood out. To quote: What is the best approach in writing a story for children, the way Dr. Seuss wrote stories or Roald Dahl's?

The question shows the young writer's reading influences, her knowledge of children's literature and the desire to write her own story for children. To this question, I responded by telling them the purpose of Dr. Seuss and Roald Dahl as I perceive them and my own context as a reader of their books.

While both writers put forth a world of their own in their writing, Dahl is more purposive of retelling and presenting stories of childhood experiences. Dr. Seuss makes use of riddles, word play and whimsy in his storytelling which is perfect for learning phonics, phonemes in a fun and playful manner. So I asked the student her purpose in writing a story. When the intent and purpose are determined, the path to the writing process is clearer.

As a librarian, I can't help but wish to send a feedback to the teachers, parents and librarians of St. Scholastica's Academy Marikina. They have in their midst readers who dream of writing stories for children younger than them with the hindsight of their influences on books they have read growing up. Imagine what richness in stories they can bring if they too are knowledgeable of local writers! 

Our work never ends.