Thursday, March 08, 2007
Sheryl McFarlane: Reactions etc.
Post your comments to Sheryl's visit here. If you'd like to try writing a short news article on her visit, you can also post that here. Natalia has the most notes! If you have any suggestions for Sheryl on her presentation, you might post that, too, as I'm sure she'd appreciate any feedback.
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A Children’s Author Visits Pearson Adult Learning Center
A famous Canadian children’s author, Sheryl McFarlane, visited Writing 12 class on March 8, 2007.
Sheryl McFarlane is the author of ten picture books for children, including the award-winning Waiting for the Whales and Jessie's Island.
She gave a speech to the students about how to write and her own writing process.
“Sound is very important,” she said, “I always read aloud while I’m writing. I change the words until it sounds good.”
Many people think the first draft is garbage, but Sheryl McFarlane has a different idea.
“Hold your first draft,” she said, “you may not only lose power but also emotion behind it.”
Also she told the students a lot of interesting details about her books, editors, and collaborators.
“Critical opinion is more important to me than praise. It makes my writing better.” She said.
At the end of the class, she did a Brain Storm practice with students.
Very nice; succinct, with good supporting quotes all through.
Add that she's written a novel for young adults, too.
The last "She said" should be punctuated as ," she said.
Catherine,
Good article!
I just think “garbage” is a wrong word here.
Maybe: Many people throw away the first draft too easily?
What about adding more “interesting details”?
Her research, collaboration with the illustrators, book design, etc.
And also, introduce her brain storm technique? Maybe? I bet the readers want to know.
Voices From the Students (me)
“She talked about making a list before writing. List up anything comes to mind, and pick and choose later. I’ll try it next time.”
“I was amazed by her detailed research. She knows whales by difference of their dorsal fins. She takes tons of pictures of a runner to describe it accurately. She even went to an animal center and wrapped a frozen bird to know how a bandaged eagle looks like.”
“She showed us the very first memo of a story. It’s fascinating to see how a story starts and becomes a book. Maybe I should keep a notepad in a pocket like her.”
Sheryl's presentation is warm, simple and direct. I appreciate very much this sincerety and eageaness in her writing for kids. She is, at very first, a great Mom, a loving grand-daughter. She writes from her heart, and she realize the writing from a serious research. A combinasion of the Intelligent of Heart and the Intelligent of Logic makes her a valuable and interesting and timeless author for our kids.
Thank you! Brad!
Natalie,
Thank you for your information regarding the concert in Queen's Avenue Church. It was wonderful and full of passion and energie. Bethoveen is a Hero for the music. The choral was great! Music makes us transcendanted and healed.
My Impression of the Presentation
Sheryl Mcfarlane, her presentation made a great impression on me.
The most interesting part was about her publishing that she had to be involved in the profound details with the editor and the illustrator. Especially, I enjoyed her personal experience, dealing with the illustrator and the illustrations to match her images. I’ve understood publishing requires laborious tasks.
Her instruction about writing has also expanded my lack of knowledge. In fact, mostly, I threw away my first draft after I’d written the second one. I was ashamed of myself; I should have kept all my daft! Anyway, I’ve learned—I follow her advice.
It was a new realization for me that she writes the words of her books by considering sound, (and rhythm, too?) while I first care about grammar and structure. It seemed my priority was the least important in writing process.
In the end of class, Sheryl also gave us an exercise, “Five Memories.” This practical lesson taught me ideas of how I start writing and ways of how to produce a sentence with five senses.
Thank you very mach.
Ms.Sheryl McFarlane is an excellent writer with down to the earth characteristics, also she picked up every single word or picture in her books conscientiously in order to meet her standard of perfection. Especially, she paid more attentions on harmonious sound of reading for each sentence to coordinate the specific picture in the book.
There is no other short cut to reach the perfection, and she also needs to spend a lot of time and strength for sourcing the related substances or words to fit in before writing as we always did.
I did't see any short stories from her, but I wish I could in the near future. I suggested her to circulate those kids books to mainland China with Chinese translations to meet the potential Chinese market's need.
Hi Hiromi,
Your advices make this piece news better now. Thanks!
I’m sorry I still use the word “garbage” because I think it is suitable here.
A Children’s Author Visits Pearson Adult Learning Center
A famous Canadian children’s author, Sheryl McFarlane, visited Writing 12 class on March 8, 2007.
Sheryl McFarlane is the author of ten picture books for children, including the award-winning Waiting for the Whales and Jessie's Island. Also she's written a novel for young adults— The 25 Pains of Kennedy Baines.
She gave a speech to the students about how to write and her own writing process.
“Sound is very important,” she said, “I always read aloud while I’m writing. I change the words until it sounds good.”
Some people think the first draft is garbage, but Sheryl McFarlane has a different idea.
“Hold your first draft,” she said, “you may not only lose power but also emotion behind it.”
She showed the students the very first memo of a story. They can see how a story starts and becomes a book.
“Critical opinion is more important to me than praise. It makes my writing better.” she said.
At the end of the class, she did an exercise with students—“Five Memories.” It showed the students how to start writing and how to produce a sentence with five senses.
Students’ Voices
Hiromi said:
“I was amazed by her detailed research. She knows whales by difference of their dorsal fins. She takes tons of pictures of a runner to describe it accurately. She even went to an animal center and wrapped a frozen bird to know how a bandaged eagle looks like.”
Ritsuko said:
“The most interesting part was about her publishing that she had to be involved in the profound details with the editor and the illustrator. Especially, I enjoyed her personal experience, dealing with the illustrator and the illustrations to match her images.”
Helena said:
“Sheryl's presentation is warm, simple and direct. I appreciate very much this sincerity and eagerness in her writing for kids.”
Ben said:
“Sheryl McFarlane is an excellent writer with down to the earth characteristics; also she picked up every single word or picture in her books conscientiously in order to meet her standard of perfection.”
Catherine,
Nice!
I still don’t like the tone of “garbage”, but I like that you are adamant and keeping the word. Way to go!
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