Author Visit by Janie Lancaster
Building Believable Characters
Author Visit by Janie Lancaster
K - 5th Grade Presentation:
Based on my book JULIE & THE LOST FAIRY TALE
(Students will need to bring paper and a pencil with them)
Overview:
My presentation is designed to stimulate the creative minds of children and to teach them how to express themselves through writing. I will do this by showing them how to write stories and create their own believable characters.
A typical presentation for this age group lasts between 45 and 50 minutes.
*My presentations will be adjusted to the age group involved, feedback from the audience and the size of the group.
Introduction of my theme Creating Believable Characters
(3 - 5 minutes):
I will use a visual aid to get attention and then demonstrate visually how the brain creates characters from pieces of people we know.
I will discuss how our imaginations can do the same thing by getting to know our characters and putting them together piece by piece.
Introduction of myself
(3 - 5 minutes):
I will explain the meaning of fairy tales to me and share some of my favorite highly imaginative stories that influenced my life from the forward of my book. I will explain that when life took me down an unhappy road reading books and stories took me to wonderful places and introduced me to interesting people. (Anne of Green Gables, Pollyanna, Pipi Longstocking)
Creating Believable Fairy Tale Characters
(20 minutes):
I will explain that there is a time to write stories and a time to edit what you write. Creative writing should be done without worry and should not let the editor inside of them get involved in the beginning processes of creation. I will explain how watchfulness is needed to be an effective writer and to create believable characters for their stories.
I will demonstrate through a visual aid how emotions are expressed in body language, facial expressions and voice inflection. (Bow tie demo) Then I will use the characters from my story of Julie to demonstrate how my characters were created.
I will show the children how writing fiction can allow them freedom to use of their imaginations for self-expression. (Cereal box and name lesson)
*Questions and answers from the audience will be interspersed throughout the presentation.
*Children will draw or write characteristics for their own fairy tale characters, if setting permits.
My Conclusion
To be a creative writer you need to:
Find yourself
Be yourself
Express yourself
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Creative Writing Is Power
Author Visit by Janie Lancaster
Overview:
My presentation is designed to stimulate the minds of children and teach them how to express themselves through creative writing. I will do this by sharing poetry that I wrote to heal an injured mind as well as fictional stories I wrote with threads woven from my true life experiences.
A typical presentation for this age group lasts between 45 and 50 minutes.
My presentations are adjusted to the age group involved and feedback from the audience.
Introduction of my theme
(3 - 5 minutes):
I will explain how the right and left side of the brain differ and how they can use creative writing to know themselves, find themselves and express themselves.
I will discuss how creative writing has power and can help them to change the unchangeable, move the unmovable and cure the incurable.
Introduction of myself
(3 - 5 minutes):
I will share my true life experience of a painful childhood and the many reasons why I did not give up. I will share how reading books helped me to hold onto my true self.
I will talk about my dream to become a published writer and how I published my first novel in newspapers throughout the country.
I will explain how creative writing helped me to understand my childhood traumas and to rise above them.
(20 minutes):
I will walk them through my rough beginnings as a creative writer by reading thought-provoking poetry and autobiographical pieces of my written works in progress.
I will use mind mapping and writing prompts to stimulate the mind and class discussions to encourage students to express themselves.
I will show how writing fiction can allow them freedom to use their imaginations for self-expression and to tap into the unconscious mind.
Creative writing gives power to:
Change the unchangable
Cure the incurable
Move the unmovable
*Special rates are available for teachers to buy a block of books from the author for their school to share. Contact author for discount pricing.
Midwest Book Review
Children's Bookwatch: July 2008
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
First published as a serial story in the newspapers, "Julie & The Lost Fairy Tale" is now compiled into the form of a novel for children and young adults. An original and captivating tale, "Julie & The Lost Fairy Tale" follows the relationship between Julie, her grandmother, and a chest she's forbidden to open. Highly recommended for community library young adult fiction collections.
RETURN TO HOME PAGE
Email Janie by clicking here
See school visit Wellsville click here
See Teacher's workshops
Listen to an Interview with Chris Bridges News-JournalOnline in Daytona Beach Florida http://www.nieworld.com/special/julie/author_interview.htm
Interview with Ednews
Michael F. Shaughnessy Senior Columnist EdNews.org
Eastern New Mexico University