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TOP TIPS FOR WRITERS

WORkIng WITh yOung WRITERS gROuPSBy BABS hORTOn

1. From the outset reassure the group that they

arent going to be put on the spot. This is a big

ear or some young people.

2. 50 WORD PRESS RELEASE: Tried and tested

warm-up game. This is a great ice breaker, can be

very unny and allows the group to learn a little

about each other. Its a good way to get them

writing quickly and to speak out.

Write a 50 word Press Release about yoursel

containing three acts and three lies e.g.

Babs Horton was once a wrestler. She collects

rare travel books and lives in a railway carriage

with a bad tempered python and

Ask them to write one about themselves. Follow

with Question and Answer session.

3. Thinking time is never wasted time.

Encourage them to be playul in their thoughts

and observations and creative in their thinking.

They are oten anxious about getting things right

straight away and need time to explore, inventand reect.

4. Use large pieces o paper on which they can

outline random ideas, images and associations

beore they begin to write.

5. Olactory Poem. I use 20 small plastic pots

covered in gauze each containing something that

smells e.g. rosemary, garlic, lemon, vanilla, chalk,

dandelion sap etc

Ask them to guess what is in each pot. Compare

ndings and observations.

6. Choose 4 o the smells and write down ten

words that you associate with that smell.

Choose one o the pots. Let your mind wander.

What thoughts arise? Play around with sound,

taste, touch, sight, smell. Does the smell evoke a

particular memory? Explore the memory. Build up

to write a short poem.

7. Six word short storyI tell them the story o

Ernest Hemingways bet that he could write a

captivating tale complete with beginning, middle

and end in six words. For Sale. Baby shoes. Never

worn. Write their own.

8. Opening Lines. Give examples o great writing

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks

were striking thirteen (George Orwell 1984)

You better not never tell nobody but

(Alice Walker The Colour Purple)

Discuss their avourite book openings and

ask them to explain why they are compelling/

enticing/ thought provoking etc. Write the

opening paragraph to a short story

9. Start an Online blog with your group.

This is invaluable in encouraging them to

gain condence by posting their work and

commenting on the work o others.

10. Be aware o curriculum pressure. Many youngpeople have little time to write during the week

due to coursework and some have limited access

to computers.

11. Organise activities so that you can spend time

with individual members.

12. Encourage them to keep a notebook and jot

down thoughts, dialogue etc

13. Show them a piece o your own work

in progress. Talk about the process. Answer

questions. The writers greatest asset at times is

the delete button and the waste paper bin.

14. Give them inormation on other local groups,

competitions and writing opportunities.

15. Smile and enjoy yoursel. There are great

rewards to be had rom helping emerging writers

discover their voices and unique writing style.

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Literature Works

Peninsula Arts, Plymouth University, Roland Levinsky BuildingDrake Circus PLYMOUTH PL4 8AA Telephone: 01752 585073

Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England and Wales

Company Registration Number: 06858956 Registered Charity: 1132586

www.literatureworks.org.uk

Babs Horton

Babs Horton was born in Tredegar, South Wales.

She moved to London in 1957 where she lived in a

variety o noisy pubs and attended seven diferent

schools miraculously gaining enough o an education

to take a degree.

Babs graduated rom the College o St Mark and St

John in Plymouth and has taught in many Plymouth

Secondary schools. Her last job was at the Hospital

School working with young people with mental healthissues. She has also worked as the Royal Literary

Fund writing ellow at the University o Plymouth and

currently runs the Young Writing Squads at Plymstock

library and provides creative writing workshops in

schools all over the country.

Babs rst book, A Jarful of Angelswon the Pendleton

May First Novel award and was short listed or the

Authors Club Award. Dandelion Soupwas published

in 2004, Wildcat Moon(2006) and Recipes for

Cherubsin 2008. She is working on a new novel The

Emporium of Dreamsand a memoir o her early years

in Wales.

www.babshorton.co.uk

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