One
of writing’s greatest challenges is closing the gap between what you want to
say and your ability to say it.
Putting
pen to paper for the first time can be a shock.
The story that seemed so clear in your head suddenly won’t do what you
want it to – and fixing the problems of one part has knock-on effects
elsewhere. It’s like a giant game of
three-dimensional chess, complex and challenging, requiring huge
determination. Wanting to write
a book is just the first step. So what
happens next?
(Keith Gray - The Writer's Pyramid)
On
March 29th, SCWBI SES, the Scottish chapter of the Society of
Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, met in Edinburgh for a ‘Strong
Beginnings’ workshop with author Keith Gray.
SCWBI is the international organization for writers and illustrators of
children’s books, and if you’re not yet a member, it’s well worth a look.
Both
published and unpublished writers can join, and it’s a valuable source of
support and information. The
international website is here, the British Isles one here, and my
review of Keith’s workshop will be available here when it’s published in
Words and Pictures, the SCWBI British Isles online magazine.
Until
then, here's SCWBI SES’s latest success story, YA author Christina Banach,
whose debut novel Minty was published last week by Three Hares
Publishing. Go Christina!
