by Addy Farmer Marcus in workshop mode at the SCBWI retreat Alongside a 16 year career in publishing Marcus Sedgewick established himself as a widely-admired writer of YA fiction; he is the winner of many prizes, most notably the Branford-Boase Award for a debut novel Floodland, and the Booktrust Teenage Prize for My Swordhand is Singing. His books have been shortlisted for over thirty other
23 Comments on Marcus Sedgewick and the Giant Killer Cats, last added: 5/27/2012
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I loved this post Addy but it did make me realise exactly how much I missed at the retreat. You included some really useful tips from Marcus - thank you for taking the time to do it.
Thanks for this Addy - I'm thinking of a story about a cake eating sleep monster - I imagine it's going to take a lot of research so I'm off to apply myself....
Oh what a totally brilliant post, Addy - thanks for sharing! This is definitely one of those posts to be tagged and kept for continual reference!
Thanks,Ness - didn't mean to rub it in!
i'm already on it, Kathy
Why thanks, Nicky! Although of course, Marcus was the one with the ideas!
Drat! Why have other people already had<br /> the great ideas of literary genius??? WHY!
It's good to be reminded that we should be open to everything happening around us, and use it, not just regurgitate the event. Very useful post. Thank you :)
I was there! Well done on distilling this from Marcus's words.<br />I so loved his phrase about 'the tyranny of well-rounded characters'- I could have hugged him for that.
Gosh I'm buzzed after reading this!! Thanks for sharing Marcus's writerly tips and sage advice too - most inspiring! Now I want to go out and read his books!! Yay!!! Take care<br />x
My biggest question of course is : what did Marcus do to his lovely hair?
Yes, I liked that as well, Philippa. Just three details should set the tone and the character - brilliant!
Read them, Old Kitty, read them!
He'd actually scraped it all back into a cool and trendy pony tail
not really
Great post. Thanks so much for sharing. From an inveterate planner and magpie.
Thanks Addy - Marcus is always an inspiring speaker and I was sad to miss this, but you've made it all right with this super summary!
I read My Sword Hand is Singing while back, very dark and atmospheric. Just my kind of thing. It's interesting to hear how Marcus comes up with his ideas.
Really enjoyed reading this - thanks. He has such a range, hasn't he? From 'Midwinterblood' to 'Fright Forest', and a whole ton of others in between - amazing writer!
Thanks! I think Marcus'work is thoughtful and readable, a great combination.
Thanks, Carmel. It would have been good to see you there but I hope you'll be at Winchester this year?
A magpie and a planner - you have it all!
MSiS is one of my favourites and definitely the best title ever thought of, ever.