by Addy Farmer
You know how it is. The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry rings you up (again) and says please can you come and do your spellbinding session on muggle stories.
They'll pay a hefty 1000 galleons, a complimentary set of Gryffindor robes and as many packets of Hob Nobs as a house elf can carry.
No?
Well, maybe you arrive un-noticed at a school and find that you're
For a few years, I’ve written a short animal story for a seasonal anthology. The first few were for Winter anthologies for the Christmas market but this year a Spring anthology is being published: The Little Bunny. The cover is perfectly suited for the likely audience, and it's definitely not gritty urban ranting or farting pants gags.
I must admit I do enjoy writing these stories, although the work doesn’t bring much money or great personal acclaim. It’s not even “my” title. My name is shown as part of Amazon's product details.
On the other hand, it’s fun reading through the authors listed on the back cover and discovering which other writer friends have been sharing the story-making task.
The tales are good for the spirit too, especially when one is battling with a longer book or other troubles. Also, despite the “sweetness” of the subject matter, the editors are briskly helpful and precise - in the kindest way of course - which is good for all of one’s writing.
The editors are always reasonable, too. I have been asked to change names so the collection doesn’t end up with more than one Mollie. I have been nudged gently so that a similar plot device doesn’t appear twice in such a short set of tales. That’s fine by me. Writer for Hire.
Once or twice I've received slightly concerned emails about “my animal facts” versus “your animal facts”. As long as I had my own evidence, there was never any problem. It's quite comforting to know the editors do consider the factual basis of the animal stories, no matter what touches of story fantasy were added.
But there is one thing about this work that is most odd.
The anthologies, like editions of Vogue, are written well before their season. So, last year, when the ground outside was thick with December’s ice and snow, my head was full of a story about sunshine and blue skies and blossom and daffodils.
Now, as the gardens green and fill with flowers, I have been deep in a tale about a poor little creature lost amid biting wind and freezing snow. It will probably come back to me for revision work in the sweltering heat of mid-July.
When my head is in these stories, that world is almost real to me. I “feel” the weather and the temperature, but the contrast between “in here” and “out there” can be giddy-making when I'm suddenly called back to real date matters.
Maybe that’s the reasons I’m never quite sure what the day today actually is, or which season we’re living in, Officer.
So what’s the weather in your head?
Penny Dolan
www.pennydolan.com
Out now: A Boy Called M.O.U.S.E (Bloomsbury)
Imagine, somewhere, a play on a stage. It may not have been the success hoped for. The people – the actors, the director, the playwright, the producer, the backstage crew and more - can all blame each other, as well as the media. Same for films, other than more names to blame.
Now think about the book and its author. It may not have been entirely the success everyone hoped for. True, there are things like fonts and layouts and covers to grumble about - and how - but it’s the author’s own words that appear naked on the page.
Once a book is done, an author can’t say, “Well, that character really messed up that scene, didn’t they?” Or “Who the hell put that set together?” Or “It’ll probably settle down by the end of the week.”
So when an Ordinary Author starts to feel their beloved book-baby has turned into the most unlisted, un-nominated, un-awarded, un-read title around, they’ll also feel it’s partly their fault. They held up their words for all the world to see, didn’t they? They raised their own particular voice. The author stands out there alone on the wide white page. “It’s all me, me, me!” has a different feel when one’s own words appear on the line.
No wonder Ordinary Authors act needy or easily hurt at times. No wonder some have mightily tetchy days, weeks or months. No wonder that they only recall the unfavourable phrase in a review, or the space where the third-fourth-fifth star should have been.
Nor should it be a great surprise that – just sometimes – Ordinary Authors feel scraped raw sidling past rows of bookshop shelves where their work is not available. Even the slightest jealousy makes for hot iron shoes, not soft comfy slippers. All that’s there – or not – is the Ordinary Author and the book what they wrote.
So, with World Book Day Week coming up, if you have an Ordinary Author booked into your school and all the usual admin is in hand, here are a few thoughts on how to welcome your visiting author, and get a better visit because of it. You probably know all this already, but just in case . . .
Ordinary Author’s Work. Do get hold of a copy or more of the author’s books before the very day. Try and read at least some of the book aloud to the classes. Don’t just hold up the cover in assembly. Authors get used to talking in schools where the children know nothing about their books, but it makes the task that much tougher.
Ordinary Author’s Book Sale – Yes! Please do organise a sale of the author’s books, preferably through your local children’s bookshop, supplier or publisher. Promote the fact their books will be on sale. Collect in orders beforehand so the author can sign the books while they are there. Why is this important? Book sales don’t bring authors great riches. They don’t end up with bags of gold, honest. Each sale brings around 5% of the cover price or less, which probably goes to paying off an advance, but sales tell publishers that their author’s books are worth printing and reading. Surely you wouldn’t have asked the author in if it wasn’t so? In the current climate, those sales might make a publishers take a future title instead of cutting your author abruptly adrift.
Other Author Book Sales – No! Please don’t have your Ordinary Authors book sale in the same fortnight as those huge “Book Fair” crates, even if you use the money to support the visit. What do you think it feels like having the books you’ve just been talking about run fifth place to the reams of semi-remaindered authors, television tie-ins, glittery pen sets and pink pop-star diaries? Fair or unfair?
Ordinary Author Displays. Not essential but nice. Put up a display somewhere about your visiting author. It’s far easier if you know their work and have looked at their website. Believe m
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I love the comment about entertaining not teaching. Author visits should be about energizing and inspiring. After a good author visit, we see the children suddenly leap forward in their written work, and it's because very often the visit is what helps them suddenly see the point and joy of it all. And if it's a REALLY good visist the effects will carry them through the year.<br /><br />
... authors will do anything for cake!
What if I were a genuine hewed out of stone troll? <br />Anyway - worthwhile post. As a teacher turned writer ( think poachers and gamekeepers) great author visits are an absolute highlight for most children.<br />You need to be yourself , be prepared and be enthusiastic. Leave the shameless self-promotion behind and gag the inner editor/critic. You'll have a great time - and if the staff
p.s. in my experience, authors will do anything for jam doughnuts
That comment about entertaining, not teaching: in a different context, that is how I approach the Chatterbooks groups I run. They've been in school all day already: coming to the library should be all about fun. In fact, they have so much fun I have trouble making them leave at the end. And most of them leave with an armload of books.
CAKE! and white wine.
Not sure the Society of Authors would approve of these rates, Candy
... and sweet and sour pork hong kong style.
I definitely think you're there to inspire the children generally but hopefully the teachers too. I still remember a local poet (Gillian Allnutt) who came in and worked with my class over a few sessions. She left me with so many ideas to pass on to other members of staff. And, she was worth every penny - we had a parents evening based on her visit, made and sold a poetry book of all the
Great post! So true that author visits are a varied experience. I've had a range of experiences so far and haven't been doing them long. I agree that you're not there to teach, but to let them in on the process of writing and meeting a writer. It enhances the curriculum and often teachers ask me to emphasis what they've been teaching as the kids will hear it better from the author
I absolutely believe that inspirational is the way to be. There's such a difference between being a teacher (I supply teach) and a visiting writer. I find it freeing and fun - i can only hope the children do as well.<br /> <br />I think biscuit/cake requirements should be part of any writer database. For the record I'm partial to custard creams.
I must admit the words school and visit in the same sentence gives me the heebie jeebies. But stick a bottle of wine in there, it makes me feel a bit better (as long as I get to drink it just before the visit)
Would it be incredibly rude to specify white wine on my school visits page? i don't drink red!