Let me ask you a question. What went right today?
It’s a powerful question that makes you think about your day and prompts you to give it a positive shine. It can also be a great conversation starter.
On this edition of Just One More Book, author and songwriter Joan Buzick shares how her book What Went Right Today? can start a dialog with a child, the use of a refrain in both music and books to provide an anchor for a young reader and the role that Toastmasters has had on her writing.
Photo of Joan Buzick: wwrt.org
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So, I'm home and writing this in bed before the day starts and the phone begins to ring. Am expecting the jet lag this week to be pretty hellacious, as it was last time I did one of these "nip across the Atlantic for a few days" jaunts.
Let's see...
The screening for 50 People on Sunday night was nerve-wracking (these were not people chosen for their diplomatic abilities -- if they'd disliked it, I would have known) not least because this was the first time I'd seen something close to a finished cut.
I put up some links to reviews in the last entry. I've noticed a few more: Here's big hairy Mitch Benn on his myspace blog, for example.
Monday morning I had breakfast with Michael Chabon, who had also been to Hay and was staying in my hotel, and then it was interviews, from early in the morning -- mostly magazine pieces with long lead times, but also some TV and radio, most of which will come out in the UK in October when the film does. Lunch was on Rotten Tomatoes UK, and was recorded in a Japanese restaurant for a podcast which will mostly consist of chewing noises I expect.
The oddest moment of the day was being interviewed by the BBC for a BBC4 documentary on Fantasy. They did the interview in an old church in Paddington, in the crypt, and as the car pulled up I had one of those feelings of deja vu that only get when you really have been somewhere before. And as I went down into the crypt, I knew. "We filmed Neverwhere here!" I told the interviewer. "This was the Black Friars' place." I was being interviewed where Richard Mayhew was given his nice cup of tea, before the ordeal.
Then back to Soho for food -- Ten Ten Tai in Brewer Street, which is my favourite unpretentious little Japanese restaurant in London, and is also the nearest eating establishment to Paramount London, so when I'd eaten I walked around the corner and went downstairs and was interviewed by The Man at the Crossroads, Paul Gravett, and answered questions for people who'd just seen Stardust.
Dear Neil,
I was lucky enough to be at the Stardust screening in London on Monday where you also talked about the process of writing the original story, and about your involvement in the film.
I wanted to ask you how it feels to see your original idea filtered through so many different people - going from you, through (in some regards at least) Charles Vess illustrating it, and then through Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn in production of the film's script. How does this process change your feelings about & connection to that original idea - if at all?
You see, I really did want to be intelligent and to ask this on Monday. But I was so excited at seeing the film that my brain went a little bit gloopy and wouldn't work properly. So instead I asked about your dog.....
Lou M
The expression on Paul Gravett's face when he realised that the first audience question was "How's your dog" was a wonderful one.
You always fall short of the original idea. Sometimes you make something else on the way. But I feel like Stardust, especially the illustrated one, is very similar to the thing I set out to make in the first place.
The film is a film (and a really good one) which squeezes and pushes and slides in order to tell the story as a movie, and, I think, succeeds beyond my dreams. I think I must like collaborating.
Anyway yesterday Holly and flew home. My dog was happy to see me. Maddy and Holly and Holly's friend Sarah and I watched the first part of the Dr Who two parter (how could I not like an episode which begins on my minus forty-seventh birthday? And has a little girl holding a red balloon?). I had a fight with Holly and Sarah about not watching the next episode without us, of the dammit this is a communal family TV watching experience variety, which I suspect in retrospect I only won because they didn't know where the second half DVD was, so we'll watch that today. Lovely stuff, Paul Cornell should be justly proud. And an enormous relief after the last couple of episodes.
And then bed and, with my sleep schedule all mixed up, not much sleep at all. Oh well.
Hi Neil,
BBC Radio 3 is repeating the documentary on HP Lovecraft you contributed to -- Sunday 10th June at 20:00 BST.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/sundayfeature/pip/96knh/
Best wishes
Tom
Particularly good news as I missed it the first time.
Also, this coming Saturday the Times (the UK newspaper, which is just called the Times) will be publishing an article of me talking about H. G. Wells's short stories.
Which reminds me...
Why is your voice different when you're talking to some anonymous interviewer about Lovecraft from when you're talking to a con audience about Fragile Things? Your "I can't tell you why that is, other than that Lovecraft is Rock and Roll" voice is much lower than your "They're buying my books, just waiting to get sued" voice. Do you deliberately modulate the pitch of your voice to match the situation, or did you get your soul eaten along the way, rendering your voice higher for some unfathomable reason?
which just left me shaking my head in puzzlement. (Does your voice always sound the same, and not change with what you're talking about?)
I met Lynn Hacking from Final Draft at a trade show this weekend, and he told a very funny story about being caught between you and Roger Avery in an argument. So I have to ask: one space or two after the period?
You can actually tell from a script Roger and I have collaborated on, who wrote what, because I always put one space after a full stop, and he puts two. The reason you can tell now is because he has finally given up carefully going through anything I write and inserting that extra space, having given it up as a lost cause.
...
Friends of Amacker's (and those who worry) can follow her medical progress as they put her back together over at http://bullwinkle.org/amacker/, which is the blog her brother is keeping.
...
And I feel guilty I didn't mention this before, as some of the events have already happened, but go to http://www.wkrac.org/stardust/stardust.html to learn about the exhibition of Charles Vess Stardusty stuff at the William King Regional Arts Center "serving far Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee". They have amazing Charles Vess original art, along with the books I handwrote the story in and lots of other cool things.
Joan’s book is marvelous and I have enjoyed sharing it with children and adults! Joan has shared this message with countless childcare providers, causing them to ask “What went right?” They in turn have challenged children to look for the things that do go right each day. Thank you, Joan, for sharing this positive message with children and families! It has given them an important question to begin countless positive conversations for years to come!
I’ve known Joan for years. We both have been active in the local Director’s Group and Kenyon Chapter. When she told me about her book, What Went Right Today? I engaged her to present it to the children at my child care center. It was really well received by them and the teachers. I find that it is often in their weekly plans. I bought a copy for my grandchildren and we often talk about What Went Right Today? when we are together. This is a must-have book for families.
I work as a psychiatric social worker dealing with people who have many kinds of problems and emotional pain. Using Joan’s philosophy, which she teaches us in her delightful book, I try to direct people to “What Went Right Today?” so that they have a better perspective about their lives. Thus her message is not only for children but for all of us. For children, her book starts them on a path of the positive and points them in the direction of appreciating the daily gems of experience which many of us tend to overlook. It is a path which directs a life view towards the up side rather than getting stuck down in the muck and mire of life’s problems and difficulties. It is a blessing for all of us.
Great interview. We should all end every day by thinking about what went right today.
“What went right?”is very important because for most of listing everything that went wrong during the day is much easier than listing the positive things that happened.
Joan is an extraordinarily talented educator whose presence at any event enlivens everyone. She has shared her extraordinary talents with my college students for several semesters!
Joan’s book “What went right today!” Has been in my home for a long while. I was thrilled to read this book with my neice and nephew who enjoyed the illustrations as well as the idea and we sang the song together. I have been present when Joan has given her presentation about what went right today. Everyone leaves feeling uplifted and singing the song. I hope that Joan will have a new book and a new song to excite us all soon!
Joan is right on in her interview when she says young children love repetition and love to share their stories!
I am an elementary school teacher and have shared Joan’s book and CD with my students. They sing along every time I read it! When a question is asked on a page, almost every hand shoots up in the air with a story they can’t wait to share. Each day it’s a different story, too.
Finding WWRT in each student’s day is so important for a teacher. I’m so glad Joan has written a fun book that kids love to read that reinforces the positive things that happen in children’s lives.
Thanks, Joan!
I love Joan’s book What Went Right Today. It has a powerful message that our society can use so badly in this day and age. People I talk to about the book agree and the reaction of children, the most important part, is overwhelming positive.
You go, Joan! Wonderful!
“What Went Right Today” teaches a wonderful approach to everyday life for everyone!
Wonderful book, Joan! This book really brightens your day, and makes you think about all the wonderful things that happened. The more people who read this, the more positive thoughts they will have; I enjoyed reading this with my family.
What a wonderful concept for children and their families. You have done a great job Joan.
I bought “What Went Right Today” for my grandson, Gavin, who loves books. What a “Great” buy….We want our children to be and think positive and “What Went Right Today” is a great basic tool which teaches that, teaches it not only with words but with a very catchy tune children will love. Going thru this book contines to be fun!
Joan took her passion for What Went Right Today and made it a reality that has touched so many. It’s a wonderful message, book and song that I think of often. When she first shared WWRT at the
Women’s Entrepreneurial Network (WEN), her joy and excitement were contagious! I am so proud to see how Joan and WWRT are continuing to make a difference in the world.
Having a positive attitude towards the daily aspects of a persons life has tremendous benefits. Your interview stresses very well how focusing on What Went Right Today can change your life. Transitioning from a song to a book reveals how positive thinking and positive teamwork can produce very useful and harmonious achievments.
Focusing on the good things that happen to you clearly affects the way you think about your life and what you can achieve. You can even become a good speaker as revealed in the benefits you received from Toastmasters.
Keep up the Great work - You are definitely influencing many individuals and making a difference!!!