PHILLIP W SIMPSON
  • Home
  • About
  • NOVELS
    • Minotaur
    • Argos
    • Titan
    • Earthborn
    • Rapture Trilogy >
      • Rapture - Rapture Trilogy #1
      • Tribulation - Rapture Trilogy #2
      • Apocalypse - Rapture Trilogy #3
      • Rapture graphic novel
    • The Unseen Country
    • Overdrive
  • Children
    • The Smallest Trolley Racer
    • Over the Rainbow Bridge
    • Chapter Books
    • Teacher resources >
      • Multiple intelligences
      • Writing resources for teachers
      • Educational Series, Articles and Short Stories
  • Workshops
  • Shop
  • Press kit
  • Blog
  • Contact

Reflections on Touring Schools

8/27/2012

4 Comments

 
I’m now in the last week of the Wordsmiths tour of schools with cookbook writer Alessandra Zecchini and comic book writer Johnny-Angel. This is part of the Going West Books and Writers festival which is a touring programme that takes writers into Auckland intermediate and secondary schools. The goal is to engage with and inspire students, talk about the writing process and our various paths to publication.

So far we’ve visited the following schools:

Monday 13th August: Blockhouse Bay Intermediate
Tuesday 14th August: Bruce McLaren Intermediate
Wednesday 15th August: Te Atatu Intermediate
Tuesday 21st August: Rutherford High
Wednesday 22nd August: Kelston Girls College
Tuesday 28th August: St Dominics College

Over the course of the next two days, we have a busy schedule of four more schools:

Wednesday 29th August: Massey High and Glen Eden Intermediate
Thursday 30th August: Henderson Intermediate and Kelston boys High

I’ve loved doing this. At first, I was a bit nervous, especially given that our first visit was in front of 900 children. Authors are a funny breed – most of us aren’t really into self-promotion. It’s all very well to tuck yourself behind your desk and furiously write but actually talk to people face to face – well. Let’s just say I wasn’t the best. I’ve got better though. That’s the thing with practice. It’s like anything – the more you do something the better at it you get.

The thing is, after the first couple of schools, I really found myself getting into it. I am, after all, talking about a person and books that I know something about i.e. myself and my works. I’ve really enjoyed engaging with the audience and reaching my target audience. It’s nice to think that I am making even more of a difference than I’d do normally in my everyday teaching life. The Rapture Trilogy targets this age group so this exposure isn’t something I’d normally get teaching 7-8 year olds.

I’m passionate about literacy and writing. I like to think that passion is contagious. All three of us talk about the purpose of writing. Not every one of these young adults will become an author but I want them to see that all writing has a purpose. Being able to write helps in so many ways, in so many careers. Hopefully, some of them will be inspired to keep reading and keep writing. As I stress so often – practice, practice, practice. My first novel wasn’t much chop but I’ve got better. Why? Because I read a lot and I write a lot. I’ve learnt from my mistakes and I’ve grown as a writer because of it. Even if I only reach a small fraction of my audience, I still count that as a success. 

4 Comments
handmade candles link
8/27/2012 11:05:45 pm

A more deeper and staged knowledge would be good for me.

Reply
free mp3 downloads link
9/28/2012 01:38:13 am

Thank you very much for this usefull information! I really understand the topic now!

Reply
usenet newsgroups link
11/11/2012 04:32:28 am

Really intersting article! I will surely share it with my friends.

Reply
Cheque bounce case Lawyers in Chennai link
12/18/2021 04:50:56 am

We are Best Lawyers for Cheque bounce cases in Chennai— Find the best lawyers for Cheque bounce cases in Chennai at this instant.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Phillip W. Simpson

    Picture
    Phillip W. Simpson is an author of  YA and children's books.

    Archives

    May 2019
    March 2019
    March 2017
    November 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011

    Picture

    RSS Feed

HOME
ABOUT
CHILDREN
-  The Smallest Trolley Racer
-  Over The Rainbow Bridge
-  Chapter Books
-  Early Readers
  -  Educational Resources for Teachers
  -  Writing for Student's
  -  Educational Series, Articles and Short Stories
WORKSHOPS
SHOP
PRESS KIT
BLOG
CONTACT
NOVELS
-  Minotaur
-  Argos
-  Titan
-  Rapture Trilogy
   -  Rapture
   -  Tribulation
   -  Apocalypse
   -  Rapture Graphic Novel
-  The Unseen Country
-  Overdrive
Phillip W. Simpson
YA author and education writer

Get in touch

Phillip W. Simpson  -  Copyright 2018  -  All Rights Reserved
Website by My Virtual Assistant
  • Home
  • About
  • NOVELS
    • Minotaur
    • Argos
    • Titan
    • Earthborn
    • Rapture Trilogy >
      • Rapture - Rapture Trilogy #1
      • Tribulation - Rapture Trilogy #2
      • Apocalypse - Rapture Trilogy #3
      • Rapture graphic novel
    • The Unseen Country
    • Overdrive
  • Children
    • The Smallest Trolley Racer
    • Over the Rainbow Bridge
    • Chapter Books
    • Teacher resources >
      • Multiple intelligences
      • Writing resources for teachers
      • Educational Series, Articles and Short Stories
  • Workshops
  • Shop
  • Press kit
  • Blog
  • Contact