Good luck with it! It's fun stuff to think about.

Emma

When it comes to oddballs, I reckon being a tekkie trumps most things. People have been known to talk about putting anoraks on around some of the people I've worked with.


Alex

Lately, I've been experimenting with blogging:

Everyone Else Has A Blog

SK

Love your blog, SK - it's great! Very witty. I'm on the same blog network as you at:

http://annebrooke.blogspot.com

)

A
xxx

In case anyone is interested, I've added a feature to my website (http://www.alexhazel.me.uk) to enable readers to subscribe to an email newsletter.

I don't know when I will send out the first issue of the newsletter (I need someone to subscribe, first!), or how often I will produce one. This is a somewhat experimental idea at the moment, so much will depend on demand.


Alex

I now have a blog as well as web site:

Link to Blog

Well it's been a while since this was last viewable on the Forum page so I thought I'd give it a bump..

May as well add that as well as my website I also have a blog.

Hope everyone's keeping well.

Nik.

PS and if anyone wants me to link from mine to theirs (and vica verca (Sp?) ) then just give me a shout.

There's just a placeholder at the mo, and a little illustration, but I've registered thedevilsprayer.co.uk

I'm avoiding blogs because I still don't get them.

Nik - how did you get into the school workshop visit thing? Did it start before you were published?

Nik, I'd forgotten about this, so thank you for bumping it up. I feel that there are quite a lot of new members since it was last visible.

Emma

Looks good, Colin. Yes I did get into workshops before I was published (there's still a week or so till my debut's released) but not before I had a book coming out. In my experience and from speaking with teacher and head types (I kinda know one of the top bods for primaries in the nw)who've all said that unless you're proven, meaning you've book(s) to your name, or (in my case) you have one coming out, then they don't want to know, and I can see why. Why would they? Even now, after doing workshops regularly for a good period of time - with excellent feedback and a good reputation, I might add (with trumpet to lips) - all over the district there are still loads and loads of schools (and a couple of libraries) who don't want to know - not just me - they just don't seem interested in authors in general.


That's the school/library route. Of course there's nothing stopping you setting up something yourself at a local venue. You may have to hire the place out but if you get enough children enrolling then it should cover costs. I suppose the risk is (and I don't want to sound like I'm peeing on your parade) whether the parents see you as qualified to teach their children, if you see what I mean. They, as I'm sure you can understand, need to feel it's going to be worth while before they get their chequebooks out.

Did you not mention a little while ago something about becoming a classroom assistant? I think that'd be a great way in because once you're there and they see you're 'good with the kids' then they may be more open to you running a workshop (of after school/lunchtime) book/reading/writing club. It's a good start - and at least you'll be known by the time your book comes out (which, I'm sure, we've all got out fingers crossed for).

The only other advice I can think to give you at this stage is don't underestimate how much hard work leading workshops is. There's one hell of a lot of planning (in which time you're not writing, researching, editing, submitting, yap, yap, yap) but the actual doing it is possibly the most tiring thing I've ever done. Seriously.

But, after all that, I'd encourage anyone who loves working with children to go for it. As long as you've got the patience and the stamina it can be (cliche alert) pretty much the best job in the world.

If you, or anyone else, have any questions, feel free to give me a shout.

Hope that's helped.

Nik.

Sorry, Colin - just had another sneaky look at your D's P site - have you found a publisher? If so congrats. Bit slow on the uptake at times, me - sorry!

Nik, do you have any experience with the National Association of Writers in Education, NAWE? As I understand it, they're a place to keep up with what's going on. And they also sell the insurance you need, and so on. And Book Trust is heavily into placing writers in schools and explaining why they're a Good Thing to schools who don't understand, so they might be worth getting in touch with in due course, Colin.

Emma

Hi Emma (congrats on the Goss nomination!!!!!!!!)

The NAWE, from my experience, have been bloody hopeless. Wordpool are good as well.

Nik.

just had another sneaky look at your D's P site - have you found a publisher?

No, but once I got an agent interested I registered the domain, which is something she would have advised anyway.

Sorry - I'll take the congrats back - for now.

That info (I spent a good chunk of time typing for you) any good?

Nik.