Procrastination-an art form

Today I was going to write. I had a plan. I was going to grab this new book by the throat and wrench words onto the page. So, suddenly I remembered I had very urgent emails to answer. They had been there since yesterday and it really wouldn't be polite to leave them unanswered.Would it? Emails answered, back to work. Selected the necessary pictures and began adding captions and writing text... with words. But then, a sudden call of nature.

The bathroom- crying out for a good old clean. You know it was! I could hardly leave without a quick wipe down with the Flash...and one thing leads to another... cleaning the shower plug (my least favourite job). Anyway ten minutes later a pristine shower and a de-haired plug-disgusting but strangely satisfying. Wash hands thoroughly. Pause to take in the view from the bedroom window and there's another ten minutes gone.

Back to work then. Hmm! One o' clock! Do I need some lunch? Maybe I should-wouldn't like to go too long without sustenance. Kettle on, sandwich made. Worktops lovingly cleaned. Not once, but twice. Have lunch. Clear the pots, wash them. One thirty-five.

Mobile beeping. Must be important. Answer messages. Check Facebook. Best check Twitter while I'm at it. Download more photographs. Tweet that I am procrastinating. Look at downloads. Need local history books. Mooch around the bookshelves. Find the books. Read through the references. Better ring Mum.

Pick up laptop. On a roll! Write two whole paragraphs and locate the matching pictures. Great progress... Ooops! Two forty-five. Leave to pick up grandson...

Ten-thirty pm resume writing... 

Procrastination IS the thief of time and I'm afraid I am a willing accomplice!

An ideal writing situation?

Sharing books, reading and reviewing

Wednesday 10 February
Just back from Lindal Primary School and feeling happy! The sun is shining, we read books and shared ideas, we made great reviews and I have set some tasks! I love positive days like today!

We looked at reviews of Out of Time on Amazon and decided which ones would most make us want to read them. It was fun reading what people wrote about the books and then we set to and wrote some of our own. Before I left I told the children about some of my favourite books from my childhood. I shared the first two chapters of "The Moon of Gomrath" by Alan Garner. As I suspected many of them were captivated with the story and I have left the book for Mr Proctor to continue reading. I am looking forward to seeing them again during Book Week.

The challenge I have set for these children is to design a poster to "sell" a book to a possible reader and convince them to read it.

Gargoyling about

Friday 5th February

Had a remarkable day with the whole of KS1 at Broughton CE Primary School today. We were focusing on my story "Guy the Grumpy Gargoyle" and we had lots of fun. Naturally we read and shared the book first and talked about what happened and then we went on to retell the story using the puppet characters which I haul around with me to schools. It was lovely to hear the conversations arising from this role play and afterwards the children made their own puppets with lolly sticks. We made a story map and captioned our illustrations and finally we created beautiful "Lost Gargoyle" posters to help us find Guy. This is just one visit to the KS1 class and I look forward to more soon.

Here's a challenge! Can you think of an alternative journey for Guy and his friends? Who might they meet on the way? Can you write and illustrate your own book to share?