by Sylvia McNicoll | Mar 5, 2010 | Sylvia McNicoll
Wednesday I took some of my favourite people to see Disney on Ice–these were complimentary passes from my employer Rogers–I’m the features editor for Today’s Parent Toronto. Also we needed to squeeze in a restaurant review, called Whine and Dine in the magazine.
Last minute I discovered Arriba which overlooks the interior of the SkyDome or the Rogers Centre. Here’s my two grandsons enjoying each other’s company as well as the view.
I will admit going on an event you have to write about is a bit stressful. Not because of the writing, I can think it out on paper pretty quickly when I have to–but because I worry things will go wrong especially when there’s only one go through. For example, Arriba staff said they were open at five where the website said 6:30. If it had of only opened that late we couldn’t have made the 7:00 show. Also Hunter had a stomach ache in the morning. You never know if
that would have turned into something more serious later.
As it was it went away and he ate well.
Mostly, I worry that the kids will have a meltdown. Magazine experiences tend to be manic.
You have to squeeze everything in quickly so you can write about it …quickly.
But we all had a great time. Okay I’ll post one photo of the show since blogging is considered personal use.
by Sylvia McNicoll | Mar 5, 2010 | Sylvia McNicoll
You think that it would be a relief to type “The End” when you’re done a book. First of all many writers don’t even do that–they type “-30-” some old-fashioned printer’s code to signal not to look further for more text to print.
Instead, I , and many other writers I’ve spoken to about this, get depressed. My process is to write as quickly as I can, much the way I read. I gobble up stories when I read, I spit out first drafts when I write. Then I have to decide whether I’ve shaped it correctly. Off it goes to fellow writers whose job it is not to applaud–although we can all use a lot of that–but to pick it apart before an acquisitions editor can. I think it’s the next leg of the journey that depresses me. The knowledge that there will be a whole bunch of flaws in my baby that I have to “correct”.
Really, though, it’s more like adding a second and third coat of paint. I splash down a first draft and the reader can’t see the colour that well until I add a second and third coat.
Anyhow, for this book, I feel pretty good. Thanks to the five classes I visited this year:
(two at) Canadian Martyr, Alexander Public, Brant Hills. The students were so hooked from the first reading, I felt inspired to continue. It also helps that my Norwegian publisher liked the first three chapters and outline.
by Sylvia McNicoll | Feb 27, 2010 | Sylvia McNicoll
I can’t remember having a better time than at this years CANSCAIP Launch. So many different approaches. Some read–authors read beautifully. Some sang–yes authors sing beautifully. Ted Staunton played
a mean banjo and had the audience clucking and wiggling in their chairs like chickens laying eggs. Spring showed up in full costume and promises to return later. Some of the authors dressed up in crazy hats to help demonstrate Kari-Lynn Winter’s book–all the while I was timing. So much fun watching them try to beat the clock. Next year it might be nice if we didn’t launch on a blizzard day and if more librarians showed up to enjoy the wonderful performance.
by Sylvia McNicoll | Feb 26, 2010 | Sylvia McNicoll
Here they are hard at work, creating stories about some strange stuffed animals, most of whom want to go for the gold at the Olympics. I love the Artist in Education Week,( it gives me much more of a closer and longer contact with my readers than an author visit) and it was especially fun at BrierPark School because the teachers and principal understood how much creative writing can contribute to their curriculum. It’s often difficult to convince educators, despite the literacy push, that giving up half a day to writing stories with a professional author can enrich, empower as well as educate the students. If they can reason through the peaks and valleys of a story, thinking about how stuffed crocodiles can practise shotput let’s just say, they will increase their powers of critical thinking for all subjects and for the real problems in their life. And along the way, they’ll also learn some writing technique, practise their computer skills and sure, improve their spelling. 
by Sylvia McNicoll | Feb 18, 2010 | Sylvia McNicoll
Forgot to charge and bring my camera or there would be a photo here of some outstanding actors delivering the great lines they wrote today. Two grade five and one grade six class write with me in the morning and in the afternoon. It’s already day three of this Ontario Artist in Education sponsored week. Day three is always dialogue one of my favourite activities. I pair the young writers and they collaborate on one of three scenarios involving (usually) a young person trying to talk an adult into something.
It’s interesting how the parents respond. In these skits they always seem to cave in and the young person wins. Is this wishful thinking or do all adults allow their kids to have dragons and aliens as pets?
by Sylvia McNicoll | Feb 15, 2010 | Sylvia McNicoll
Jade only has a week to live or really a week to relive of her previous life. Except she changes everything by committing to a list, essentially a bucket list. On it is skydiving which you can’t do unless you’re 18 and she’s 14. So she goes indoor skydiving at Niagara Falls instead. Yes you have to be 18 to try it without a parent present but even a 7 year old can do it with her parents there. I figure it’s easier to get by the rules with someone else’s ID
than it would be actually jumping from an airplane. After the “skydive”, Aiden, the boy who will ultimately kill her, suggests the SkyRide.
Well you can research blogs and study advertisement on the ride all you want, you’re never going to feel the experience unless you do it. I would ordinarily never go on the SkyRide because I would expect to feel nauseous. But because of Jade’s list, I went on and it was lovely. Not scary, just a very slow turn up in the sky which gives you yet another view of The Falls.
After the SkyRide, I think I will try the ferris wheel on Centre Island too.
Next Jade’s dad will give her a surprise ride on a hotair balloon. It’s winter, there’s no way I can try it. I’m waiting for a friend to tell me all about her experience this year trying it.
I will admit going on an event you have to write about is a bit stressful. Not because of the writing, I can think it out on paper pretty quickly when I have to–but because I worry things will go wrong especially when there’s only one go through. For example, Arriba staff said they were open at five where the website said 6:30. If it had of only opened that late we couldn’t have made the 7:00 show. Also Hunter had a stomach ache in the morning. You never know if 
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