Visiting Author and Graland Alumna Shares Writing Tips
Middle School students enjoyed a visit from Graland alumna Polly Holyoke '74 as the author made the most of her time with students this week with three separate and different presentations centered around the topic of writing.
Middle School students enjoyed a visit from Graland alumna Polly Holyoke '74 as the author made the most of her time with students this week with three separate and different presentations centered around the topic of writing.
On Wednesday, she met with 14 eighth graders in the Creative Writing Club to discuss her methods, inspirations and secrets to becoming a good writer. "Write the kind of fiction you like to read," she advises.
In envisioning a new world, or world building, authors need to make the concepts plausible, Polly says. Think about how and where the characters live, what challenges they face, and so forth. In Polly's book, The Neptune Project, teenagers are genetically altered to survive under the sea in a future dystopian society.
Later on Wednesday, Polly talked at a Middle School assembly about how to become a good writer.
1. Read. Reading will enhance your vocabulary and expand your mind.
2. Write. Writers ask themselves "what if" questions to develop storylines and plots. You can journal or blog to get your ideas out.
3. Unplug and daydream. Spend at least 20 minutes a day letting your mind wander without distractions. Jot down interesting thoughts and ask, "What if?"
Once you have an idea you want to pursue, the next step is to do your research: read books about your topic, interview experts and have relevant experiences. For example, if your book is set in Kansas, visit the area to get first hand knowledge for your story.
After the original draft is complete, you'll revise it several times with the help of editors. Polishing the story for publication can take months or even years.
Polly returns March 20 to present a writing workshop called, "Let's Get Creative and Specific," to fifth graders. Her second book in the Neptune series will be released in May, and she hopes to start work on the third and final installment this year.
Graland values the role of alumni in sharing their experiences with current students. If you know a former student with a story to tell, contact Kristin Eklund '88 Weber, director of alumni relations.
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
