Plotting Eddie Pipper

Eddie Pipper is a chapter book for children 7+, published by New Frontier.

Eddie desperately wants a penguin as a pet, but big problems arise when he tries to get one.

Here was the question put to me by another author:

I was wondering about your Eddie Pipper book? Would you say that you planned out the whole story before writing it or did you plan some and then other parts fell into place?

Here's my answer:

I did start the story with a premise: a boy wanted a penguin for a pet. (based on a comment from my grandson)

Because the brief asked specifically for humour (and kids love it and I like writing it, though it's hard at times!) I knew that Eddie had to be all consumed. That everything had to spin off this obsession of getting a penguin. The way he saw things, interpreted things and his motivation in all things had to spring from this source.

In the prelim work, I interviewed Eddie. I wrote down questions and then wrote down what I imagined he said. Also, apart from his penguin obsession, I gave him a 'fault'; that is, 'forgetting'.

So after I had a character with a strong, all-consuming goal and a fault to provide problems, and exploring some further inroads into his character and family set-up by means of interviews, I began to jot down any little scenarios which I thought could provide humour ie: leaving his little sister, dressed as a penguin, in a wading pool full of iceblocks.

Once I had an idea of how it could begin, I did some rough notes of what could happen in future chapters. At that stage I didn't know quite how it would end, but when I bounced the idea off Eddie finding a dog (or rather, a dog finding Eddie) to my grandson, he thought that would be okay,  hence I began to work towards that.

I used several incidents remembered from real life: ie. when little, a girlfriend of mine actually did wander home late, having forgotten it was her birthday and there was a party waiting for her at home.

I took it slowly, using an exercise book to jot down notes, ideas, future chapters etc. as I went along.

So, the whole plot was not cut-and-dried to begin with,  but I did have building blocks in place, so I didn't veer off the rails too much, but allowed time and new ideas to germinate or discard as I went along.

A couple of other points. At first the boy's name was Archie. But then I decided he needed a name to rhyme with flipper and I chose Pipper. And I thought Eddie sounded stronger than Archie in that instance.

The other point was a little bit of serendipity. That is when I discovered, by doodling, that you could create a penguin by adding lines to the number 9. That got me excited! That's when I decided Eddie was going to have a birthday – which led me to thinking about him missing the party and in fact, missing out what he'd wanted all along. The hard thing was how to marry the idea of conservationism and a boy's yearning so they came to some satisfactory, but realistic scenario at the end.

Hope that helps.

-0-

 

Lucky Saxon. Dads, babies and books

Lucky Saxon.

Here's Saxon Parker O'Brien. My brand new baby grandson. Two hours old here.
Four days later, Troy, his lovely new dad, is reading nursery rhymes to his little boy.

I was so proud of him.

I hope he knows what a wonderful, enriching experience that will be for his son and how that will help develop his love of reading in the future.

Lucky Saxon.

Open Spaces Retreat for Picture Book Creators

Whenever I meet a new group of picture book creators, it always strikes me how much talent we have in Australia.

A recent four-day retreat at Sydney’s Hughenden Boutique Hotel, set up by Laurine Croasdale and the ASA, brought me in contact with old friends and new; a group mainly comprising of artists and illustrators, a smaller number of illustrator/writers and those, like me, who are writers (but love to play with art materials!!)

We collaborated and discussed our work, projects, shared ideas in technology, pored over stunning books which Ann James from Books Illustrated had brought along, played with a variety of art materials offered by Micador and enjoyed a book launch. 

Highlights included a talk by Tohby Riddle about his new, amazing book, Unforgotten; a visit to Brett Whitely’s studio: a workshop with Bruce Whatley on Creating with the Non-Dominant hand; a stroll along the coastline from Bronte to Bondi, enjoying the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition, a picnic at Kiribilli in a beautiful garden/park created by Wendy Whitely, Brett Whitely’s ex-wife. While there, we shared creativity exercises.

We also visited the Dr Seuss Gallery and were also fortunate that, on two occasions, artist/illustrator Lisa Stewart played the violin for us.

Now I need a retreat to think about everything we experienced!

Ann James showing background of a mud picture for our forthcoming picture book, I'm a Dirty Dinosaur, due out April, 2013

Me, enjoying the coastal walk and sculptures. A silvery day.

Bruce Whatley posing for the group.

My attempt with my dominant hand.

My second attempt with non-dominant hand. (much freer and livelier, I think!)

'The nook' - one of the lovely rooms in the hotel.

Me, outside Brett Whitely's studio.

Absorbed in playing with art materials

One of my favourite sculptures in the Sculpture by the Sea Exhibition.
Called The Arrival.

Liz directing a creativity exercise in the park overlooking the harbour.

Ann James and Laurine Croasdale listening to violin playing.

Penguins and Eddie Pipper's Perseverance

I love the act of creating.

It is the most exhilarating, frustrating and wondrous thing in my opinion. So when I was asked by the publisher of New Frontier if I would like to submit a story for their new series called Little Rockets, I agreed. The stories were to be for children 7 years and upwards.

Then came the big question. What am I going to write?

Around that time my grandson was talking about penguins. I’d love one of my own, he said.

And there it was. The zing point of my story!

So came a boy called Eddie Pipper (rhymes with flipper!). I had his goal, his want or desire, but what was his flaw?

Well, Eddie FORGETS.

He forgets he’s put his little sister, dressed as a penguin, in a wading pool full of icecubes. He forgets he’s told her to stay there until he comes back with a nice fish or two.

Forgetting leads to trouble.

So, does Eddie get his penguin? Or does he have to make do with the papier-mâché model he’s making?

Hmmm. I wonder what happens?

Reading - and The Reading Hour

Spent a LOVELY hour last Saturday as part of THE READING HOUR; a celebration of reading in The National Year of Reading. I not only met several wonderful coordinators of Kumon, but listened to children, a teenager and a verse-maker/poet, Mike Lucas, read works to an appreciative audience. They relaxed on chairs, cushions or on the floor in the bright, cheery Woodcroft Library, south of Adelaide, SA. 

It was like a big, cosy lounge room on a somewhat wet, dreary day. Perfect for reading indoors!

I chose to read my picture book, Where does Thursday go?  to the group. After the readings there was a book raffle and light, healthy refreshments.

Mike Lucas and me with our Reading Hour certificates.

Altogether, a wonderful time! 

Nameless - the poem

How's this for a special moment?

I was talking to a group of Yr 3/4/5's at a school recently and read one of my poems called Nameless. (published by The School Magazine and illustrated by Noela Young)

I'd written it while travelling in northern Western Australia, having been struck with how sad it was to call a mountain, Mount Nameless. After reading further information I decided to write a poem about its naming, and its Aboriginal roots.

So back to the class. After reading the poem, we spoke about it and then one boy said he'd only just returned from a holiday and had also seen Mount Nameless.

I asked him if he'd like to come up and read the poem with me.

He did and we read it together. There was a palpable hush in the room.

                      That moment was as special as the moment I knew I'd completed the poem.

                       

re-printing and recycling

Nothing beats having an out-of-print book being given a second chance!

So I'm delighted that one of my favourite stories, Party Time! (Aussie Nibble) is now part of a collection re-published by Penguin and entitled My Best Book of Nibbles - 5 Great Stories for Girls. The other four stories and authors are:
 Julia Lawrinson (the Girl who Fell into a Book), Ursula Dubosarsky ( The Magic Wand), Jane Godwin (When Anna Slept Over)  and Raewyn Caisley (The Mermaid's Tail).

Also Hoosh! Camels in Australia is up and running again! A CBCA Honour award-winning book, it is  packed full of camel facts, but also much space is given to the vital importance camels played in the early development of the Australian outback. So it's full of history too. Plenty of photos. Great resource for the new National Curriculum!
Books can be purchased from me either through PAYPAL on my website: www.janeenbrian.com - or contact me by email: janeen@janeenbrian.com or phone: (08) 82945703 . ($20 plus $6.95 package and posting in Australia)

What do you recycle? I love to recycle whenever I can.
Here's a stack of seven, stripy scarves  I knitted using scraps of wool bought from Op-shops! I had pleasure taking them to Anglicare yesterday as part of their Winter Warmth Appeal.