From Tails to Tales
Presented by author Andrew Bullerwww.andrewbuller.com @ABullerAuthor
Writing Workshop22 October 2015 1.30-4.30pm
Aims• The aims of the project
• The aims of today• The aims for the future
CreateEnable
Inspire
Our Writing Journey so far…• Brainstorming ideas• Exploring favourite theme• Emotions• Plotting - Beginning, middle, end• Story boarding• Target audience• Characters• Settings• Music• Illustrations• First draft
Brainstorming Ideas• The Blank Page• Anything goes• Everyone & every idea
valued• Themes emerge• Why animals?
Favourite ThemeThe Urban Fox – but why?• “We can identify with it”• Link with previous artwork• Freedom of animal voice
Becoming The Fox
Q: Why can our community relate to the urban fox so well?
Activity
Brainstorm:What emotions may
an urban fox feel?
Words – Emotion - Art
HelpVulnerableAloneNeedJusticeEqualityRespect
MisunderstoodMistreatedRoamingScavengingVictimisedAbused
Work by Ann Marie• Produced the first fox
print for Catching Lives map
• “The Fox’s new talents – my new talents”
• “Writing helps me make sense of things”
Plotting• Beginning, middle,
end• Conflicts & complications• Storyboard
Storyboard• Fox hunt
• Parents of fox killed• Fox rescued by dog
• Journey to Canterbury• Arrive at Greyfriars shed• Animals try to feed fox
• Fox close to death• Mother dog feeds fox• Hope of future for fox• Father figure revealed
Target audience• Children’s stories - series
• What age group?• Picture book/older
reader/both?• Determines language use,
amount description, how deal with death scenes
• Happy ending?
Characters & Characterisation
Fox - CentralWeasel - evil
Squirrel - nutty
Badger - dependable
Rat - greedy
Dog - fierce Dog - rescuer
Seagull - crazy
Character DevelopmentActivity
Describe your chosen
character
Pause - Food for thought
The writing always stops for food…
Human CharactersJust like us???!!
Where could we get our inspiration from?
Characters - Father Figure• Historical research• Overseer of animals
• Links with Canterbury• 2 main contenders –
John Peckham & Dick Sheppard
John Peckham (1230-1292)• Archbishop of
Canterbury• Franciscan friar
Dick Sheppard (1880-1937)• Dean of Canterbury• Work with homeless in
London• Peace Pledge Union
Characters - Female villain• Cruella de Vil type
character• Brainstorming characteristics &
potential plot lines/back story
Character ideas:Angular, rigid, sharp, stick-like, piercing voice, cunning, softly sinister, sly grin, whistle through gap in teeth (filled with gold), aggressive, happy whenever killing, love of fur, bling, corset bursting figure, long black boots
Characters – Mad BishopHunchback “Bishop O’Keefe with the mouldy
teeth”
Getting into role
Activity
Female villain or mad Bishop
Fox’s Journey – Walk in Our Shoes• Story locations linked to walk
• Important places to homeless community• Emotions
On Location - GreyfriarsIn search of the animal’s
shed – representing Catching Lives
Period of time setKeith “The Knowledge” – story could be set in:
• Middle Ages - 1066-1485 – Leper Hospital
• Oliver Cromwell – 1600s – riots in Canterbury
• Victorian – 1800s
• Modern day
Thinking FutureActivity
Future FoxFuture Canterbury
Future HomelessnessFuture solutions
Illustrations• Encourage many to be involved in illustrations• Brett – cover designer for Walk in Our Shoes
document
Harbledown’s Wall
Poetry
Music on the streets• John & Richard
• Writing – poetry - lyrics
Story soundtrack - Nicky• Musical talent & purpose
• Piece appropriate for fox hunt• New ideas buzzing
• Draw in others
Soundcloud – Nickershttps://soundcloud.com/nickers-1
Musical MoodsActivity
Describe your musical piece to accompany part of the story
The story so far…
Harbledown Hope
To come…
• Complete the story & illustrate
• More books – Harbledown’s series
• Anthology
Where next for Harbledown?Activity
Brainstorm ideas for further stories for Harbledown.
Remaining focused• The aims of the project
• The aims of today• The aims for the future
CreateEnable
Inspire