In First News this week there is an article about the return of the actor Dani Harmer who played the very memorable Tracy Beaker – a character in the popular series written by Jacqueline Wilson. She is making a one-off appearance in the new series of The Dumping Ground as well as shadow directing an episode. When asked for her advice for someone who might be struggling with challenges faced when growing up she said:
“It’s so hard, especially now with social media, but communication is key.”
“If social media gets too much, there’s a delete button. The power’s yours.”
Here is the rest of the article…
Jacqueline Wilson books (she has written more than 100) continue to be popular with Year 7 students, including the Hetty Feather series which is set in the 1800s…
On the Penguin website, Jacqueline Wilson includes useful writing tips – some of which we have incorporated into Tuesday activities (Write a Children’s Book).
1. How to come up with ideas
“It’s the most frequently asked question: Where do you get your ideas from? Sometimes it can be something you see by chance. I saw a heavily tattooed woman with two small daughters in Central Park, and my own daughter Emma whispered that they looked like the sort of family I’d write about. That’s how I wrote The Illustrated Mum.”
“Another gift was seeing photographs of children in my local newspaper, all needing foster parents – this gave me the idea for The Story of Tracy Beaker. Just occasionally other people give me ideas – talk about the Director of the Foundling Museum asking if I’d ever considered writing a book about a foundling child – that’s how Hetty Feather sprang to life. Everyone gets their ideas in different ways.”
2. How to create characters
“I think the most important part of writing a story is getting to know your characters and making them seem real. “
“Did you ever have imaginary friends when you were little? It’s a similar process. Hold conversations with your characters in your head. Don’t just think about their looks, though I always like to give some idea what sort of hairstyle my girls and boys have, and what sort of clothes they wear. But mostly I care what they’re like inside.”
“Are they happy, sad, shy, cheeky, funny, naughty? What are their hobbies? What are their favourite television programmes? What’s their favourite food? Do they like school? What’s their best subject? How do they get on with their mum or dad and siblings? Do they have a best friend? Do they want a best friend?”
“Think it all through, jot things down. You probably won’t need to put half these things in your story but somehow it will help bring your characters alive on the page.”
Also on the Penguin website is a list of children’s books packed with Girl Power! They include My Mum Tracy Beaker and one of my favourite books – Northern Lights …
