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Regular news and insight from our many poets, writers, educators and facilitators

22 March 2025

Posted by Susan L. Edser

Rehearsing

Ali Sparkes is a children’s author who leads writing sessions for Junior and Young Writers every Saturday morning at MAST Mayflower Studios. To learn more about her, visit her website: https://www.alisparkes.com and click on her profile: https://artfulscribe.co.uk/facilitators/ali-sparkes

Susan L. Edser, MA graduate in Creative Writing and Publishing and winner of Bournemouth University’s prestigious Vice Chancellor Award 2024, is Ali’s assistant and writes the weekly blog. To learn more about her, click on her profile: https://artfulscribe.co.uk/facilitators/susan-l-edser


The first half of today’s session focused on preparing for tomorrow's big event, ArtfulScribe’s Community Showcase. Once a year, all of ArtfulScribe’s participants get to perform their best work. Please click on the link for more information:

https://artfulscribe.co.uk/events/show/1685/artfulscribe-community-showcase-litfest-local-2025

Ali uploaded their chosen stories and poems to PowerPoint so that their words and support images would be displayed as they read aloud. They practised, and Ali timed to ensure everyone could read their favourite passages. Tomorrow, the Junior and Young Writers will begin with a Frankenstory, with the sections divided between them. We identified who wrote which part and practised these, too.

Once the planning was done, Ali shared an Easter-themed Fill in Fun, which told the story of Millie and Jason going on an Easter Egg hunt. Needless to say, the writers took the stories in their own special directions. The Junior Writers finished the session with a quick four-line poem, beginning with, ‘The egg on the floor…’

Ali ensured there was time to award the best writer of the week. In the Junior Writers group, Siya won the top prize for her poem and in the older group, there were joint winners: Ruhaan (for structure / the Leaning Tower of Pisa being made of pizza) and Chloe (‘Chloe for Mayor!’). Very well done Siya, Ruhaan and Chloe.

More importantly, the session concluded with everyone receiving two small chocolate eggs each. The writers went off merrily, ready to munch through the treats and to perform in front of their friends and family tomorrow. Good luck, everyone!

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