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Friday, March 23, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER 27 Author' s conference gets kids hooked on reading and writing By Christina Chabot SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER he fluorescent green banner that stretched across the wall of Linbrook Public School's gymnasium read, "Richard Scrimger Talks About Writing" in bold block letters. But the laughing faces and stretching arms of Scrim ger's junior class were not typical reactions to lectures on writing techniques. "I want you all to write something true that hap pened to yourself and how it made you feel," Scrimger encouraged, pacing through the crowd of 60 budding authors, aged 8 to 10. "Good fiction starts with how you feel." W hen the 43-year-old father of four asked for volunteers to read out their stories, heads and hands shot up. Scrimger acted as narrator, poking gentle jokes. The author's workshop was just one in the Young A uthor's Confer T ence, held all day Wednesday at Linbrook Public School. Each o f the 350 students chose a workshop to attend, covering topics from The A rt o f Story Telling to Writing that Sells. Students spent the morning and afternoon with a speaker, learning basics such as plot and conflict development or how to write with suspense. In Scrim ger's workshop, he drew simple but detailed pictures with magic marker, challenging the children to use all the objects in the picture to tell a story. "I love working with the kids," he quipped, jok ing about his 14th cup o f coffee of the day. "Getting those goofy questions and funny answers. Each time I do this, it's a different kind of excitement." The kids seemed to sense this. "He teaches us a lot o f stuff about how to write books the readers understand," said Geoffrey, 9. Nicole, an aspiring author of 8 , agreed. `T h is is fun. We're learning how to do lots of things." Scrimger has written 10 novels, three o f them for children. He read an excerpt from his comedic The Way to Schenectady, a story that takes place in a minivan. Giggles rose from the crowd as he took on the character's voices, after which he led the students in a discussion on how to create engaging dialogue. "It needs to be like hidden dynamite," he said to the students. "Bam! You have to let the reader know something the characters don't." (See `Author' on page 30) Linbrook Public School featured a variety o f workshops to help students with their reading and writing skills. ARE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES TOO HIGH? It's Not Too Late to Appeal. We will eliminate the confusion and professionally present your case at meetings and hearings. CALL 905-693-0581 "PROPERTY ASSESSMENT!' SERVICES" * 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 CAN BUY A LOT OF COCONUTS. LIN P A LWNDSTROM SUN GODDESS GEAR Pack one bag & be there 25 W o O IF Bay jji^ v Village jfland Gtre Oakville To\ y'/ri T j g u a n !I I www.lindalurj fj-ii:rorn.oo, 1 800-6 <i LIM DA - THE W DRIVE-IN TWIN THEATRES On Ninth Line · North of Q.E.W. & South of Highway 5. Phone 257-8272 EXIT WOUNDS VALENTINE aa AA SURVIVE AMP WIN >100 000 Enter the Ontario Slots at Racetracks S L O T S U R K X V O R T O V R N A M W T starting Monday March 5th and you could W in $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 . On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays until March 28th there will be 8 sessions a day where you can rack up tournament points. Earn the most points and become one of the 21 finalists to make it to the Grand Finale in Ottawa on March 31st. Third place gets $10,000. Second place gets $25,000. But go all the way and win the S L O T S U R V IV O R . T O U R N A M E N T and you get the *1 0 0 , 0 0 0 grand prize. You may now commence daydreaming! 0 DOWN TO EARTH G A T E S O P E N A T 6 :3 0 P.M . S H O W B E G I N S A T 7 :3 0 P.M . Children Under 13 admitted FREE! pg F IH f Mohawk WHAT WOMEN WANT pg No babysitting costs. L O W E S T P R IC E IN T H E A R E A ! EVER Y DAY $8.50 (except Tues. $4.25) | OPEN FRI., SAT., SUN., & TUES. I C h e c k out our w e b site: Slot facility operated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Complete contest details available at the Slots at Mohawk Raceway, 9430 Guelph Line or call (905) 854-4053. Must be 19 years of age or older. Space is limited. Pour renseignements en frangais, veuillez vous rendre au comptoir du Cerde des gagnants. www.5drivein.com J S I X M a r ;; m t ^ S j j f