Author Dandi Daley Mackall visited Laurelville Elementary on March 18-19. She has written over 400 published books in a variety of genres, including one of her latest, an adolescent realistic fiction, Larger-Than-Life Lara. Dandi spoke to the entire student body at an all-school assembly to kick off her visit. Over the rest of the two day period, she met with classes to discuss writing techniques and her experiences.Dandi did a writing workshop session with the classes. She went through the process of creating a story. Her advise was to always begin with a character. According to Dandi, "If the reader identifies with and/or cares about the main character, they will care about the story and want to read it." She says you need to know the character so you know how he/she will act in story.
She also told students to be sure to begin their stories with action. Here is an example of a story starter done both the wrong way, and then the right way.
Wrong
Dasia is a sixth grade girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is 5' tall. She likes to read and chat with her friends on the computer. Her best friend's name is . . .
Right
The minute Dasia got out of bed this morning, she dreaded going to school.
About the writing process, Dandi said, "I write and I write, and I rewrite and I write, and I rewrite probably at least 12 times."
Amber C., a sixth grade student said, "she tells interesting stories." This makes it easy to see where she gets her ideas for books.
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12 comments:
I love the Blog On books by Dandi Daley Mackall and I hope she can write more of those books. She is now one of my favorite author. That was really weird what happen to her when the really bad magician came to her school. I wondered what happen maybe she was not a good writer and then that magician made her a good writer. That would be cool if that happen to me!
Dandi was nice and funny. I can't wait to read Larger Than Life Laura because I never heard of it.
I think that larger than life Lara is going to be a good book for me and everyone who likes it.
In my opinion Dandi made the assembly much better. Because she talked all about what she does and what she used to do. Plus she even had stories to tell about when she was in elementary school.
I can not wait until we read larger than life lara because it will have many twist and turns like the real world.
I liked the visit from Dandi Daley Mackall. I also liked when she told us about how to write a story. Just from listening to her tell us about her book I could picture it all in my head. When we write stories you should make us do that chart that we made in the library. I think I might use her good information on my story for Free Writing Friday.
I liked it that Dandi came to our school. I think that Larger "Than Life Lara" will be a good book. If the book is as funny as Dandi then I think that I will really like the book. I thought that it was a lot of fun to have her come. Dandi was really funny. She helped us to learn more about writing and were to start at when you are writing.
I can't wait untill we read Larger-Thank- Life Lara. I want Mr McGuire to read it today, instead of Monday.
I think Dandi Mackall has some great books out, like Larger Than Life Lara, and Crazy in Love! I also think she gave us some really good pointers on writing a story/book. I think she writes from the heart! I hope she comes again, with her next book she writes!!!
Mr. McGuire, I would like to ask you that if you bought any books from Dandi Dayle Makall, if you would read them aloud during read–aloud time? (Please?) If you had Dandi Makall visit our school, who's your favorite author? (Maybe he/she will visit if you ask.) Do you remember when she gave us a story starter? Well I took it seriously and done the first chapter. I changed it around a little bit though. Well,I just hope I get to read Larger than life Lara..
I think that Dandi made the assembly good by telling stories and what she use to do and what she does now. I thought it was cool when she told us that stuff at the library. I can't wait until we read larger than - life - Lara.
I think that Dandi Mackall is a very good speech giver because she is very awesome person to talk to and hangout with.
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