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