#primary writing

One Big Story took place in Durham City September - November 2012. This exciting project saw nearly 300 children from 10 local primary schools working together to write one big story. Year 5 and 6 classes from the participating schools enjoyed a one day workshop with a writer, illustrator and drama facilitator to explore their story ideas. Each school was responsible for one chapter and these have come together to make an amazing book. Every child is able to spot their contribution to the plot, illustrations and writing. There’s Something in the Water was published in November and every child received their own copy of the book at a special celebration event at the local library. About There's Something in the Water: "One day begins, much like any other, for a girl called Rose, but soon strange things start happening for her and her best friend, Lilly. It may have something to do with the river that runs through the valley below her castle or it may simply be because children can't help walking through mysterious doors, pressing tempting buttons, ignoring warning notices, messing with magic and generally being too curious for their own good. Whatever the reason, a school trip turns into a breathless adventure across time and space and through the elements of earth, air, fire and water ... especially water. There must be something in the water." One Big Story has inspired the children’s creativity whilst encouraging them that writing and reading stories is great fun! What the teachers have said: •‘Perfect way to promote writing and literacy skills.’ (Miss Ewing, Year 5 Teacher at Belmont CE Junior School) •‘Children who are reluctant writers were fully engaged, keen to share their ideas and their writing. The programme visibly built their confidence.’ (Fiona Westerman, Year 5 Teacher at St Godric’s RC Primary School) •‘The children are much more willing to explore their wacky and wonderful ideas. Their writing has become more imaginative.’ (Heather Prested, Year 5 Teacher at Belmont Cheveley Park Primary School)

Confirmed speakers for this conference include: Marcus Sedgewick Marcus is a widely-admired writer of children’s fiction; he is the winner of many prizes, most notably the Branford-Boase Award for a debut novel (Floodland), the Booktrust Teenage Prize (My Swordhand is Singing), and the Blue Peter Book Award (Lunatics and Luck). His books have been shortlisted for over thirty other awards, including the Carnegie Medal (five times), the Edgar Allan Poe Award (twice) and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize (four times). In 2011 Revolver was awarded a Printz Honor. In 2013 he published She Is Not Invisible and a graphic novel Dark Satanic Mills with his brother Julian. Marcus was Writer in Residence at Bath Spa University for three years, and has taught creative writing at Arvon and Ty Newydd. He has judged numerous books awards, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and the Costa Book Awards. Philip Reeve Philip’s first book, Mortal Engines, was published in 2001. It won the Smarties Gold Award, the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award and the Blue Peter ‘Book I Couldn’t Put Down’ Award, Four sequels to Mortal Engines followed, the last of which, A Darkling Plain, won both the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Award. There has also been a trilogy of steam-powered Victorian space adventures, Larklight, Starcross and Mothstorm, and a novel set in Dark Age Britain called Here Lies Arthur which won the Carnegie Medal 2008. Philip’s 2009 novel, Fever Crumb returns to the world of Mortal Engines. Along with its sequels A Web of Air and Scrivener’s Moon, it tells the story of how the Traction Era began. His latest book, Goblins, introduces a new world, the Westlands, a land of magic and adventure dominated by the ruined fortress of Clovenstone. Philip co-wrote Oliver and the Seawigs with the illustrator Sarah McIntyre. Sarah McIntrye Sarah is a renowned children’s writer and illustrator who has a wealth of published books and comics. Her picture book with Giles Andreae, Morris the Mankiest Monster, introduced the world to a loveable monster with stomach-turning personal habits. Morris sold out in its first month and has won both the Sheffield and Bishop’s Stortford Children’s Book Awards, as voted by children. This year she co-wrote the critically acclaimed Oliver and the Seawigs with Philip Reeve. Tim Wright Tim Wright is a digital writer, a crossplatform producer and a director of XPT Ltd. His writing credits include two BAFTA-winning interactive projects: the comedy self help disk ‘Mind Gym’ and web & email drama ‘Online Caroline’. He also co-developed, devised and scripted the BAFTA nominated science-learning Web drama ‘Planet Jemma’ and BAFTA nominated online holiday farce ‘Mount Kristos’. He was the lead writer of the RSC’s recent Twitter drama ‘Such Tweet Sorrow’ – and in 2009 he completed ‘Kidmapped!’, an experiment in literary blogumentary, involving a 240-mile walk across Scotland and the use of geolocation and mobile media tools.