Category Archives: Writing

Musings/ ideas/hints regarding writing.

The Book of Wondrous Possibilities by Deborah Abela

Review by Western Australian children's book author, Reviewed by Western Australian author, David Caddy, Reviews of Books, Writing

This was a Notable Book for 2023. I really tried hard to like this book and I pushed myself to read half of it … but gave up. I just found it all too difficult to believe. And the dialogue seemed contrived. Perhaps a young child who wants to be a hero will like it. Maybe!

Perhaps I am just getting a bit old and cranky! Maybe it is the lack of sleep over the last week – thanks to my son who had a party here. Or from a lack of sleep because my wife had COVID and I slept on the floor; tried to sleep on the floor.

The Bravest Word by Kate Foster

Review by Western Australian children's book author, Reviewed by Western Australian author, David Caddy, Reviews of Books, The Writing Caddy, Writing

This book is about a young boy who is depressed. He rescues a dog and by finding out that it is possibly depressed, he makes the link to himself. His father is kind and understanding and also suffered depression when his father died, so is able to relate with the boy. The mother bull-dozes through life. Eventually, everyone is able to talk about depression. Even the school bully jumps on board and says he suffers from anxiety. The resolution is all a bit hard to believe… but the intention of the book is good.

The Librarian has recommended it for Year 6. I think a Year 5 would also read it. The subject matter is all a bit sad. I wouldn’t recommend it for Year 4. The language is all good but the topic of depression is so depressing. About 40,000 words long I think. It is a notable book by CBCA in 2023.

The Glimme by Emily Rodda and Marc McBride

R, Review by Western Australian children's book author, Reviewed by Western Australian author, David Caddy, Reviews of Books, Writing

The book is heavily illustrated, full of dragons, so I think kids will love it. I found the characterization quite difficult to get a handle on. I loved the illustrations. This is a fantasy story of a young boy who gets taken into another land, and his journey back to his real life. I found the actual story okay. I would recommend it for primary school children from Year 4 to Year 6.

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Back To School

Writing

How sad that I must slow down my reading of books.

Now I am back at school my eyes fail so I cannot stay up late and read. Oh well, last year was brilliant for my consumption of books.

Last night I had a choice to read or watch TV. The review of Salvation meant I had to watch it and I am glad I did; however, the choice meant no reading.

Today, on my writing agenda is to practise my talk on ‘horror writing’. I am going to present to 180 12-year-old boys on the topic of writing horror, so I must review the talk and get it up to scratch. The boys usually love it and walk away highly motivated to write, and with some extra writing tools.

Also, I have to prepare my school lessons, catering for someone to come into my class and teach, so  I can do the talk.  I had best get started.

A stack of stories – Moresby

Review by Western Australian children's book author, Writing

I have just added a stack of stories I wrote some time ago. They are on the tab named ‘Moresby’.

These stories were told to me by my dad or my brothers and sisters – I can’t remember.

I have also told them to my younger brothers and sisters.

And I have told them to my kids too.

And so the Legend of Moresby grows.

(Copy copyright:  Western Australian Children’s Author telling stories not yet in a book.)

 

Western Australian Children’s Author – Bookweek

Review by Western Australian children's book author, Writing

Well, I have just returned from a week down the south of Western Australia.  The different shires in the south coordinate to bring an author down each year. Collie organised for me to stay in Bunbury at a Motel where my meals were paid for.  I was also paid for the talks, and a librarian met me on some days to drive me to the libraries.

It was a most rewarding week; the children were enthusiastic and I had a great time.

After my presentations  I had the afternoons off to travel to Yalingup and surf, or stay in Bunbury and write. The weather dictated that I surfed twice and wrote thrice.

Back in Perth I dived to my computer and entered the editing I had done with pen and paper whilst south.

Because I am  paid 80% of my salary this year, not having to attend work, in Bookweek I am paid twice – who would have believed it.

(Copy copyright: Western Australian Children’s books are usually of a high standard.)

Podcast # 1 – The Writing Caddy – Naming Characters

Review by Western Australian children's book author, The Writing Caddy, Writing

A podcast for those who want writing hints.

I may go back and edit this podcast to include a few more points about naming characters.

If anyone else has any ideas please send them in and we’ll acknowledge you and pop up the comments, assuming they are short.  That is one of the priorities of this podcast – short and sweet.

If  your writing hints are extensive, we’ll add a link to your site below.

  1. Do you have to name your characters? No.  It depends on all sorts of things, POV being the biggest factor, the second biggest being the type of story being written.
  2. Why name your characters? As mentioned in the podcast, names allow us to easily identify which character is in the narrative.
  3. When do you name a character? As soon as a character is named a relationship is  developed. The purpose of fiction is to make you care about the characters, so name your characters as soon as you can.
  4. How do you refer to Mum and Dad in children’s fiction. Mm! It all depends on the situation.  Once again point-of-view is a major consideration, as is the relationship.  Step-mums and step-dads are often referred to by their first name. If it is first person point of view you may write ‘Mum said….’ or if it is 3rd person you might say ‘their dad says..’ although this is not strictly true.
  5. A different relationship is shown if a child call’s their mum mother.   In a certain point in history, no child would have called their parents by their first names.                                              (This is beginning to sound like a whole new podcast.)
  6. I just listened to Carmel Bird on a podcast called ‘The Garret’, and she said the names of her characters just arrive, and it is so much fun.
  7. Does the sound of a name affect your selection?  Definitely. There are many studies to show that the sound of a person’s name affects how they are perceived. E.g. If someone is asked which alien race, the Krataks or the Thesolians, is evil their most likely answer is the Krataks.
  8. Sometimes I cannot think of a  name for a character so I use a temporary name which fills the gap until something appropriate comes to mind. Then I do a global replace of the old name with the new. The new name takes over within a day or two.

(If  you wish to add something to this post on Naming Characters, please leave a comment.)