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As a
writer for young people, a professional daydreamer, and
an ex-lecturer in chemistry, I always enjoy giving talks
to groups of students. I have visited well over 100 libraries
and schools, some on an annual basis. I have run sessions
with all ages from Year 3 to ‘A’ level students
and adults but the most pertinent age groups for my novels
are Years 7-13. Most of my sessions have been 45-90 minutes
in duration (up to my record of 2½ hours!).
In talks,
I tell students a little about myself, including my background
as a lecturer in science, but concentrate much more on the
topics of why and how I write stories. I deal in particular
with the processes of getting an idea and turning it into
a story by getting inside characters and developing the
plot through their eyes (not like acting as an author at
all!). I do this with humour, usually by telling a short
story about myself as a scientist but I embroider into it
a lot more excitement than ever occurred in one of my labs.
This approach has proved to be popular with all students
up to Year 10, but especially with the boys. I also contrast
science and fiction writing, talk about researching novels
and short stories, redrafting, and I am happy to take on
requested themes like how to get a book published, jacket
designs, and so on. I would bring a number of ‘props’
such as proof pages, draft cover designs, foreign editions,
and manuscripts.
I tend
not to give extended readings because I am not the world’s
greatest out-loud reader and because I cannot then cram
in all of the points that I would wish to make. Rather,
I read small sections of my books to illustrate those points.
More frequently, I make up stories ‘live’ - though
most of my repertoire has actually been tried and tested
many times before.
“How
do you get ideas? How does an idea become a story?”
I have
also run workshops on creative writing, concentrating on
formulating ideas, the opening paragraphs, developing crime
and murder stories, and the research needed to carry the
story forward.
“How
much research is involved in fiction writing?”
“Does
a science background help?”
With
younger students, I centre my talks on the popular Point
Crime stories, including my Lawless and Tilley series. These
books are strong on forensic science, realistic, and more
character-based than is perhaps usual in the genre. With
older students (13+), I would also cover my character- and
issue-based AdLib, Scholastic Press, and Point books written
for the 14+ age group. Some themes in these books have been
bullying, racism, chemical and biological weapons, and the
ethics of the arms trade.
I am
happy to talk to groups of any size (5-700) but I feel that
students get more out of sessions if they are restricted
to single or double classes. For workshops, the smaller
the number of participants, the better. One class is the
upper limit and the duration should be at least an hour.
“Isn’t
it boring being a writer?”
“What’s
so good about reading?”
In any
sessions, whatever the topic, my main aims are encouraging
reading and writing, and illuminating the strange business
of being a writer. I welcome questions of any sort. I am
always particularly enthusiastic when my sessions impinge
on current creative writing projects at a school. Then,
I hope to be helpful as well as merely informative.
“How
long does it take to write a novel?”
“Why
do you do so much redrafting?”
To
book Malcolm for a performance in your school...
To check on availability for school performances and
to find out current prices for Malcolm and other performers
please contact:
Jubilee Books
Address of head office
31a Vanburgh Park
Blackheath
London SE3 7AE
t. (020) 8293 6060
f. 056 0150 8125
e. e-mail Jubilee Books
Our office is open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm.
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