Imagination is the key! :)

Yesterday, Wednesday, our first two classes were spent with a story writer and illustrator in the library. Oisin McGann was the name of the writer/illustrator that came in to talk to us.
He was a really nice and upbeat man. He talked to us about how to become a good writer. He gave us tips on how to start off writing. He started off by telling us that the most important thing when writing is to write every idea that you have down on a piece of paper. Oisin told us that he always has a notebook and pen in his pocket. He also told us that he leaves a notebook and pen beside his bed every night because sometimes he wakes up with an amazing writing idea during the night, but if he doesn't write it down, he will have forgotten it the next morning.
He began to tell us about how he comes up with ideas. He told us that sometimes you can look at something so simple but by using your imagination you can turn it in to something amazing. He used the example of looking at a shoe! He came up with a fabulous story about how a small shoe used to cover your feet during the day turns into a blood-sucking creature at night time. Now come on, is that good use of imagination or what?! :L
After that wild story, he showed us some of his already published books. He gave us a little insight into what some of the are about. In my opinion, Oisin McGann has a great sense of imagination but his style of writing s a tad weird for my liking. That's not to say that he isn't good, however. He really is good a grabbing peoples' attention.
When we were coming near the end of the workshop, Oisin took a slightly different route from writing and he began to draw us a picture based on one of his books that he had just explained to us. It was absolutely amazing to watch the drawing appear on the blank piece of paper. When he had finished drawing the picture, Oisin signed it and presented it to our class for a keepsake. We all jumped into a picture with him holding up the illustration.
Oisin's workshop was really good fun and I liked how it was a different way of learning about journalism/writing/illustrating.

Niamh! :D