People and places
Candles in the darkness Anna Stadlman reports on an author’s inspiring visit to Marymount International School Paris The annual Writers’ Festival has been a part of the literacy programme at Marymount International School Paris for many years. Students have the opportunity to showcase their writing and meet authors who share with them their experience as writers. Lynne Reid Banks, Anne Fine, Jack Gantos, Nicola Davies, Caroline Lawrence, P.J. Lynch and Marcia Williams are among the authors and illustrators who have inspired us over the years, enriching our literacy programme with their expertise. Service to others is also an important part of Marymount’s curriculum, so this year our guest for the Writers’ Festival was a writer who could link the two areas: the internationally respected author Cornelia Funke. Cornelia, a multiple award winning German writer and illustrator, writes fantasy for readers of all ages. Amongst her best-known books are The Thief Lord, Dragon Rider and Knight and Boy, as well as the Inkheart Series and the Mirrorworld series. Many of Cornelia’s titles have been translated into over 30 languages and several of her books have been made into movies. Cornelia’s visit was unlike those of past authors. As tradition has it, she spoke about writing and her books. She also shared with us her ‘other life’ as advocate for children, and supporter and creator of charitable organisations which bring comfort to abused, illiterate and sick children. Her presentations, which humbly blended her life as a magical writer with that of a compassionate human being, gave our students an unforgettable and inspiring experience. Advice on Writing The audience sat silently as Cornelia read an extract from the book Inkheart, enchanted and gripped by the power of her words, ‘sticky as a spider’s web and enchantingly beautiful’. She spoke about writing in a personal, conversational tone, saying that it is essential to carry a pen or pencil always, to jot down ideas that may pop up unexpectedly; ideas which would be lost forever if not captured. We must ‘Read, read, and read’, she said, for in this way we are exposed to the craft of skilled writers who are a great source of inspiration for our own voice and personal style of storytelling. Being curious is a must for a writer. When asked the inevitable question ‘Where do you get your ideas?’, Cornelia replied that they are all around her; everyday life is full of ideas, all vying for a place on paper. ‘As a writer everything you do inspires your writing’, she said, complimenting the students on the seeds of ideas that she would take away from her experience with them in Paris. ‘I will not forget you’, she said, ‘you can be sure of that’. Autumn
Spring |
| 2017
Her words about her ‘writing process’ were encouraging for both students and teachers of writing. She writes all her ideas and plans in a notebook. She thoroughly researches for her books, ensuring that the information is absolutely accurate. When writing the Inkheart series, for example, she learned everything she could about the craft of book restoration since Mo, one of the main characters, was a ‘doctor’ whose clientele were books! Cornelia rewrites her work several times, crafting it like a sculptor or a painter so that it is the best it can be. She loves revising, and encouraged students to enjoy this part of the writing process which, as many teachers will agree, is often met by the words ‘Do I have to?’ by impatient students. Service to Others Since a major part of Marymount’s mission is to serve others, Cornelia was invited to talk about her involvement in and views on this subject. In response, she explained that she preferred the word ‘compassion’ to ‘service’. She is not alone in this; several international educators have struggled with the word ‘service’. Kendall, for example (1990), believed that the term ‘service’ suggests inequality between the ‘servers’ and those ‘being served’. It also, Kendall argues, suggests a tone of self-righteousness, a ‘vaguely disguised ticket to salvation for upper and middle class people who feel guilty about their access to resources’ (p 24). Wade (2000), meanwhile, says that service should be an attitude, a relationship and ‘a way of being in the world’. We may not be serving others, Wade argues, if we act without compassion
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