Creative writing, part 2. The egg, the scales, and the tail.

Chapter 2.


Peter crawled out of his nest very early. World outside was still a little bit too dark to go out. He slowly stomped to the bathroom, brushed his teeth and roared, making sure his dad could hear him.
- I’m getting your chicken ready, boy - said dad through the bathroom door.
When Peter walked into the dining room, the chicken was ready for him on the table. Raw and cold, just how he liked his breakfast.
He started crunching onto the chicken, when dad placed a bucket of rain water next to him. Right on time, raw chicken used to make Peter very thirsty.
- I need to drop the truck to mechanics today, get ready right away, we’ll have to go early - said dad.
- Roaaar roar! - said Peter.
Peter finished munching on his chicken and slurped all of the rain water from the bucket. He got his backpack and hat ready, and walked out of the house through the garage gate, like always. Dad was already sitting in the cab.
Peter crawled up onto the truck and bumped on the roof of the truck with his tiny arm, to let his dad know he was sitting comfortably.
They drove off to get Peter to school, he loved going there very much, and he really enjoyed his truck journeys. Everyone in the city knew them, people were smiling and waving to Peter. One of his favorite neighbors, the shopkeeper, would usually throw a bag of apples or onions.
- Enjoy the snack, boy! - the shop keeper would shout.
- Roooar! - Peter would reply while waving to the man.

Illustration generated by by ChatBox AI 09/02/2024.

School was always fun for Peter. He was the most popular boy here, everyone would play with him at the playground. His teacher, Mrs. Happy, had to make sure that all kids take turns while playing with Peter, so the break time would be fun for everyone. Hide and seek was a little bit difficult, due to Peter’s size and loud stomping, but most of the children enjoyed playing the “Run from the t-rex” game, Peter had invented.

Generated by ChatBox AI - 06/02/2024

Peter is always excited during the lessons. He would reply very loudly to Mrs. Happy’s questions, even if he was not exactly sure if he was answering correctly.
- Six plus eight equals … - Mrs. Happy would say.
- Roooaaaar! - Peter replies.

Generated by ChatBox AI - 06/02/2024

His day was going very well, Peter was having a lot of fun at school, and he was very proud of receiving a star of a day sticker from Mrs. Happy. As soon as his dad showed up to pick him from school Peter rushed to show him the sticker.
- I am proud of you son. - Said dad - Now take your staff, we will be walking home today.
Peter jumped with excitement. He will walk now all the way home, greeting the neighbors and waving to everyone on the street. He might even see the shopkeeper and be able to tell him how much he likes apples and onions.
They walked together, Peter was very happy to roar to children on the street. Children were very happy to be roared at.

They walked and walked, when suddenly Peter heard someone’s little feet running up the stairs. He opened his eyes and realized he was in his room, in his own bed. He saw his little sister Amelia rushing into the room.
- Wake up, it's my special day! - she said.
Peter jumped out of the bed very quickly, reaching for his dinosaur plush toy that fell from the bed at night. He grabbed Amelia's hand and led her downstairs. He was very excited to see the room, balloons, ribbons, and the cake, and all the rainbows. Amelia loves rainbows as much as Peter loves his plush dinosaur.

More of the book available The egg, the scales, and the tail.

Flipbook creating process.

 Today during the lesson I started creating my flipbook with the stories written for my chapbook. To create the flipbook I have used a canva website. I used my google account to log in and chose a magazine template to start creating a book.

After choosing and opening the template I have deleted all of the elements from the front page. And then started creating a cover of my book. I wasn't happy with the outcome of my previous practice and decided to make the cover with an illustration instead of a photograph. The illustration was generated by the DaVinci AI app on 17/02/2024. The image was built on a prompt - Black panther, green tyrannosaurus rex, and dragon's egg in the jungle. These are the main elements of the stories. 

I started with choosing a background for the writing, and then placing the image on the cover. To do that I clicked on "elements" in the left side menu - then looked for desired colors. I wanted it to look brighter, so I looked for a blue and green background. 

Then I added the cover illustration and looked for a nice font for the title and for my name. I used a T button on left side menu and looked for a font called White Christmas.

 I used the same font for my name and for the book title. My name is written in size 40, title is written in size 49. I am happy with the colors of the cover. It has a fairytale look, that goes with the theme of my book. 

Next I have started building the pages. First page of the book will only have my name and title, then page no. 3 will have the contents. To create the pages I moved to the next page and deleted all of the elements. Then I have added a test filed by using a T button on a left side menu and changed the text to my name and book title. I have used the font called Arimo, for my name size 40 nd for the title size 49. 

Below you can see the content list created for the book, page numbers might slightly change as last story is not finished, yet. Font used for this page is also Arimo, font size 19 - this will be used in my book in all three stories. 

For next page I have deleted the elements from the template page and looked for a background. It will be a page with the title of the first story - The egg. I used orange pastel background and the image generated by the ChatBox AI App 06/02/2024 - prompt used for the image was - 8 year old bronze hair girl on the sandy beach with a dragon, view from behind. It took me good 30 to 40 minutes to be get the image without anatomical errors. I used below image for the cover of my first story, with the title written in Arimo, size of font was 100. 

Then for the next page, I created a blank page and started copying and pasting the first part of the text from my Word document saved on a Google Drive - the link will be available at the bottom of this post. 

For the text, I used Arimo font size 19.

Later I continued adding text from my Word document and adding some more illustrations from the folder on my Desktop. I have been generating the illustrations for the past two weeks using two apps - ChatBox AI and DaVinci. I added a page box on each page and started moving elements around to make it look interesting for a young audience. 

Story 1: The egg.

 

    
 

Story 2: The scales.

   

Story 3: The tail.

The below image was generated in and ChatBox AI app - I was typing an instruction about the colour of a cake and the number of candles, unfortunately, the AI illustration apps do not recognize the numbers or positions, so I had to use a picture created and modify it in photoshop by removing some candles - the picture isn't perfect but I needed a cake with four candles.  

     

I have continued this for each page of each story, and then at the end of the book I have added a page for information about the author.

The next page I have created is an index of all of the illustrations, this needs completing as the book is not ready yet. The list will be updated every time I add a new illustration to the book. This page will include the copyright information.

On the back cover, I will add a picture of myself with all three children that became my inspiration, picture will have a description. I might add some information about the book on that page as well. This is how it looks so far, I decided to use a nice green leaf background from canva stock, as I think it goes nicely with the theme and the picture.

Later I added some elements using canva stock as symbols from the book. 

I was not happy with the front cover of the book and decided to play a little with the free designs available on canva. I have used some elements in desired shapes and a ready-made background to create the below cover, which I think is more child friendly and I am happy with it.

Link to my Word document on Google Drive -  The egg, the scales, and the tail. Marta Vlckova.

Book cover creating; Photoshop.

 I am going to create a book cover using a Photoshop. I will show the process here and my design decisions. 

I began with creating a canvas in a Photoshop. I did this by opening new file from the top menu. Next I chose from the dialog box a canvas in a size of A4, I decided to use white background, the resolution is 300 pixels/inch. Then I clicked create and this is what I got.

To choose a background photograph, I went on unsplash and choose three pictures of the jungle, downloaded them to the computer. I then opened them in a photoshop by clicking open and choosing them from the download file. I chose the below picture as it goes with the theme of my stories the best.

This is going to be the background picture for a cover of a children's story, I chose to manipulate the saturation of the colors, to make them slightly brighter. To do that I went in Image - Adjustments - Hue/Saturation in a top menu and this is the window that popped out. Then I have used the zips to change the colors in the photograph, when I was happy with the result I pressed ok.

I then went to select from the top menu, edit and copy and then went to my original canvas to click on edit and paste. Image was pasted onto my background but it was in a larger format, I had to use my move tool and next transform controls on the lower top menu to be able to shrink the image to the desired size of the canvas. This is the outcome of the action.

Next I have clicked on a T button on the left hand menu to be able to add the text to my cover. Then I clicked on the canvas and changed the text to my book title, below I have added another text field with my surname. Next I started looking for a right font, I decided to choose German Sans MS as I think it goes with a children book genre. I clicked on the text menu to change the color and I chose off white for both, both letters are in size of 60 px. At the end I have changed the layer opacity for my surname to 95% as I wanted it to blend a bit with the background. 

Next I saved the file as psd, then clicked on save as and chose jpg from the dropped down menu. Saved the work on desktop as a cover. Below you can see the outcome. When I look at it now I see that letters could be moved slightly closer to the middle of the page. 

Research - children book audience and self publishing.

Children book target market seem to be divided in to many age categories. Below is the list according to Karen Ferreira (2020)

• New born to age 4: Picture books in the form of board and soft books
• Ages 2–5: Early picture books
• Ages 5–8: Picture books, colouring, activity and novelty books
• Ages 4–8: Early (easy) readers
• Ages 6-9: First chapter books and graphic novels
• Ages 8–12: Middle-grade novels and graphic novels
• Ages 12-18: Young adult (YA) novels and graphic novels
• Nonfiction books also exist for all these age groups

With my book already in mind, the whole idea of chapters and parts of the book I have came to conclusion that the subject and the form of my chapbook will be the best for a "first chapter books and graphic novels readers".
First chapter books are typically aimed at children who have progressed beyond picture books but are not yet ready for longer, more complex novels. The target age range for first chapter books is usually between 6 and 9 years old, although this can vary depending on the reading level and interests of individual children. First chapter books are designed for children who are beginning to read independently or with minimal assistance. These readers are often transitioning from early reader books or picture books and are gaining confidence in their reading abilities. Children in this age group may have shorter attention spans and may be easily discouraged by books that are too long or challenging. This kind of books usually have shorter chapters and simple, easy-to-follow plots to keep young readers engaged. While they contain more text than picture books, they often still include illustrations to support the text and provide visual context for the story. These illustrations can help emerging readers understand the story and maintain interest in the book.
Graphic novels are a popular format for readers of all ages, but they are particularly appealing to certain demographic groups. They appeal to visual learners who may struggle with traditional text-heavy books. The combination of illustrations and text allows readers to engage with the story in multiple ways and can help reinforce comprehension and literacy skills. This kind of books are often recommended for reluctant readers who may find traditional books intimidating or uninteresting.
Overall, both first chapter books and graphic novels cater to specific audiences with unique preferences and reading abilities. By understanding the target market for each type of book, authors and publishers can create content that resonates with readers and meets their needs and interests.

If I decide to publish my book when it's completed there are some self publishing and selling options. During the lessons we learnt about the blurb, however I found a service that sound very promising to me - kindle direct publishing. The option I find the most appealing is expanded distribution in a physical paperback book form, due to interesting terms and conditions.
To use Expanded Distribution, paperback book must meet certain requirements set by Kindle Direct Publishing. This typically includes having a valid ISBN for your book and ensuring it meets the printing and content guidelines specified by KDP. Expanded Distribution allows paperback book to be distributed to online retailers, bookstores, and libraries beyond Amazon's platform. Some of the distribution channels may include retailers like Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, and independent bookstores, as well as libraries and academic institutions.
When the book is sold through Expanded Distribution channels, I will receive royalties based on the list price you set for book, minus printing costs and any applicable distribution fees. The royalty rates may vary depending on factors such as the list price, the distribution channel, and the country of sale.
KDP charges printing costs for each copy of paperback book sold through Expanded Distribution. These printing costs depend on factors such as the book's trim size, page count, and whether it's printed in colour or black and white. KDP's printing cost calculator is available on the website, it is easy to estimate the printing costs for the book. Author have control over the list price of paperback book, which is the price at which it's offered for sale to customers. It's important to set a list price that's competitive in the market while also ensuring I will earn a satisfactory royalty for each sale made through Expanded Distribution channels. In addition to printing costs, KDP may deduct distribution fees for sales made through certain channels. These fees cover the cost of distributing of the book to retailers and other partners in the distribution network. KDP provides sales reporting tools that allow the author to track the sales performance of the paperback book, including sales made through Expanded Distribution channels. Author can view sales data, royalties earned, and other relevant metrics through your KDP account dashboard.

References:

Ferreira, K. (2020) Understanding children's book age groups. Available at: https://getyourbookillustrations.com/understanding-childrens-books-age-groups/ (accessed: 12/03/2024)

Amazon KDP (2024) Expanded distribution. Available at: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GQTT4W3T5AYK7L45 (accessed 12/03/2024)

Creating writing. The egg, the scales and the tail. Part 1; Chapter 2.

The egg. 

Chapter two.

 Walking barefoot on a moist moss was a new experience for Zuzanna. It felt cold but also really nice on her feet. She walked in between large ferns and the trees so tall, she could not see their tops. Zuzanna was placing her feet really carefully in between sticks and branches.

- I need to be very quiet - she thought to herself.

She could not know this, but somehow she felt that the jungle is a dangerous place for her to be in.

Suddenly the stick under her foot snapped, making a cracking noise. The sound made birds from top of the trees scared and fly away. Zuzanna has never seen so many colourful birds. She was nearly sure, she had seen some blue parrots amongst them. 

She continued her walk thinking about all of the beautiful butterflies and funny bugs she has been seeing around her.

- Mum and dad will be so excited when I tell them what I have seen -  Zuzanna thought, and reached into her vest pocket for the compass. 

She opened the compass, checked if she was walking in the right direction. The girl did not have the map, but she was sure she needed to go to the north part of the jungle. She walked a long while, when she realized the jungle was getting darker.

- I don’t have much time left - she thought. When suddenly she saw something shiny about twenty steps away. The object was lying by the largest tree, surrounded by ferns and moss. It looked like something made of gold. 

- That’s it! - she whispered, scarring more birds away. 

Zuzanna looked around to see if she was safe. No wild animals, no snakes. The girl rushed towards the light. When she reached the place, she noticed that the egg was beautiful, large and spotted just like she imagined it would be. Zuzanna gently took the egg to see closer. It looked like it started hatching already. She knew the egg was not safe there, neither was she.

It is time to run - she decided. I need to reach the sandy part of the island - she whispered to herself again. 

(Image generated by ChatBox AI, 2024)

Zuzanna started running as fast as she could, without looking around and behind her. The time was running, the jungle was getting darker with each minute. She knew it would not be safe for her after dawn, and the egg needed a safe place to hatch. 

Draft of the book available here Marta Vlckova - The egg, the scales and the tail.

Chapbook research - children's stories.

During creative media classes we were asked to create a chapbook as our second project of the term. I decided to write a chapbook designated for younger children, and I started researching basic literary devices used in a children's books. As a mother I come across children stories quite often, they could even be found at my night table as I like to read together with my daughter before the bed time.

The book we're reading at the moment is "Alice in Wonderland" and while thinking of this book, I can number some literary devices clearly visible in the book. 

• simile - is a form of comparing one thing to another. Similes use "like" and "as" to explain the similarities.
• personification - when animal or an object is given a human qualities. It makes the text more exciting to the young audience. In "Alice in Wonderland" it's one of the most common forms, we can see animals behaving like humans, objects with faces and human qualities.
• metaphor - way of explaining or giving a view on something, it might not be exact but it gives the audience the idea or the point.
• Imagery - it is a language technique that uses details of the sensory language ( i.e. taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound) to help the reader imagine the world.
• Hyperbole - language exaggeration.

"The Queen turned crimson with fury, and, after glaring at her for a moment like a wild beast, screamed “Off with her head! Off with—”

“Nonsense!” said Alice, very loudly and decidedly, and the Queen was silent." (Lewis, 2010)

• Symbolism - using symbols to describe or give something deeper meaning or quality.
• Motif - it is a pattern or the idea that repeats in the story.

As I already started writing all three stories, I can say that I am using simile, personification, metaphors and hyperboles. I will be using a motif in all three stories, the motif will exaggerate the main theme of the chapbook.

Thinking about the genre and audience of the book it will need to include numerous illustrations. I am not an illustrator, therefore I will be using pictures and drawings created for the book by AI app, just to make it look like a real children's book. I will be also using illustrations created by my daughter as she is my first reader and the book is made for her.

References:

Lewis, C. (2010) "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass and what Alice found there" New York: Chartwell Group,

Teacher Ingram (2016) Elements of Children's Literature Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j85U3SKtIX8 (accessed; 15/02/2024)

Kindle Preneur (2020) How to Write a Children's Book: 8 EASY STEPS! Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTQKc55ToCc (Accessed: 15/02/2024)

Man with night sweats; analysis.

 Thom Gunn  "The man with night sweats" (1992) Full text

The poem begins with the image of the author woken up form sleep, feeling uncomfortable due to sweat soaking his sheet. The author is stating that he woke up cold from a dreams of heat. It could mean that he woke up from a sex dream. Gunn, a British-American poet, witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of the disease on his friends, many of whom were part of the gay community. The poem serves as a haunting elegy to those who suffered and died from AIDS-related illnesses. The poem was written in HIV/AIDS era, when there was no cure. Night sweats sounded like a sentence, as everyone who was involved in a risky life style was scared of getting ill. Poem is written in first person, author portraits himself as a person that is sick with HIV virus. 

The title itself, "The Man with Night Sweats," immediately evokes a sense of discomfort and unease. Night sweats are a common symptom of various illnesses, including HIV/AIDS, and serve as a metaphor for the suffering and agony experienced by those with the disease. The word "night" also suggests darkness, fear, and the unknown, further emphasizing the nature of the subject matter.

Poem structure is based on quatrains a (stanza of 4 lines) and couplets (two lines) and it's written in iambic trimeter - that means three metrical feet (one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable). 

First couplet includes a metaphor - my flesh was it's own shield.

As per Saharay (2023) "The word “shield” is used three times in the poem. Here, the shield is used as a noun that does not refer to any armour but the speaker’s own physical body which has been the site of experiencing life’s pleasures and passions. It used to be a self-healing machine that detoxed and defended the system."

Another metaphor seen in last line: 

To hold an avalanche off  - where the avalanche is a metaphor of pain.

We also see enjambment, that is a continuation of a sentence in following line without the pause. And it is visible in below lines:

Even while I adored 

The risk that made robust,

Throughout the poem, Gunn employs vivid imagery and sensory details to capture the physical and emotional turmoil of the experience. Despite the physical suffering described, there is a sense of resilience and determination that shines through the poem. Gunn doesn't capture the regret of the experiences, however he does speak of grieve that youth and health have to end this way. And as per Allen (2022) "The poem laments the suffering that youthful thrills can lead to, and the fact that death comes for our bodies no matter how much we "trust" and enjoy them. "

References:

Allen, A. (2022) . "The Man with Night Sweats." Available at: https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/thom-gunn/the-man-with-night-sweats (Accessed: 15/04/2024)

Gunn, T. (1992) "The man with the night sweats" Available at: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47956/the-man-with-night-sweats (Accessed: 13/02/2024)

Saharay, R. (2023) "The man with the night sweats" Available at: https://igcseenglish.com/2023/01/20/the-man-with-night-sweats/ (Accessed: 13/02/2024 )

Research; analysis of a children book.

 "The Gruffalo" by Julia Donaldson is a popular children's book known for its engaging storyline, memorable characters, and clever use of literary devices.

1. Rhyme scheme is of the most notable literary devices in "The Gruffalo" is its consistent and rhythmic rhyme scheme. Donaldson utilizes a AABB rhyme scheme throughout the book, which not only makes the story enjoyable to read aloud but also helps in creating a cohesive narrative structure.

2. The book features repeated phrases such as "Oh no, it's a..." followed by the introduction of a new character or obstacle. This repetition not only adds to the book's musicality but also helps in building anticipation for young readers.

3. Donaldson employs alliteration, the repetition of sounds at the beginning of words, to add a playful and musical quality to the text. For example, "deep dark wood" and "terrible tusks" are both examples of alliteration used in the book.

4. The author uses vivid imagery to bring the story to life. From the descriptions of the "deep dark wood" to the detailed depictions of the various creatures encountered by the mouse, Donaldson's use of imagery helps readers visualize the fantastical world of the story.

5. The characters in "The Gruffalo," including the mouse, the fox, the owl, the snake, and the Gruffalo himself have human-like qualities and they are more relatable to young readers.

6. Throughout the story, there are subtle hints and clues about the appearance and nature of the Gruffalo. These hints build anticipation as the mouse encounters various creatures in the wood, leading to the reveal of the Gruffalo.

7. Donaldson uses clever wordplay, absurd situations, and unexpected twists. The juxtaposition of the small but clever mouse outsmarting larger, more fearsome predators adds a comedic element to the narrative.

8. Beneath the entertaining story and playful language, "The Gruffalo" also carries a moral lesson about the power of wit and intelligence over brute strength. The mouse, despite being small and seemingly vulnerable, outsmarts the larger predators through cleverness and quick thinking, teaching readers the importance of using one's intelligence to overcome obstacles.

By employing these literary devices, Julia Donaldson creates a captivating and memorable story in "The Gruffalo" that appeals to both children and adults.

References:

Donaldson, J (2016) The Gruffalo. Available at: https://www.stmarksprimary.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Year-4-Re-writing-the-Gruffalo-1.pdf (accessed: 10/03/2024)

Graham, B (2016) Gruffalo linguistic analysis. Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/BethanyGraham1/gruffalo-linguistic-analysis (accessed 10/03/2024)