My friend Sarah wins a copy of Next to Mexico!

Stories and Squirts was awesome! Sarah (8) and Jane (7) showed up this morning at ten, along with Petra (3) and her mom, Megan (mom-aged). My son Zach (3) and husband Mike (42) were there, too. I don't know why I am telling you everyone's ages (or who "you" are. Who knows who reads or will read this blog, but it's fun to write anyway!).

Sarah wrote an amazing story about a girl named Pinch-faced Amanda who was pinch-faced for a special reason that nobody knew about, and Jane's story was about a girl named Sarah Storyteller, who wanted to be a Story Babysitter but when she got a surprise make-over, she turned into a person who teases kids. Megan and Petra wrote about a mouse who wished he was a house. In my story, a banana named Kooky Karen really wanted to be an apple (I'm 37).

After each section of the workshop, we got drenched. Good thing the girls wore their suits. After we wrapped up our stories, Jane and Sarah won copies of Next to Mexico (Megan has one).

This was so much fun. Thank you Sarah and Jane and Megan and Petra for coming. Stay tuned for more fun events involving my book and writing workshops!

Stories and Squirts!

Well, after two tries, no one has showed for this wet writing workshop I'm trying to get goin' on in Brooklyn. If you're reading this and you're sweaty but you like making up stories, COME to Brooklyn this Friday at 10am for some writing and some squirting. A wonderful editor from the NY Times was kind enough to list and feature the event in the paper last Friday but I think the TV weather people trumped the Times and parents made their kids stay inside taped to their air conditioners, while my son and I were getting soaked at Greenwood Playground.

One last hope that I get to squirt a bunch of eight year olds:

Stories and Squirts!
Friday, July 2792011
10am

Greenwood Playground
E 5th Street at Greenwood Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
(F or G to Fort Hamilton Parkway)

Read the short feature in the Times about Stories and Squirts!

I'll be leading writing workshops with kids ages 8 and up. Every 15 minutes, I'll squirt everyone with a water shooter. Come hot and ready to write. Bring a pen and notebook (and squirt gun if you want). We'll focus on creating memorable characters, beginnings, middles, and ends, and what makes a good story. At the end of the workshop, I will ask a wet-themed trivia question, and whoever answers correctly will win a (damp) signed copy of Next to Mexico.

FREE
Sponsored by Friends of Greenwood Playground