Finding the words
to paint the pictures
Children’s author helps third-graders understand the writing process
JERRY WOLKOWITZ Third-graders from the Sickles School in Fair Haven write down notes during a creative writing class conducted by Pat Brisson on March 13.
FAIR HAVEN — Writers should be specific, precise — a lesson not easily learned and often forgotten even by those who regularly put pen to paper or fingers to a keyboard. But Jean Burgess’ third-grade class at the Viola L. Sickles School seemed ready to embrace this advice, especially considering it was coming from someone who has written books they may have read.
Children’s author Pat Brisson appeared at the school last week and held a writing workshop for third-graders, helping them sharpen their skills, even at their early age.
"The job for the writer is to create pictures in the mind of the reader," Brisson told the class.
To help illustrate her point, Brisson told the children to imagine their favorite breakfast for an exercise she called "I am."
"You know what you like to eat," she said. "Picture it in your mind."
Saying cereal and juice would not be sufficient, she said.
"In my mind, breakfast is whole-grain cereal and prune juice, which probably isn’t your favorite," she said.
"I am a cinnamon roll, hot and sticky," was the response given by Evan Penkert.
Brisson expanded the exercise with one called "I am not."
She also had the students do the exercise for snacks ("I am not Brussels sprouts," quickly responded one youngster), articles of clothing, writing instruments and school subjects.
"When you finish what you are, think of what you’re not," Brisson told the class.
"I am a red-white-and-blue pen with a squishing grip," answered Stephen Becker.
"I am not barbecue potato chips," contributed Brisson.
"I am not a tuxedo with a Christmas tie," Keith Harwood said.
Librarian Dot Balko also got into the act.
"I am an extra hour of DEAR," she said, referring to the acronym for "drop everything and read."
Afterward, some of the children got a chance to read their exercises detailing their favorite and least favorite items.
The rest of the children would get a chance to read them in class the next day, according to Vickie Cannon, the class’s substitute teacher.
"I think we have some budding authors," Balko observed.
Brisson is the author of 11 published children’s books, including such titles as Hot Fudge Hero; Little Sister, Big Sister; and Bertie’s Picture Day. She also has a contract for four additional books.
Brisson, who lives in Phillipsburg, visits approximately 30 schools a year, talking to students and conducting these types of workshops.
The purpose of the workshop and talks is to show the students that "books are written by an ordinary person," she said.
Brisson is the mother of four sons to whom she often reads, which was the impetus for her to start writing children’s books, her first one being published in 1989.
"I decided that was what I wanted to do," she said.
"They’re learning to be better writers," Balko said. "You can’t emphasize that enough.
Funding for Brisson’s visit was made possible through a donation of the Fair Haven PTA, Balko said.
"We’re hoping this is an annual event," she said.