Anita Belli

An Author in the Classroom

What you do need in order to work with primary age children is an open mind, a curious nature and be able to pass on your love of writing, and stories to children. You need kindness and an understanding that all children bring a different quality

‘Stop Thinking and Just Do It!’

Isn’t it interesting how words echo back at us down the decades? They seem to come from a random source, triggered by some thought process we are unaware of.

The Big Ship Sailed

This is a playground song from my childhood and it came to mind this week as we approach the end of September. I remember a life changing event on the last day of September a decade ago.

A LETTER FROM THE PAST

The letter from my aunt Rose was addressed from Convict 103, Concentration Camp, in which she says, ‘I turn sweet 17 on Friday.’

Seeding a Story on a Blank Page

I am about to start a new book and the blank page is daunting. There is a long way to go from a thought or an idea, maybe a theme or a character, to finished novel. I use a three-step process to build a novel from story seeds

School’s Out For Summer!

It is the end of the school year and my work as Author in the Classroom has ended until September. So, back to the day job of being an Author and guess what I am writing about? Quite by coincidence, my next publication will be a Non-Fiction book for writers called: How to be an Author in the Classroom

Challenge that Squinting Modifier!

My crusade to liberate literacy and develop creative writing in KS2, suffered a setback today. I discovered what a squinting modifier is!* Arghhh! I have just completed a project to deliver over 40 creative writing workshops in seven schools creating poetry, stories and non-fiction writing. In my sessions, we start with a warm up, whichContinue reading “Challenge that Squinting Modifier!”

Author in the Classroom

Over the past five years, I have worked in dozens of schools delivering a wide range of creative writing programmes. This work enables me to write. The two activities of writing and tutoring are symbiotic; being an author adds validation to being a creative writing tutor and devising and delivering workshops inspires my writing.

Falling in Love with the Adventures of Mole

I have spent almost every day, so far this year developing A Month of Writing Adventure for children. It is a combination of a teaching guide and creative notebook which I am sure will excite even the most reluctant writer.