Dark Crusades: A Poem

Once upon a time there was a child

Who had two fathers.

One was present

The other absent

As she grew

She wished they could trade places.

And one day they did

But they received identical index fingers

In the exchange.

Two imputatory Musketeer swords pointed and crossed

To signal their charge toward the mother:

It is she who is at fault. Let our swords pierce her as we disappear

into the night

And so it was

That in their recriminatory cries

An ignoble cause was born.

And they thrust their blades silently

In glorious abandonment.

But in all their dark crusades

They never knew that

It was the child

Who lay in a heap on the floor

About Laurie: The author of Forests Secrets and Finding Joy as well as The Pharaoh’s Cry, Portal Rift, Persistence of Memory, Kidnapped Smile, and Dragon Sky of the fantasy series The Artania Chronicles, Laurie Woodward is also a screenwriter who co-authored Dean and JoJo: The Dolphin Legacy. Her poetry has been published in multiple journals and anthologies and she was a collaborator on the popular anti-bullying DVD Resolutions. Bullied as a child, Laurie is now an award-winning peace consultant, poet, and blogger who helps teach children how to avoid arguments, stop bullying, and maintain healthy friendships. She writes on the Central Coast of California. More about her work can be found at Author Laurie Woodward — Next Chapter ia.net

To Be Honored by Your Peers

“And the winner is Laurie Woodward! Congratulations!” the email said.

I gaped, tears of gratitude filling my eyes. When you work as a teacher, you get a lot of criticism. From politicians. Parents. Administrators. The community. Many times you have to dig deep in the knowledge that you ARE doing the right thing. You are there for the kids, not anyone else. For thirty years I’ve dedicated my life to this profession and had volunteered for so many extra duties. Anti-bullying campaigns. Peace education. Battle of the Books coach. After school tutoring. Talent Show coordinator. Literacy Nights. And for the last fifteen years I’ve been the Student Council advisor organizing spirit days, food drives, cancer research fundraisers, and teaching the kids filmaking.

And now in my last year I’ve received my site’s highest honor. And this is what some of my colleague’s had to say.

“Laurie really cares about all her students. Every year she takes the time to put on a fabulous Talent Show for the school. She is also is in charge of student council. Thank you Laurie for all you do!!”

“She cares deeply about her students. She builds true connections, and teaches students, empathy and kindness. She has been facilitating Student Council and the talent show for years. She puts her heart into the students.”

“Laurie has taught for more than thirty years in our district, and has stayed relentlessly positive for (nearly!) every bit of that time, through all the ups and downs. She’s a passionate teacher, even inspiring her students by becoming a published author of several books herself. She has always given her heart and soul to this job, determined to build strong connections to her students and to help them build a sense of community with each other. Laurie has led Student Council for more years than I can recall, and also organized the annual Talent Show. SMBSD has been lucky to have her, and she will be missed here at Taylor.”

“Laurie Woodward is my choice for teacher of the year at Taylor. Laurie does so much for students at Taylor. Laurie’s dedication to Student Council nurtures leadership and cooperation skills in our 5th graders. For years Laurie has organized our annual talent show which provides our students with opportunities to showcase their creativity. I know there’s more, but the last thing I’ll mention is the safe community Laurie builds in her classroom. Laurie achieves this by teaching her students conflict resolution skills and promotes treating others with kindness. Laurie does so much more than teach reading, writing, and mathematics. She teaches the whole child.”

“Laurie has given years of service to Taylor Elementary and her students. I have seen Laurie go above and beyond to advocate for students in Anti-Bullying Campaigns, Student Council, Talent Show, and so much more. A true testament to her impact on students are the letters, emails, and visits she receives from former students who recount their experiences in her class and how her positive messages and encouragement have affected their lives tremendously. Laurie retires this year after 30 plus years of service. She will be missed greatly!”

Gaslit Shade: A Poem

Odorless gas wafting from room to room

A noxious message within a tonic

Of sweet embrace

Tangled limbs

And connected flesh

Eyes droop

Pupils dilate

And fear begins.

The poison takes hold

With malevolous mantras

She chants again and again

Until she is a quivering shade

Of her former self.

The Blessings of Being a Teacher/Author

“Thank you.” These are the most wonderful words a teacher can hear. I have been a teacher for over thirty years and still get choked up when a student says them. And when a former student writes to tell you that you inspired them? Magic.

Like happened this morning.

I was scrolling through emails this morning as I often do, when I came upon one titled, “Your Favorite 5th Grade Student.” I immediately opened it up and this is what I saw.

“Hello Ms Woodward,

I don’t know if you remember me but my name is Karina ____. I was in your fifth grade class at Taylor Elementary. I was just thinking about your first book Forest Secrets and how you would read to our class and show us your rough drafts for your next book, and not to mention your first book signing.

I have become so fond of books. I was thinking about what book to read next and your book came to mind and I see that you have released new books. I can’t wait to buy and read Finding Joy.

Thank you so much for being my teacher and I am proud of having such an amazing author for a teacher.”

What a blessing! For years I have struggled to balance my writing and teaching life and there were times I wasn’t sure I could keep up. It is often so exhausting! But as I read and reread this letter and others like it am so glad I did.

One of my students at my first book signing.

Persistence of Memory: An Excerpt

Captain Sludge stood atop a wooden platform in the glow of torchlight. The red flames flickered as black smoke clouded the surrounding cavern and drifted toward the distant Stalagmite Forest. The rocky jungle left shadows on the cave walls that sparked ideas for new nightmares.

There was a rumbling and scores of dark soldiers marched through the entry tunnels toward him. Row after row of jackbooted Shadow Swine advanced with swords and spears held high.

When all his army had assembled, Sludge raised a large club and a hush passed through the crowd. The captain nodded. “The White grows. And with it the amnesia I have crafted.”

“Blank Canvas! Blank Canvas!” the soldiers chanted.

“We have entranced many, and soon Surrealia will fall.” He leered at the crowd and called over his shoulder. “Bring out the slaves.”

A moment later two long rows of soldiers marched from a nearby tunnel. Each pair flanked a shackled Artanian. Just like Sludge had taught them, they tugged cruelly on the chains every couple of seconds.

Pain and fear. Yes. He licked his bulbous lips.

When they lined up at the platform steps, Sludge pointed his club at the young woman wearing a cloche hat in the front. “You first.”

She groped to wrap the pieces of the torn dress around her bare arms. “No. Please.”

“No. Please,” Sludge mocked.

His army chortled and Sludge grinned.

The flapper woman strained against her chains, but her captors held fast. She looked up at Sludge and her lower lip trembled. “I just want to go home. Please send me back.”

“Oh, we will,” Sludge said raising a hairless brow.

“R-really?”

“Of course. Right troops?”

Several soldiers nodded. The guards shoved her forward, and the glorious sound of chains clinking, and clanging filled the air. A pleasing shiver passed over Sludge’s hunchbacked spine.

With teeth flashing in the firelight, Sludge stepped to the edge of the platform and lowered his club until it touched the mound of soil below him. “Arise, Mudlark Maker. Rise.”

The ground swelled as a mud strand twined around the wooden club. Sludge slowly raised his arms, and the muddy vine grew. A head bloomed, and long tentacle-like arms sprouted. Bulbous lips swelled. Soon the mud grew into a legless creature.

The creature shook out its long ratty hair and sighed. The entire cavern vibrated with the sound. “Aww, a snack. Yum.”

Sludge shoved the woman into Mudlark Maker’s waiting arms. The creature held her in front of its huge face and smacked its lips.

The woman began to scream.

The monster’s body melted away while its mouth kept growing until it was larger than an elephant’s grave. Soon two boggy arms and bulging lips were all that was left. Then Mudlark Maker raised the whimpering woman over its mouth and dropped her in. The great lips closed in a wall-shaking swallow.

The Shadow Swine army stamped their feet in approval. A thin sergeant with long dreadlocks punched the air and a low hum rippled through the crowd.

A few moments later, Mudlark Maker belched, and a spray of steam spewed the woman to Captain Sludge’s feet. Her flapper dress and shoes were now mended, and her short, bobbed hair neatly combed under a floral hat.

The young woman bent down grasping the manacles around her ankles. She squeezed and the steel crumbled like autumn leaves. Then she stood, her eyes flashing red for a moment before reverting to brown. “What is your will?”

“Go wait, there.” Sludge pointed to a place behind the platform.

The woman bowed and marched down the steps. Sludge nodded. Well done Mudlark Maker. Both pliant and strong.

The other shackled Artanians started to sob and whimper. A few tried to punch the guards, but their chained wrists made it about as effective as the water dripping off the stalactites above.

“Fools! Fight all you like. But Mudlark Maker will turn you into slaves all the same. Next!”

It took a great deal of straining and tugging for this pair to drag the next prisoner toward the edge of the platform. But a minute later Sludge was repeating his performance all the same. He did this again and again until a score of slaves lined up behind at the platform steps, all looking better than before his soldiers had captured them. If anyone happened upon them, they wouldn’t know the difference.

Unless they noticed the brief flashes of red in their eyes. But Sludge wasn’t worried about that. Only humans could see that, and he’d made sure Alex and Gwen would be busy with the spellbound teens.

Amnesia spreading. The Blank Canvas growing. More Mudlark slaves. Even had a hex on two human boys.

Today was a good day.

Time for a dip in the River of Lies and a soothing cup of worm tea.

The Screenwriter’s Bible: A Review

David Trottier’s book, The Screenwriter’s Bible, is a must have for anyone who wants to write a solid screenplay. With everything from the basics of storytelling and character development to how to revise to a workbook with exercises for writer’s block, this manuscript will set even beginners on the perfect course. After writing several screenplays that I had yet to send out, I bought it primarily for the the formatting guides. Even though I’d been using Final Draft I had several questions about the exact spacing of words in slug lines and what the overall appearance of either a paper submitted or electronically submitted screenplay should be. As a novelist and short story writer I discovered long ago that a simple formatting mistake can lead to rejection. Trottier also gives great tips on when one can break the rules and the difference between formatting TV and film scripts.
In addition to wonderful writing tips, David Trottier gives excellent advice on how one should protect, sell, and prepare a manuscript. This includes how to schedule ones self and some popular venues today.

Peace Cards: Kids Resolving Conflicts in a Few Easy Steps

Ms. Woodward! She’s being mean to me!” “Mom, he went in my room again!” “Mr. Garcia, Sam won’t play with me.” If these outbursts sound familiar, you’ve probably found that every fix was temporary. And frustrating. But don’t worry, most teachers and parents feel the same way.

So what to do? If you can’t fix these problems, who will?

The children.

For years, I tried solving problems for my students only to have them come back with the same exact issue a week later. Then I started to research conflict resolution, reading everything I could find on bullying and peace. I then took a course from Teachers Without Borders on peace in the classroom and began to experiment with tools for solving conflicts.

That’s when I hit on the idea of Peace Cards. Once I started using them, I was amazed at the results. They really work.
Why?
They empower children to come up with solutions themselves.

Here are the steps I go through with my students:

First, you’ll need to teach them the three types of conflict resolution.

Materials: Index cards, markers or crayons, whiteboard.

Step 1) Write the following on the board, chart paper or electronic whiteboard:
a) Passive = Giving in to another. (lose, win)
b) Aggressive = Attacking another. (lose, lose)
c) Assertive = Be firm with desired outcome. (win, win)
Step 2) Explain to children that these are the three ways that conflicts or problems can be resolved.
Step 3) Give examples of each. a) Passive might be when one child says, “Give me your lunch money,” and the other gives it freely. In this case the victim loses but the bully wins.( lose, win) b) Aggressive might be when one child says, “Give me your lunch money,” and the other responds by punching him in the nose. In this case both get hurt and in trouble. (lose, lose) c)Assertive vocabulary is when one child says, “Give me your lunch money,” and the other responds with a strong no without resorting to name calling. (win,win)

I usually invite a student to role play these choices with me, overacting in a silly way with overly exaggerated gestures to get them to laugh about how ridiculous it is to punch a kid (for aggressive behavior) or to shrink away with a Charlie Brown voice (for passive behavior.) Then we role play the assertive no demonstrating the effectiveness of standing up for yourself peacefully.

Step 4) Write three headings on the board

Passive Aggressive Assertive

Ask students to give examples of when they’ve experienced each and record their responses.

Step 5) Show students examples of Peace Cards. Go over good choice examples written on the back. Then Pass out index cards and invite children to make their own positive choice for conflict resolution. They draw and write a caption for a good choice.

Step 6) Collect. Place inside a basket or a box in a easily visible place. This will remind the class of positive choices for the future. Tell students that if they ever have a conflict with another child in the future they can make a new card or share an existing one with him/her.

Follow up: Now whenever students have conflicts that do not need serious intervention by an adult, tell them to use these tools. Have the disagreeing children discuss how to come up with a win-win situation and then invite them to make Peace Cards about how they could handle the situation better.

You’ll be surprised at their solutions.
Good luck!

Finding Joy: A Teen’s Journey

I hide the bruises while they say hippie wannabe, dog, and freak. But I am Joy. Its my name! And I’m really trying to live it.

Beat it Out: Screenplay Outlining

Over the past year I have been working on adapting Artania: The Pharaohs’ Cry as a screenplay. To be honest, my early drafts sucked but then a fellow writer suggested I follow the “Beat it Out” directions in Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat. As I read the process my eyes widened and my gut started to twist into knots.

I have to do all that? For something that’s a third the length of the novel? My hard-working angel on one shoulder argued with the lazy devil on the other for a couple of days before the cherub finally won out. And I got to work.

I bought a stack of notecards and then wrote each scene on a separate on. Once I had them all I placed them on the floor of my office in order. Then I looked at the progression of scenes and arranged them into acts.

Soon, it was pretty obvious what didn’t work. The hard part was then trying to come up with some that did! I tried some brainstorming techniques like sketching and soon had new note cards and arranged in a better order.

I paced that room for several days trying to get the sequences in my head. Sometimes I’d take out one or two, or move them but in a couple of weeks I had an outline that flowed pretty well. I was pleased how the beginning and end were two bookends mirroring each other.

Not the easiest process, but one I’d definitely recommend to anyone who is struggling with a screenplay. Now months later I have a screenplay that I can be proud of.

A Little Shameless Self Promotion

“Our world will be saved if their art is true,” says Artania’s Prophecy. True art? WTF is that?

True art is that magical place of creativity inside us all that makes us believe in our own wonder. And that’s the theme of the Artania Chronicles. To inspire true art and take us to love, of self, family, partners, and more.

I am pretty friggin proud of this work. Even though I have taught full time for the past thirty years I still started each day in words, rising early to hit the keys. And now I have five published Artania novels and three other stand alones. Go me!

And they’re good! Each an adventure to another world where all art is alive. Populated with different art genres: The Impressionist Republic. Surrealia. The Renaissance Nation. Gothia. The Land of Antiquities. Painstakingly researched, there lives the art of Leonardo, Dali, Kahlo, Monet, and so many more.

Freaking unique.

But you don’t have take my word for it. Here’s what people are saying about The Artania Chronicles.

All for sale from multiple outlets including Barnes and Noble, Target, Amazon, Google Play, Apple Books and more!