Wendy Mass visits 6th graders

June 8, 2009 suezaz26

Wendy visits 6th graders

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← Thank you Wendy Mass

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17 Comments Add your own

1. Dustin DeMarsico | June 15, 2009 at 4:24

Dear Wendy Mass,
I liked your visit, thank you for sharing your time with me and teaching me new things.It was very interesting when you told us to close our eyes and look to the left. It helped me pick a setting I can write about. One thing I learned was that can help me is when you taught me how to write down the key points for a story. I read the Mango Shaped Space and it made me think about a lot of things. I had to think about how and when Mia would tell her parents about her problem. And also it made me think when she would ever figure out what her disability is. I liked how Mia has Synesthesia. She sounds like a nice person cause you wrote very vivid descriptions about her personality. One thing i will always remember about your visit is when you showed us all your rejection letters and then taught us a lesson on never giving up even know you failed so many times. I am a sixth grader at Park Middle School. I enjoyed your visit when you came. Hope to meet you again.

Dustin, DeMarsico
2. john sheehy | June 15, 2009 at 4:24

Dear Wendy Mass,
Thank you for coming to park middle school. I was amazed that you were turned down so many times! Especially considering how much I loved reading Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of life, its plot was so unique. I had never read anything remotely similar to that novel! Thank you for teaching me that tecnique you use to picture a story’s setting. That will definetley help me with my future writing. I will never forget that a famous author came to my school. Thank you for the excperience.
Sincerely,
John Sheehy
3. Nikhil jiju | June 15, 2009 at 4:24

Dear Wendy Mass

I really enjoyed your visit to park Middle. When you didn`t quit after 50 rejections from the editors you kept going until someone accepted it. It showed me that you’re the type of person who never gives up no matter what and it taught me that I should never give up. Also when we did the exercise where we closed our eyes and imagined a setting for our story it helped me with my writing because know when I close my eyes to imagine a setting I could give the reader a better picture of the setting in my writing. I liked the book 11 birthdays. It was funny and you did a good job with the description. I liked the part when Amanda woke up and it was finally Saturday. Since Amanda and Leo had tried lots of things to make it Saturday and none of it worked I was beginning to think that Saturday would never come. Something that I learned about your visit is that a good writer never gives up and always follows their dreams.

Sincerely,
Nikhil Jiju
4. Kayla Allen | June 14, 2009 at 4:24

Dear Ms. Mass,
Thank you so much for coming and visiting Park Middle School. It was a great opportunity to have you come and share your knowledge with us. Something I learned from your visit was to never give up and follow your dreams. Even though you get put down or do not like what you are writing about, you should always take risks in your writing and write from the heart. What you shared with us will really improve my writing. The one thing I will use when I do not have a lot of details is the brainstorm activity where you think of a setting, close your eyes, and tell what you see. This will help my writing be more detailed and paint a better picture in the readers mind. I read Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. I thought the plot was very intriguing and in every page, I wanted to read more. I loved the ending and I love the characters personalities as well. I though the rocks in dads mysterious box was really cool and I thought the characters personalities were just like mine and I could relate to them the most. Something I will always remember is that you should write about something that you would want to read and to always put forth your best writing in anything you do. Also, you should do what you love and do it the best you can! Thank you for taking the time and visiting Park Middle School. I loved what you had to say and I hope you can come back again! I will never forget this experience!
From,
Kayla Allen
5. Jeffrey Rodgers | June 14, 2009 at 4:24

Jeffrey Rodgers
6/14/09
Mrs. Zazzara
Park Middle School
Dear Ms. Mass,
Thank you so much for coming. You were such a help to me and taught me so many different things that I did not know before. What struck me the most about you was that you were trying to find inspirations for books in all these weird places, but your inspiration turned out to be from a normal job you took at your local library. I learned that brainstorming is very helpful in preventing writers’ block. From now on, before I start my writing, I will always spend my time doing a thorough brainstorming session. Writers’ block is something that I hate and I am glad that now I have a strategy to not confront this horrible trick-of-the-mind. I absolutely loved the book I read by you and it made me want to keep reading more. The book I read was called Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. I am glad that Jeremy got to open the box right on time. I thought that the ending was very unpredictable and that is what left me wanting to read more. I also liked what was in the box. I would have expected a note but not rocks. I also liked how he started to follow in his father’s footsteps. I will always remember the way you made us brainstorm. I would have never thought of closing my eyes and turning my head. It is amazing how much more details you see when doing this process. It is also easy and all you need to do it with is your imagination. I will use this technique for many years to come and will always remember who taught this method to me. In conclusion, your visit was enjoyed by me and many others. You have taught me methods that I could have never thought of. You also impacted my life and through your books taught me an important lesson. Nothing is ever impossible and if you try hard you will succeed!
Thank you,
Jeffrey Rodgers
6. Caroline | June 14, 2009 at 4:24

Dear Wendy Mass,
Thank you so much for visiting park middle school. I enjoyed it so much. Something intreasting I learned about you had to through 50 rejection letters. you showed you had perseverance because most people would stop sending out letters after 20, I know I would. Something I learned to help improve my writting is that activity where we moved our heads to picture our setting. It helped so much when trying to think of senory details. It helped me alot with my folktale that I am writting in english. I could think of great details in english to include my storys settings. I knew everything I was gonna write. The title of the book I read was Leap Day. the thing I liked most was how you went into everybodys minds I thought that was really awesome to know what everybodys thinking. I also liked all the drama it was very facanating and kept me on my toes. Thanks for visiting park middle school come back soon!
Sincerely Caroline
7. Ashish Patel | June 12, 2009 at 4:24

Dear Wendy Mass
I really enjoyed your visit to Park Middle School and talking about your books you’ve written. I read Jeremy Fink and the meaning of life.It was a great book. In the begining I was so excited to find out what was inside the box. When I did find out I learned what the meaning of life was. It is to live alife and enjoiy it as long as we can. This was truly a grat book.I cant wait untill you write the sequal. When I finashed the book I wondered if you woul make a sgual and what would it be called and I came up with Lizzy Wolden and the….? I didnt come up with the last word but at least I guessed the first 4 letters right. You helped me out creating your own character when you gave out the handouts. You also taught us how to not get writters block. To plan out everthing in your story. Next time I write I will do the same. I am very luky to have a author like you to meet. Not many kids get to meet a author. It is a privelge.

Sincerely
Ashish Patel
8. Lauren L. | June 11, 2009 at 4:24

Dear Wendy Mass,

Thank you very much for visiting us, sixth graders of Park Middle School. I enjoyed your visit very much, and I know that your visit has helped me not just grow as a person, but as a writer too. Having an author come to Park Middle School is a great honor, and we are all so grateful that the PTA were able to raise enough money to bring you, Wendy Mass, to Park Middle School. Though, I have to say I found it quite interesting that you talk to your cat to get ideas even though you know he/she won’t respond. But I can connect to that because I am caught a lot talking to myself. All of my friends or family members will hear me, and say “Did you say something?” Then I’d have to confess to them that I’m really just talking to myself and not to them. So I understand where you’re coming from, and I feel safer now knowing that one of my favorite authors take a similar action to what I do.
When you shared with us that you keep a journal of childhood memories and those little details in life, I realized; this is a method that I know will improve my writing in the future. You had mentioned that if you kept that daily journal log going on forever, it might’ve been a little bit easier to come up with topics to write about. Now, that I know that the journal log helped you become stronger as a writer, I will now keep my very own daily journal log. Hopefully, in the future this journal log will pay off and help me grow as a writer.
The one thing that I will always remember about your visit is that you never gave up. When you kept sending out your stories, they kept getting denied, denied, and denied. But you didn’t give up. You knew there was hope at the other end of the tunnel. You knew that there will be that person that would read your story and say “That’s the one.” You knew that if you gave up, you lost hope in yourself. Eventually that person did read your story and did say “That’s the one.” By not giving up you accomplished your goal. If you had given up, you wouldn’t have been standing in our Park Middle School media center hovered by your many glorious books. If you had given up, you wouldn’t have been that inspiration to the many children and adults all over the world. If you had given up you wouldn’t have taught me how to believe in myself. Thank you for your time and effort Wendy Mass, and continue to write your mind blowing novels.

Warmly,

Lauren L.
Park Middle School
9. Kola Shomade | June 11, 2009 at 4:24

Dear Wendy Mass,
Hello I’m a student at Park Middle and I’m glad to be writing this letter to you. Thank you for coming to our school Wendy Mass my peers and me really appreciate it. I really took in your tip for writing and keeping your notes of most important things about your life in a note book for help if you need it, that really inspired me so ever since your visit, I’ve wrote down the most important things in my life in a private journal and it has given me so much more insight on how to be a better writer. I also enjoyed Mango Shaped Space and the characters. Zach is my favorite though because I see a lot of myself in him. Because I to do like be different, and remember the most interesting things in my life even if they aren’t charting down the amount of hamburgers of eaten in my life. But anyway your books are really good I hope you had a great time at Park Middle.

From, Kola Shomade
10. Shannon Burns | June 11, 2009 at 4:24

Dear Ms. Mass,

It was a wonderful experience having you visit Park Middle School. There were a lot of different aspects of your visit that I enjoyed. For example, I loved listening to your advice that could help me with my own writing. I may want to be an author in the future. As you suggested I’m going to take a journal around with me and note down interesting events that occur. Also, as you suggested I’m going to try to be around books more and write whenever I can.
What really grabbed my attention while you were speaking to us was how you got your first story idea, A Mango Shaped Space. You told us you went to different places and you did different jobs. Then, at your local library a book fell in front of you entitled The Man Who Ate Shapes and that gave you your idea. I thought it was interesting how you went to different places and did different jobs expecting to find your story idea but, you actually didn’t have to look that far.
I read your story 11 Birthdays and thought it was outstanding. The idea of two kids reliving their birthdays over and over again grabs my attention. I love to see what different experiences they go through and if they change at all in the end. I liked the part of the story when Amanda and Leo spent a day together and tried new things. Leo recited a poetry piece he wrote and Amanda auditioned for a band. Also, another reason why I liked 11 Birthdays was because the characters are close to my age (I’m twelve) I can relate to them. Stories are better when you can relate to the characters and their situations.
Thank you for visiting Park Middle School. I will always remember how you inspired me to write.
Sincerely,
Shannon Burns
11. Amanda S. | June 11, 2009 at 4:24

Dear Wendy Mass,

Thank you for your visit to Park Middle School. While you were here I learned very interesting things about you and about writing good stories. One interesting thing I learned about you was how you resolve writers block. You said that you go outside so that you can walk around town and relax to get your thoughts together. Also, I learned that you enjoy writing from a boy’s perspective, which was interesting because I would have thought you’d enjoyed writing from a girl’s perspective. I assumed that because you wrote four books from a girl’s perspective and you are a girl. Something you stated in your speech that helped me improve my writing was when you told us to close our eyes and picture our setting. I enjoyed seeing the place I was writing about as I moved my head back and forth picturing what my movie theater looked like. After your visit I started writing my own book called Life Always Has A Meaning, I Just Haven’t Found Out What It Is Yet. As I was writing my story I used the technique you gave us about picturing how the setting would look. Thanks for teaching us that helpful technique. It really helped me a lot while planning my setting. I read your book, 11 Birthdays, which I really enjoyed because it wasn’t like other books I’ve read. The subject of the two friends sharing their birthdays was interesting and attention grabbing, which made it good. I think you should make a sequel because you left us hanging at the end by saying that Amanda laughed and saw a lady outside Leo’s window with a duck shaped birthmark smiling. Something in your visit I will always remember is your rejection letters. I felt so bad for you when I saw them because your books are really good and any publisher would be lucky to publish them for you. I will never forget your visit and I thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit our school.

Sincerely,
Amanda Suhovsky
12. Anthony P | June 11, 2009 at 4:24

Dear Wendy Mass,
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for taking the time to come and visit my sixth grade class at Park Middle School. I will always remember the setting prompt when you close your eyes and look to the left and right. I really got some good ideas, and it was fun! That
will really improve my writing skills
when it says, “be very vivid”. I really enjoyed your book, Jeremy Fink
and the Meaning of Life! It was very
good. My favorite part was when he
opened the box! It was sad, but that
is why it was so good. I couldn’t have made it better. I hope you make a second Jeremy Fink (or Lizzy
Mulduelon) like you were talking about. I would love to read that and
many others of your great books.
Once again, thank you for coming to my school. I really enjoyed it!
Sincerely,
Anthony Pares
13. Amanda K | June 11, 2009 at 4:24

Dear Mrs. Mass,
AS i ate lunch with you i got to really talk to you at my school, Park Middle i have learned many new things. It must have been hard to get all those rejection letters. Then losing the only letter that said they wanted A MANGO SHAPED SPACE. That was the book I read! I loved how you used forshadowing in the book. It was just enough to revel some of the story. My favortie part was when Mia clicked with Roger. Being Mia would be cool, but stressful . Seeing all those colors, it must be beautiful. I will always remember the tip of seeing your setting. I was a lucky one to get to eat with you and learn more about you. Writing is something I love to do. I have a passion for it.I have written short and long stories. I am even writing a long story now!It was great meeting you and being lucky enough to talk to a famous author. I love your writing. You are a great author. Keep going. I might just follow in your foot steps and become a wonderful writer like you.

From,
Amanda
14. Josh M | June 11, 2009 at 4:24

Dear Wendy Mass,
Thank you for your great visit. It was interesting to find out that your cat’s name is Merlin and that you love cats.Something that you taught me was to be a great writer make a picture in your mind.This helps you find an interesting setting.The book I read of your is A Mango Shaped Space.I really enjoyed your great description. Like when Mia took a bath you said”I see french horns when the violins go off.” This was on pg 135 or around there.

Something I will always remember is closing my eyes thinking of a setting.It was very interesting and helped me think of a great setting. I’m a student at Park Middle School in 6th grade and I will always remember the tips you gave us. It must have been hard to go through so many. Your very tough.

Sincerely,
Josh
15. connor s | June 10, 2009 at 4:24

Dear Wendy Mass,
I am a student at Park Middle school, and I am writing to thank you for coming to Park and sharing some things with us. They meant a lot to me and my classmates. I read 11 Birthdays, and I thought it was a fantastic book. I especially liked the ending of the book when Leo and Amanda exchanged gifts. I laughed when Leo gave Amanda the Sponge Bob alarm clock. One thing that I learned from this experience was when we closed our eyes and pictured the setting. I will always remember to do that when I am writing. One thing that I will always remember about the presentation was the list of rejection letters. This will help me know that not everything is perfect and you have to work hard to achieve your goals. I appreciate you coming in and I wish you luck in your upcoming books.

Sincerely,
Connor Smith
16. Jessica L | June 10, 2009 at 4:24

June 9, 2009
Dear Ms. Mass,
Hi, my name is Jessica Luong and I am a student at Park Middle School. Thank you so much for taking your time out of your day to visit us. I learned so much from and about you. I found it interesting how you had lots of other jobs before you became an author. I also found it pretty interesting how these jobs had nothing to do with writing. You’ve taught me a couple of tricks to improve my writing. The one I liked most was the one where you think of a setting and you look around, then you try to picture whatever you can in that spot. This helped me a lot because it gave me a good visual image of what my setting was going to look like.

The book I read was A Mango Shaped Space. What I enjoyed most about was how you used foreshadowing throughout the book. That made me want to keep on reading to see what would happen next. I found it interesting how you got the idea of synesthesia. I really liked the book and I look forward to reading Every Soul A Star over the summer!
I will remember everything about your visit. The fact that I actually got to meet you was pretty cool. Also, I’ve learned a lot about writing and new techniques that could help my writing in the future. Thanks, I really enjoyed your visit.
Sincerely,
Jessica Luong
17. Ethan Y. | June 10, 2009 at 4:24

Ethan Y.
Park Middle School

Dear Wendy Mass,
I was interested to learn what gave you the ideas for your novels. For example, you got the idea for A Mango-Shaped Space from a book about synesthesia. I was surprised by how many rejection letters you got for your first book. You had 50 rejection letters before your book finally got published. I learned a lot that will improve my writing. One of them was the character form. The name of the character, their physical traits, personality traits… Another was when you close your eyes and turn your head, while thinking of your setting. I read three of your novels – Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, A Mango-Shaped Space, and Every Soul a Star. I enjoyed all three of them. I thought it was interesting how you wrote Every Soul a Star – changing the point of view from Ally to Bree to Jack. I was also surprised by, but enjoyed the meaning of life inside the box that Jeremy received. I will remember what you told us about closing your eyes and turning your head.

Sincerely,
Ethan Y.