Exchanging Worlds through our Words by Vera Carvalho Assumpção

I've done many things in life, because in Brazil it is very difficult to survive only writing. But literature is an activity that has always been around me. I never stopped writing. I believe that writing, even fiction, is a way of organizing ideas. Sometimes I joke that instead of going to the psychiatrist, I write.

I participated and won many competitions in short tales. To name a few, the Gralha Azul, where the prize was a trip to Europe; I won second place in Guimarães Rosa, sponsored by International Radio France. This year, 2012, I attended the Anthology GERAÇÃO SUBZERO.

I was born and have lived all my life in São Paulo. Despite the traffic, violence, drugs, floods and all the challenges that arise daily, I like the city. I also like to research the history of the city and use this research in my work. São Paulo is one of the largest cities in the world and its history is very interesting. Until the seventeenth century, with the arrival of the first law school with the intelligentsia and money from the production of coffee, the city was little more than a station stop for troops.

To show a bit more of the city and it´s history, I created detective Alyrio Cobra, who works on solving crimes in the city. When he has very difficult cases, he likes to walk through the center and the old buildings to bring him new ideas.

I think Brit Writers blog is creating an exchange between writers around the world. This is very good because we can exchange our experiences, a real exchange of our world for a new world.

The particular histories in the global literature.

My stories are making inroads in the local publishing world. It makes me very happy to be able to expand my publishing potential by being part of the marvelous exchange in the near future between the BWA and the up and coming Brazilian WA.

Best regards

Vera Carvalho Assumpção

www.facebook.com.br/alyriocobra

The Brit Writers Blog

A Brit Writers Interview With Andrew Lownie and David Haviland from Andrew Lownie Literary Agency

Who is Andrew Lownie and what inspired you to set up Andrew Lownie Literary Agency?

AL: This year is the 25th anniversary of the agency which I set up having been a bookseller, journalist, editor at Hodder and director of Curtis Brown-John Farquharson. I felt that a boutique agency could offer a more personal and flexible service than a large agency and I hope I’ve been proved right. The agency almost every week has several books in the bestseller lists, sells rights extensively to other countries and to newspaper and film and authors regularly are short-listed or win prizes.

Please tell us more about Andrew Lownie Literary Agency?

AL: The agency has over 200 authors ,most of them non-fiction, ranging from serious books of reference such as The Penguin Guide to the European Union  and Indian chef Gurpareet Bain’s Indian Superfoods to Nadene Ghouri’s ghosted memoir of the Afghanistan politician Fawzia Koffi The Favored Daughter and a range of gift/trivia books.  Recent sales include the memoirs of the reality stars from The Only Way is Essex Emma Faiers, Nanny Pat and Kirk Norcross and Spencer Matthews from Made in Chelsea and the singer Kerry Katona, intelligence officer Frank Ledwidge’s critique Losing Small Wars: British Military Failure in Iraq and Afghanistan, Katharine Quarmby’s book on disability hate crime Scapegoat and John Bradley’s After the Arab Spring: How the Islamists Hijacked the Middle East Revolt. A particular strength is memoir, especially celebrity and inspirational memoir, and history and biography.

DH: I’ve recently become the agency’s fiction representative, having worked with the agency for eight years in a variety of roles. I’m particularly interested in crime, thrillers, adventure stories, historical and other commercial fiction.

Other than the writing, what other qualities do you look for in a new author?

AL: They have to carry authority and credibility and have what is termed ‘platform’. This means a good or at least potentially strong media profile, an engagement with and following on social media such as Twitter and Facebook,  and a website. Authors have to have knowledge of the market and be prepared to adapt to meet the needs of the market and have a good overview of the publishing business and trends.

DH: From a fiction point of view, I’m particularly interested in authors who are willing and able to take a story apart and rebuild it, who have a good understanding of broad, structural narrative issues, as well as the minutiae of writing prose. Only a small percentage of writers can craft a really good scene, but those who can also craft a gripping plot that holds the attention for 300 pages are even rarer.

How important is the cover letter, synopsis and the first three chapters?

AL: For non-fiction I ask for the following:

1 page mini-synopsis highlighting with bullet points what makes the book new and special with proposed word count and delivery date

1 page on qualifications to write the book

1 page with a few lines on the five most recent competing and comparable books giving author, title, publisher and date of publication together with a note on how the books relate to the author’s own book

1 page on sources used

1 page on any specialist marketing outlets such as websites, organisations or magazines

1/2 page synopsis per chapter

A sample chapter and, if appropriate, some photographs

This allows the editor and acquisitions meetings to quickly assess the book, what it adds to the subject, its authority, its place within the market, the structure of the book and tone of  the writing.

DH: The submission requirements for fiction are much the same, but the most important sections are the sample chapters and the chapter summaries, as these show whether someone can write, and whether they can craft a plot

Please share some of the main reasons for rejecting a submission?

AL: The agency receives many thousands of submissions each year – all carefully assessed – and takes on perhaps two dozen so lots of perfectly good and/or publishable books are turned down. It may be they just aren’t sufficiently commercial for the list, they are too similar to other books on the list, they don’t interest us or we don’t feel qualified to place the book, the author appears unprofessional or difficult etc.

What type of book/work are you looking for?

AL: I personally like: books which are commercial but are fresh and original; memoirs from ‘ordinary’ people who’ve done extraordinary things whether it’s the memoirs of war heroes or foster carers;  books which make me laugh, think or challenge authority; books which open up new worlds in an accessible way …

DH: I’m looking for gruesome thrillers, surprising crime fiction, and genre fiction with suspense, surprises, and ideally a real theme and resonance. I’d love to discover the next Denise Mina.

You’re a highly successful Literary Agent with over 25 years experience in Publishing, how has the industry changed and what do you foresee over the next 5 years?

AL:  The industry is always changing which is what makes it demanding but stimulating. The end of the Net Book Agreement and rise of new retailers, such as supermarket, widened and ‘democratised’ the book-buying market  and led to huge volume sales at the expense of margin . The decline of libraries and demise of bookshops has hit serious non-fiction with the result that non-fiction sales are polarised between the brand authors with TV presence and others fighting for niche markets. The biggest change, which is on-going, is the digital revolution which has created many more opportunities for direct selling whether it’s authors self-publishing or publishers selling off their own websites. The role of agents and publishers will have to change but as ‘experts’ there will still be a curatorial role in guiding authors through the maze of ‘digital noise’.

What advice would you give to new authors looking for representation?

AL: Read this and other sections on the agency website ‘Fifteen Tips on Approaching an Agent’

DH: Be professional, open-minded, and ready to work on developing your project. Many of the strongest proposals still need a lot of reworking and reshaping.

How important are initiatives such as Brit Writers?

AL: Any organisation or initiative  which helps to raise the profile of authors, effect introductions, offer guidance etc is a ‘good thing’ and Brit Writers is one of the best of such organisations with a wide range of contacts and a strong niche position.

Would you personally read any submissions sent through to you by Brit Writers?

AL: Of course as I would with any submission. If it had potential, it would then be passed to a reader for a second opinion.

Is there anything else you’d like to say to anyone reading this right now?

AL: Study the market and if you want to be published write for it rather than yourself but the book must come from the heart because you have something to say rather than being a cynical exercise.

www.andrewlownie.co.uk

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Andrew-Lownie-Literary-Agency/509805005719466

www.twitter.com/andrewlownie

Brit Writers Blog

…And The End of the World Hadn´t Come. by Daisy Lucas

Now, I´m so disappointed... After all, I thought I´d be one of billions witnesses of such huge an event. So, I prepared myself carefully to the End of Times - times of injustice, power abuse, injustice, prejudices.

In my mind I had a great hope that this end should be a new start, or, at worst, a start for Nothing.

Yes; Nothing would be a better name for The New Era.

This new name would signalize the complete ruin of everything we know, in order to remain absolutely not anything… this world already gave what it had to give - Nothing, or, what is worth, gave the in sensitiveness  Yes, the in sensitiveness of the Power and our own, as so many times we allow that terrible facts happen without a word of protest.

When I figure “Nothing” I can see commitment, responsibility, and no accommodation to the establishment in a way that inequality would not be possibly perpetuated.

In “Nothing” no things should be old; every thought, every idea, every commitment should necessarily be unknown.

The thing is that I was excited to get another Dimension, or perhaps, another “Ball”. 

This “Ball” in which we live announces us its end, day after day, when we see all the hunger some people have, all the disrespect person have one to another, no accepting differences, neither cultural, nor personal.

Well…at midnight I chose a comfortable chair, a fine wine, my preferred book and waited. Despite the excitement, I decided to listen my Indian mantras, of course, but at the very moment I decide to change to Unforgettable, and I done well, because, as we all know, the Maia people told us a Lie, or we couldn´t read their calendar properly and… The world goes on….but I insist we take this day as a mark - why not? - to CHANGE. 

A change from inside, from everyone which wishes a better world.

Let´s create Nothing, as a place of Hope and Peace.

by Daisy Lucas

The Brit Writers Blog

            

The Brit Writers Awards And Why Diversity Is Good For Business - by Saima Mir

Like most people who write I suffer from fear and self-loathing. It’s not chronic, it comes in bouts and usually manifests after a public performance.  I am a perfectionist and this paralyses me. My husband says I’m a ‘lazy genius’. But he doesn’t have to contend with the film that runs through my head, the soundtrack to which are the voices of all the people who have long told me what can’t be done by a woman like me.

I was born in London, raised in Bradford, and I consider myself as British as I do Pakistani. I’m also a Muslim woman who went to a Catholic school. This amalgamation of me means it’s been difficult to find places that allow me to be just me.

The Brit Writers Awards was one such rare and very welcome occasion. The audience, winners, hosts, and organisers were an easy mix of brown, black, and white, that cut across the class divide. At one table sat a ‘Madam’ who had run a brothel, and on another a young woman in a niqab. Both, women who write, and who have stories to tell. Wine flowed for those who wanted it and didn’t for those who abstained, all without judgement.

The Brit Writers Awards achieved something that the publishing industry has failed to do, it made writing an equal opportunity.

Coming from inner city Bradford and not having had the privilege of a private education my network did not include authors, and agents, and members of the Arts Council. Maybe this is why I’ve yet to read a book that represents me or appeals to some of the people I grew up with.

The publishing industry needs to embrace diversity. It needs fresh eyes and unique experiences to shake it up. The task is mammoth and change is difficult. But most groups and organisations fail with diversity simply because they don’t understand why it is so important.

It is not about being ‘worthy’and politically correct and it is not just about tolerance and acceptance, it makes good business sense.

The BRICS countries, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa have fast growing economies and represent around 3 billion people. That’s 3 billion people who could be buying your books.

For anyone who is not yet convinced, let me tell you this, there are more smartphones active in India than there are in the US. That’s smartphones that could be used to access e-versions of books. For any industry to ignore this massive audience would be foolish to say the least.

Here in Britain we have a distinct advantage in that we are a global melting pot of nations. According to the latest census figures, Britain is home to some four million people who trace their heritage back to the Indian subcontinent.We should be working with these people to find ways of entering and succeeding in the emerging markets. In addition, these four million British Asians are looking for ways to spend their money. According to a report by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising this group has a disposable income way in excess of £300billion and a hunger for the arts that is not being met. Ignoring ‘The Brown Pound’ means overlooking a potentially lucrative market.
British Asians have an experience different from those who live in the Indian subcontinent, they want to read stories about people like them, written by writers who understand them, and know what it is to inhabit two worlds. But you would only know this if you spent time getting to know the difference between your potential audiences.
The Brit Writers Awards 2012 allowed people from across class and culture to meet and in doing so discover a wealth of stories and opportunities. The organisation is supporting writers in their journey, and in doing so it is cracking the publishing industry wide open for everyone.

SaimaMir is an award-winning journalist. She spent three years at the BBC, and now writes for a number of outlets including The Times and The Guardian. In 2010 Saima won the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association’s World View Award and spent time researching and reporting stories from Pakistan. She is currently working with Early Day Film on a number of projects. Saima is also the founder of the South Asian ancestry site whosthedaadi.com

Follow Saima Mir on Twitter

Brit Writers

Facebook
Twitter

Awards Pictures courtesy of RKL Photography

Brit Writers Interviews Literary Agent – Diane Banks

Who is the wonderful Diane Banks and what inspired you to set up Diane Banks Associates?

I set up the agency after nearly 10 years working for publishers including Penguin and Hodder & Stoughton.  I wanted to be at the forefront of discovering and nurturing talent as well as being in a position to take risks and develop a list on my own terms.

What type of books/projects do you look out for?

We represent commercial fiction and personality-led, media or current affairs based non-fiction.  I’m interested in tapping into popular culture and current trends.  Ultimately, it’s about having a sense of what people want to read at any given point in time.  What are readers’ preoccupations and aspirations in their own lives.

Other than the writing, what other qualities do you look for in an ideal author and how important are they?

We look for authors whose brand we can build across the media so it’s essential that they understand how the media works and are interested in connecting with their readers on an ongoing basis.

Why is the cover letter, synopsis and first three chapters so important?

The cover letter gives us the pitch, which is the information which the potential reader will have available to them in order to make a buying decision.  We need to know that the book is going to be an enticing and relevant prospect.  The synopsis gives us information as to how the contents will pan out and the sample chapters show us whether the person can write in an engaging style.

Please tell us some of the reasons why you would reject a submission?

This really ties in with the three elements above.  The project needs to be something which is of interest to the current market, be structured in an engaging and substantial way and comprise prose which is eloquent and makes the story come to life.

It was lovely to see you at our 2012 awards.  How important are initiatives such as Brit Writers and how did you find the awards?

Awards such as Brit Writers are important firstly for encouraging would-be writers and secondly for highlighting talent which the publishing industry may otherwise have missed.  What particularly makes Brit Writers stand out for me is its engagement with literacy at all levels, including the extensive work which it does with schools.

Do you personally read the submissions sent to you by Brit Writers and how do they compare with direct applications from first time authors?

I personally have a first look at all submissions which come into the agency.  I’m engaging with the editors in the publishing houses on a daily basis and know what it is they are looking for, and I have a clear sense of how I see our list developing.  The submisisons which have been passed to me by Brit Writers have been above average as they’ve been vetted to some degree, whilst still leaving room for us to form our own opinion.

What advice would you give to a new writer?

Do market research – what are people reading at the moment, and what are they interested in? – and please, please follow agencies’ submission guidelines.

What’s next for Diane Banks?

We’re consolidating our representation for our clients across other media – film, TV, press and speaking engagements – which is expanding our reach and leading to some interesting new ventures.  The list continues to grow and our position in the marketplace continues to strengthen.

by Brit Writers

Brit Writers
Facebook
Twitter

Brit Writers Blog - Idiosyncrasies of a Writer by AnaLuiza Libânio

Computers, typewriters, pens. What would we expect to be a modern world writer’s tool? Never mind that. Habits, or mannerisms, which are peculiar to each of our literary idols, are more interesting.

Rumor says Alexandre Dumas, the father of “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “The Three Musketeers”, would never stop until he was done with a work. He did not like to be interrupted; therefore, he simply got undressed and handed his servant all his garments.

Some writers are known for working under the influence. Drugs, alcohol, and herbs were fuels for some artists’ minds. On the other hand, Balzac was a harsh abstemious; not concerning coffee, though.

Insects could be a problem when writing, especially for Truman Capote, who would make sure of the absence of these creatures in his area. Not a problem for Pablo Neruda, apparently. It is said the poet could write in any circumstance, as long as he had green ink at his disposal.

Sitting down to write? Not necessary. In fact, “The Miserables” and “Mrs. Dalloway” seem to be partners in the stand up literature, since Victor Hugo and Virginia Woolf weren’t big fans of chairs while working; they would rather stand. So would the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa. And it looks like Niestzsche would agree: “The sedentary life (das sitzfleisch—literally “sitting meat”) is the very sin against the Holy Spirit. Only thoughts reached by walking have value.” (cabinetmagazine.org)

At night, in the morning, either dressed or undressed, the fact is many authors have developed different quirks. I’m not sure mine are so peculiar. Let’s see — this is the first time ever my own idiosyncrasies are disclosed:

As for the time, since I deal with a lot besides writing, any time will do. As long as I have an insight. That means my note pad is my inseparable companion. You never know when ideas are to come.

When I’m at my office I start off by checking my email, my Facebook, and replying to messages. Second step, I chose a song — I will eventually turn it off because it will, undoubtedly, bother me — then I type.

Water is a must. Actually, liquids are necessary. If its morning, coffee, juice, or tea are very appreciated. At night, bourbon, whiskey, or wine are favorites — not all at once. Part of the ritual is to pick the drink, which will be one or two for the night.

After the first draft, the text needs to rest. This post, for instance, will not be submitted as soon as I’m done, which means: if I have a deadline, I’ll start early so I can give it the repose. It’s like putting the work in a drawer, except a virtual one, after it has dealt with me for long minutes, sometimes hours; they, as well, deserve some time off.

Back to the period issue, I love the night. When the sky is dark, the city is quiet. I hear a train, some cars, and dogs barking. But there is no loud music played by the neighbor, no one will call or stop by, and if there is such thing as an aura, or maybe a god of literature, I’m quite sure they are active at night. Don’t ask me why!

And finally, in case you were wondering, it’s time to learn: I write totally dressed up. No. In fact, living in a tropical country makes me sit as comfortably dressed as possible and still look descent in case someone knocks on my door. Right! Not at night.

It’s common sense writing is a lonely activity. Not that we are lonely creatures not willing to interact — okay, sometimes we are. The point is: each individual has a way, a method, idiosyncrasies.

What are yours?

AnaLuiza Libânio

Follow me: @libaniodantas

Facebook: ana.luiza.libanio

Brit Writers
Facebook
Twitter

Brit Writers Welcomes Joanna Lambert

I’m late as usual just like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.  The problem is time.  I do feel I’m organised, well I am at work anyway but I guess that’s because what I do and whether I do it on time or not affects other people in their jobs – there is a knock-on effect and questions to be answered  if I’m the cause of any delay .  With writing and posting on social networks it’s totally different.  I’m the one in the driving seat and my timetables are more flexible because I control them.  However there’s a danger here – I need to be just as organised because memory alone just won’t cope.  If I’m guesting on someone’s blog or having them guest on mine then there’s a deadline.  Writing has a slightly looser timeline for me.  I know when the next book should be ready for my editor, but sometimes there are things within the writing process which can throw that completely off course.   

And so with the Brit Writer’s Blog, my intentions were good.  I would contribute, send in my post and join everyone else who has spent time and effort writing and opening up their lives and thoughts on writing to the other members.  I had planned to start, even managed a couple of paragraphs, but other things simply got in the way.  But I’m pleased to say that at last I’m here with an apology and to say hi and how much I have enjoyed everyone else’s’ contributions.

As for me, well, I live just outside the World Heritage city of Bath. Bath was one of the settings for Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion and somewhere she is known to have lived for a time.  Bath is a magnet for writers, musicians and actors, we have more than our fair share.  There is something about the city which definitely brings out peoples’ creativity.  My writing currently vies for my time with part-time work, although I plan to hang up my keyboard and stop next year (work that is, not writing).  Although I enjoy my job I enjoy writing far more and want to spend more time on it.  

I am currently on my fifth novel, The Other Side of Morning.  My first three were a trilogy, a mix of love story, family saga and the music business.  The fourth was a sequel and for book five I have returned yet again to the same family tree as it is something readers seem to want.  The trilogy featured a rock band called The Attitude, the sequel another rock band called Rosetti and in the fifth, Rosetti’s front man is now a very successful solo artist.  The core of my writing is about cause and effect – how peoples’ actions affect the lives of others, sometimes those actions are good and sometimes not so good. I love exploring the interaction between people, putting them into certain situations and seeing how they resolve their issues.  I do have main characters but in general my books tend to have quite a big cast, which has led many people to suggest my writing would make great drama.  So there you have it, a little about me.

I am sorry it has taken so long to walk out onto the Brit Writer’s stage and meet everyone but now I’ve arrived I can say I’m pleased to be here alongside a huge group of talented people.

Joanna Lambert

Writer of Modern Romantic Sagas

website: ladywriter.moonfruit.com

blog: jolambertwriter.wordpress.com

e-mail: taurusgirl185@gmail.com

twitter: @jolambertwriter

Facebook.com/audreyhawkins

Brit Writers
Facebook
Twitter

Brit Writers 2012 – Under 16s Poetry Finalist, Aakifah Aboobakar

Aakifah ( far right) and Family

What can I say, would anyone believe that I could even get into the Brit Writers Awards?

Seems almost impossible, but the word itself says 'I'm-Possible'. Words cannot describe just how much being a finalist meant for me. Being a young Muslim girl wearing the veil, it’s very hard to get my talent recognised, and my poetry appreciated.  Many people would look at me and think, she's a girl, she can’t write, writing poetry is the last thing she could do

But...

Brit writers is not 'many people'

Brit writers judged me on my talent and not who I am or how I dress

I was utterly shocked when I found out I was a finalist

Because all this time I had kept my work hidden, I shied away from the world

Afraid of what they would think of me

But Brit Writers gave me courage

I’ve always dreamed of inspiring people through my writing

I dreamt of being at the awards,

The next thing I knew, I was at the awards

Brit Writers made my dream a reality

A chance to shine and show the world

That you can achieve anything

Regardless of who you are, where you come from or the colour of your skin.

The awards ceremony was something totally out of this world for me. One minute I was just an ordinary school girl, next second, I'm in a room full of inspiring writers and artists...

The evening was spectacular

At first, I was afraid

And I thought to myself how did I manage to come this far

ME, a girl no one would even look twice at in the street.

And I smiled

Because I knew

Writing is a gift, a natural talent that was given to me

And I deserve to be here

This was my chance to prove to the people that never thought for one second that I could achieve something so great,

To show every one, that it doesn't matter that I'm a Muslim, that I'm a girl or that I wear the veil

I am capable of reaching the same standards as others

Everyone at the awards was so welcoming with bright smiles and open hands

I felt like I belonged

That I was like everyone else in that room

A writer, of whatever form

I didn't win an award

But I realised that just being a finalist was winning for me

That I still managed to come this far from the other thousands of applicants.

Many people would judge me because I'm a girl, thinking that I cannot write, recite or perform poetry.

Many people would believe that this isn't right for a Muslim girl.

It's this ideology, that a girl can't do what a guy can.

I envy so many of the great male poetry artists out there, some that were at the awards

Because I know that I have the same talent and abilities, but most people do not believe so

Brit Writers allowed me to prove so many things to the world

They gave me a voice that could be heard, not just hidden in the shadows

Brit Writers has made me stronger and braver to step out of my small bubble and present myself to the world

As there are people out there that care, that want to listen, people who will accept me for who I am

Thank you to all my teachers and friends who encouraged and motivated me to come this far,

who never gave up on me and told me to keep on trying

Thank you to all the people at the awards, for accepting me and inspiring me to aim higher

Thank you to everyone at Brit Writers for making my dream come true.

'They're pushing me down

Because I'm a girl trying to turn around

This ideology

That a girl can't write her own lyrics or poetry

Aint I got the same talent as most men

Can't I do the same thing with a paper and pen

Like them

Then why, tell me why,

Do they push me down on the ground

But I won’t admit defeat

I’m going to make a sound

I'm not going to sit and frown

I'm going to write to my own beat..

They're just looking at the front door

Peeking through the window

Judging by what they see

But what they see is not what they really know..

Can't I do the same thing as most men

Have I not written this with a paper and pen

I'm going to write to my own beat

Poetry's the air I breathe...'

Aakifah Aboobakar

Brit Writers
Facebook
Twitter

Pictures courtesy of RKL Photography

Brit Writers Blog - How early should you read to your baby? By Rumki Chowdhury

As soon as I got pregnant, I began researching on ways to make my baby intelligent from the womb! I know it's a bit obsessive, but it's no less than those pregnant mothers who believe that Mozart's genius compositions will do wonders for the baby. Of course  babies don't come out super smart or prodigies; we have to work toward that. 

So what did I do?

I used to watch 'Barney' and sing 'ABC' while my daughter was in my tummy. Research shows that babies are already familiar with common sounds and the voices of their parents from the womb. I'm crazy as 'Psychology Today (www.psychologytoday.com) concurs. 

In fact, in an article, 'Can Babies Really Read; What Parents Should Know' by J. Richard Gentry, children should be read to as soon as they are born! I read to my baby, but not as often as I do now. Of course, she can respond much better to the images and words in a book at 8-months-old than before. This is because her 'coos' and 'cahs' have begun and she is a lot more active and awake nowadays.

I read at least one book a day, making sure the book is simple with lots of colourful images. I point to the pictures and let her know what kind of picture it is, for example... 'that's a baby, that's a boy and that's a girl.' I read both Swedish and English books to her. I'm hoping she can learn both.

According to Gentry's studies, a baby can hear over ten million words each year in the first three years of life, amounting to 32 million words. Then, by the age of six, his or her vocabulary will be about 16,000 words: 'By eight years of age, your child will be more intelligent, and have better grades in reading, writing, and spelling.' 

How does one read to one's child? With love and care, Gentry writes.

It's a good thing I already do this or so I like to think. I curl up under the covers with my baby and read out loud to her, pointing to the pictures and making conversation as I go along. It helps us connect and she enjoys the time. Also, I make action sounds like whistling when we come to an image of a bird or meowing when we come to an image of a cat. I also point to the objects while doing this. That just makes it like some exciting adventure for her. 

Another way to help a child learn to read is labeling simple day-to-day objects in the bedroom help children. I plan on doing this eventually. 

Now, she's used to looking up at the bookshelf at least once-a-day, hinting to me that it's time to read to her before she takes her nap.

Gentry said, 'I've seen early starters sound new words such as red, /r/-/ĕ/-/d/, red, before their third birthday. After their fourth birthday they can create a grocery list with spellings such as MIK, CHIKN, APPLS, PERS, LEDIS and COLEFLOWR. Use affirmations but don't make corrections or use force. Have fun!'

So, I guess the point is every baby has his or her own pace; our job is to encourage, not to force them to be 'intelligent.' We should be proud of them as they are and keep trying our best as parents. Have fun reading!

by Rumki Chowdhry

Brit Writers
Facebook
Twitter