Mina Witteman – author | editor | teacher of creative writing

Posts tagged “Sieneke de Rooij

Finding the Words Again

Posted on February 21, 2016

I lost my writing north like a compass with an old needle that lost its north-seeking ability. Now, you can do two things if that happens: you can throw out the compass – which would equal giving up on the writing dream – or you can fix the damn needle.   What did I do? I’m not ready to give up on any dream. I went out to find me some lodestone and re-magnetize the needle.   How? Usually, a writing prompt – or a few prompts if I slid down the slope too far – from one of my beloved Writing Maps will get the writing juices flowing again. This time I went on a Writing Safari with my best friend, author and creative writing coach Sieneke de…

IllustWriter – Picture Book Writing for Illustrators and Writers

Posted on June 25, 2015

Illustrator, would you like to write your own story? Writer, do you want to hone your picture book storytelling craft? Here’s your chance! Take the next step and learn from two experienced colleagues, both children’s book writers, editors and creative writing teachers. Become an IllustWriter! IllustWriter is a 7-week (6 sessions) course in writing picture books for illustrators by Sieneke de Rooij and Mina Witteman. Zie IllustrAuteur voor de Nederlandse versie van deze cursus pentenboek schrijven voor illustratoren. Registration: Click here and fill in the form! Date/Time: October 1, 8, 15, – 1 week break, but the work goes on – october 29 and november 5 and 12, 2015 (backup date november 19, 2015); 10.00 – 13.00 hrs Location: ABC Treehouse; Voetboogstraat 11 – Amsterdam, 1012 XK Course fee: € 325,- excl. BTW (VAT), € 393,25 incl. BTW (VAT) This…

Daily Distraction: Illustwriter – Writing Picture Books for Illustrators

Posted on November 20, 2014

We have a new writers workshop scheduled in Amsterdam: writing picture books for illustrators. But writers who would like to hone their picture book story telling craft are most welcome, too! What’s it all about? You are a fine artist, and you illustrations for children are just what they like. But building those into a picture book – that’s a different story. You may tell yourself you don’t want to be like those writers who try and draw their own characters, which may turn out quite awful. But deep down, you’d like to do a book all by yourself. Why not give it a try? Get help from two experienced children’s book writers and editors. What do you know about different age groups? What…

Daily Distraction: Combing the Streets

Posted on June 4, 2014

IMG_1319

Tea with my dear friend and colleague writer Sieneke de Rooij never fails to end in a marvel of imaginative discoveries. This time, we met a the Lloyd Hotel in Amsterdam, a find an sich. Way back in 1921, the Lloyd started out as a hotel, but in the years after it also served as prison and a juvenile detention center before returning to her old use a few years back. Imagine staying in a room that once was the cell of a thief or a murderer… Every writer’s dream.

We sat outside until the sun chased us in. We climbed up to the second floor to the exhibition of the Street Comber. For over a year, the Street Comber made one collage per day out of small junk she found on the streets. The collages on display were gems of intricate genius. With every collage, a card listed when and where the Street Comber found what bits and pieces.
We circled through the exhibition over and over, every time discovering more stories in these tiny but wondrous finds. We left invigorated and with a heads full of new ideas.

IMG_1320