Member Profile

Sylv Chiang

2016

Sylv Chiang is a middle grade teacher by day and a writer of middle grade fiction by night. 

E-mail: c/o Writers' Union of Canada
Phone number:
c/o Writers' Union of Canada

Publications

Cross Ups 1: Tournament Trouble. Annick Press, March 2018
Cross Ups 2: Anyone's Game. Annick Press, Sept 2018
Eligible for National Public Readings Program :
Yes

WITS

Presentation Description

General Presentation – The Author’s Journey (40 mins – any group size – gr. 3-8)

Sylv Chiang will share her path to becoming a children’s author. Despite knowing she wanted to be an author since the age of 6, she took a long way there. She will talk about her journey to become a writer, her writing process, and the three Ps she sees as keys to success for reaching any goal: passion, planning, and perseverance. The presentation will end with a Q and A session.

 

 

Presentation Length:
40 mins
Genre:
middle grade fiction
Grades:
4-8
Audience size:
flexible
Workshop Description:

Workshop: What’s your super power?

Focus on Character and Growth Mindset

(1 hr – 1 class per session - gr. 3-6)

Sylv will read and discuss some scenes in her novels where the characters surprised her. That’s when writing is the most fun! Then she will remind students that people can surprise us in real life too. People change.

Students think about their talents and the skills they would like to develop. Who do they want to become? Having a clear goal and visualizing success is important. Sylv will talk about what a Growth Mindset is and how it is possible to improve over time with passion, planning, and perseverance.

Sylv will introduce the video game characters from the Cross Ups series. Each one has the ability to turn into a mythical creature and perform super moves. Students will create their own Cross Ups character, based on their talents and goals.

Message: You have the power to change. Visualize it. Work at it. Become it!

 

Workshop: Let’s Put Things in Perspective

Focus on Point of View / Bias and Social Media

(1 hr – 1 class per session - gr. 6-8)

Sylv will explain Point of View and why she decided to rewrite her first novel, Tournament Trouble, to change the narration from third person to first person.

Sylv will read and discuss scenes from the Cross Ups series where characters interpret a situation in different ways because their personal biases affect how they view the world around them.

Students will be presented with social media messages and asked to think about how different people might interpret those messages.

Message: How people interpret what they read / hear depends on their own personal experiences.

 

Northern OAC WITS:
No
Two sessions:
$$300 (half day)
Four sessions:
$$500 (full day)
GST:
GST not applicable