Write a Book in a Day

Early on Tuesday morning, 14 June when most students were having a sleep in, around 80 writers and four staff members were making their way to the College to spend writing a book in a day.

The Cause

Write A Book In A Day” (WOBIAD) is a fund raising activity for ‘The Kids’ Cancer Project’.  This is an independent national charity supporting childhood cancer research which has been operating since 1993.  Kilbreda has been running this activity since 2013 and have ‘placed’ six times since then.

Past Winners

This year, we had two teams of past winners!  One was our own “Scribble Works” which won the Middle School Best Book in 2021 with ‘How Not to Accept Your Dad’s Relationship‘ and also Sophie Chapman of Year 7, who was a member of the winning team last year from St Peter’s East Bentleigh Primary School for their book, “The Chronicles of the Explorer G.P.”

Teams

We had a record number of teams enter this year which was very exciting and created a very lively atmosphere in the Library. 

Criteria

Starting at 8.00am and finishing by 8.00pm, the authors and illustrators had to write an original story based on five parameters which had to contain five random words provided by the WABIAD Board.  The parameters differed for each group but the random words which must be used were the same across all groups. These words are highlighted in colour in the completed books.

The books had to include some identifiable Australian content and were between 3,500 to 5,000 words long, and the plotlines and language had to suitable for reading by children who are patients in hospital and who are aged between 10 to 16 years of age.

Fashion

Oodles of ‘Oodies’ and a surfeit of sneakers.  Comfort was the leading concept for the “Fashions on the Field” as common sense prevailed over haute couture creating the perfect vibe for having fun on a cold day in a relaxed library with friends.

Food

Last year we ran a bit short of food for dinner as the staff running WOBIAD were new and did not realise how much a hungry author could eat! – but NO such chance this year with a range of about 32 large La Porchetta pizzas catering for everyone’s needs and dietary requirements – Aussie, chicken, pineapple (Hawaiian), original Porchetta, Mexicana, margheritas and vegetarian!

Simply picking up all of these pizzas at one go was a feat of high-level logistical planning.  However, the demolition of same went ahead with easy gusto!

I would to thank my colleagues who made the day the success it was, Ms Greaves, Ms Swanborough and Mr Fak who proof-read most of the books.  These staff donated their time above and beyond any call of ‘library duty’ and just made the whole day run smoothly.

My Library colleagues, Ms Saugy for printing and Ms Langford who was “the brains behind the organisation” on the day!  A warm shout-out also to the Maintenance Department for providing the  whiteboards and to our Principal, Ms Mangelsdorf and Assistant Principal, Ms Ward for support and sorting out late night security.

Angus Pearson
Library Coordinator