Anya blinked a few times. Plimpy soup? That... didn't sound very appetizing. The Gryffindor had seen plimpies before. In fact, her brother had a pond of them. Anya did not want a soupful of them. And she was about to ask how that was a best seller when the guest lady spoke.

Plimpy soup for the soul. ... a collection of stories. She still didn't quite get it. But not enough to ask any questions. She was way to interested in her ice cream. So instead she just smiled what she hoped was an encouraging 'You may continue' smile.

So....cool. He wasn't late.

Finishing off his cookies, Dylan moved to a beanbag, flopping down in it. More and more people were showing up...Merlin, was everyone coming to this thing? He'd even seen a couple of professors. Flamsteed and Romanos.

They were clearly in love with one another. The flirting and whatnot...and the mini!war. It was fooling no one. The Slytherin had been there, done that...Perhaps he and Professor Flamsteed would have a talk about girls sometime...

Anyway...

Comments. Yes. He had one. "Isn't that...kinda like the muggle book, Chicken Soup for the Soul?" Someone's copyright had been shredded for that one. "Would you say reading book like this actually help people in their day to day lives?" Did he sound cynical? That wasn't his intention...A book had never helped him with personal problems before, though.

Now that all that was cleared up, they could stop looking at her like she'd shown up soaked in mud. Seeing her here wasn't all that strange...yeah...yeah it was. Never again--oh unless there was gonna be food, but there was always food, wasn't there???

So shhhhh Aidan, she wanted to listen.

...

Blink. Blink,

On second thought, go on talking because she could tell this would all make her go brain dead real quick. Reading and books and stories all in one book. What even? No one told her this would happen if she showed up. Warn a girl next time! Lex had a question, oh yes she did so her hand shot up. "Where'd you get the attention span to sit and write a story without going half mad?" Sitting and writing, dangerous combination right there.

In response to Mr. Kitridge's assessment of her plate, the thirteen year old looked up from her mound of ice cream and said, "That's right, Eliza it is! And oh, yes. Erm..." A bit embarrassed at how much she'd just realized she'd taken, she glanced down at the food and back up again. "Yes I guess I am!" She flashed a quick smile and went on to the bean bag to eat it. All of it.


So they'd be hearing from an author today by the looks of it. That's pretty neat, Eliza thought as she slipped another spoonful into her mouth. And there are professors here too? Cool. Maybe she's really good then? She gave each of her professors a happy little nod as they entered. And once Beezus arrived, finally, the young eaglet smiled at her too - hoping to help her not feel so bad about being late to another meeting. As for questions about the book, she could think of only one thing so far. She raised her hand to ask the woman, "Ma'am, how many writers helped to make this book exactly? How long did it take to put it all together?" She thought collaborating with that many people might be really difficult and wondered how they worked out all the little details.

Her eyes flickered over to the few scramblers who showed up late to the meeting. Norma gave each of them a welcoming smile, a sign that she was happy that they showed up even if they were a tiny bit late. She was even quite surprised that a couple more of the school’s staff decided to make an appearance. The more the merrier! There certainly was plenty of cookies and ice cream to go around. The woman noticed that everyone present was enjoying these treats. Now all she had to do was wait for the students to have a sugar rush. Waiting for questions to be asked, she took a sip of her tea.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Oh oh! She was asking for questions and he totally had an awesome one. "Mrs. Smith, don't you think ice cream would make a better secret ingredient?"

And the first question was asked by the handsome blond professor. It was certainly … different. She would have assumed that he had never actually read her story or any of the Plimpy Soup entries had it not been for his enthusiasm. Perhaps he just missed the point of her story? It was a possibility. “I do think that cookies and ice cream taste delicious together, dear,” Norma answered, nodding her head. “I could use ice cream as an ingredient if I wanted, though my secret ingredient would still be love. I cook everything handmade and without magic. It just makes it more special for me to do something I am passionate about without whipping my wand left and right.”

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE Govoni

Comments. Yes. He had one. "Isn't that...kinda like the muggle book, Chicken Soup for the Soul?" Someone's copyright had been shredded for that one. "Would you say reading book like this actually help people in their day to day lives?" Did he sound cynical? That wasn't his intention...A book had never helped him with personal problems before, though.

She then turned her head to the first student that spoke up. The woman was quite please that this one had not one but TWO questions. “Excellent questions, dear! I would say that the Muggle Chicken Soup and our Plimpy Soup share a common purpose. It is just another connection between both worlds, like Cheeri Owls and Cheerios.” After answering the boy’s first question, Norma paused to take a quick sip of her tea. Once the cup met the plate, she continued, “Reading books like this can definitely help people in their lives. Many people find these books to be inspiring because they can relate to what the writer has to say.”

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

On second thought, go on talking because she could tell this would all make her go brain dead real quick. Reading and books and stories all in one book. What even? No one told her this would happen if she showed up. Warn a girl next time! Lex had a question, oh yes she did so her hand shot up. "Where'd you get the attention span to sit and write a story without going half mad?" Sitting and writing, dangerous combination right there.

Immediately after she finished answering the previous student’s questions, another hand was in the air. Was this one naturally just as excited as the professor? Or was all the sugar starting to kick in? Either way, Norma was more than happy to answer whatever question the girl had. In fact, this question in particular made her chuckle a little. Why would writing a story make a person go mad? “Writing my entry was actually really easy to do as it was a retelling of something that occurred in my life with my grandchildren. It just came to me and didn’t take very much time at all,” the old woman said. “Though, I will admit, writing isn’t always that easy. Sometimes a few bumps get in the way. But you can always get over those if you are passionate enough.”

Quote:

Originally Posted by DecemberMoon

So they'd be hearing from an author today by the looks of it. That's pretty neat, Eliza thought as she slipped another spoonful into her mouth. And there are professors here too? Cool. Maybe she's really good then? She gave each of her professors a happy little nod as they entered. And once Beezus arrived, finally, the young eaglet smiled at her too - hoping to help her not feel so bad about being late to another meeting. As for questions about the book, she could think of only one thing so far. She raised her hand to ask the woman, "Ma'am, how many writers helped to make this book exactly? How long did it take to put it all together?" She thought collaborating with that many people might be really difficult and wondered how they worked out all the little details.

Then there was another rather inquisitive student. This one in particular wanted to know how the entire book was put together. “Well, there are several writers who sent in their stories. All of them are wizards and witches of the current day and age. There are some of the names I think some of you might be familiar with … like Everett Scabior, the former History of Magic professor; Roxanne Carter, a department head at the Ministry; Ivy Bunbury, who is one of Headmistress Truebridge’s cousins…” Norma trailed off, names beginning to slip from her mind. “Anyway, the collaboration process went by smoothly. Hugo Beverley, the publisher, set a deadline for stories to be owled in and rest is history. It was not a complicated matter at all.”

“Are there any other questions?” Norma addressed everyone, specifically those who hadn’t asked a question yet. “Speak now or forever hold your peace,” she added with a smile.

Ella had been listened to her classmates and the Norma person and the blonde couldn't help but think that it might be harder to write about things that actually happened to you because then you were sort of exposing yourself to the world, yeah? Like...kind of if someone were to publish your diary or something. The thought was kind of scary to Ella but she figured that this wasn't exactly as bad as something like that.

More questions? Hm. The blonde thought for a moment or two before raising her hand. "Do you think it's harder or easier to write about personal things that have happened to you rather than writing fictional stories?"

Leo sat on his bean bag and sipped on his coffee as Norma spoke about how and why she had written her bestselling book. Norma then opened up for questions from the student’s and attending professors. The little question session continued on for a while with good questions all around. The student’s really thought before they asked. After Ella had asked her last question the trail of questioners seemed to die out.

Thinking of a few questions, Leo asked. "How long did it take to write your entry? Got any helpful tips to give new writers just starting out?"

Sarah really was having a good day so she just smiled. Then the librarian began to speak and Sarah realized why the woman looked so familiar. Sarah had seen her at the book launch. Sarah was of course embarrassed of her contribution to it, yet she felt a bit cheated when it was said to be that Norma’s book. She did have a great story in there, yet also there was Sarah’s embarrassing story. She was such an idiot when she was eleven. Now everyone knew that Sarah was insecure occasionally.

No questions, after all had Sarah questions she would have asked them at the book launch.


Sarah was glad that she was excluded, she was really shy about her entry. Imagine if students knew athat she wrote the story? Perhaps there were other Sarah Edwards that live on a farm and have a muggle born mother that she can use to cover up. Sarah wanted to get some writing tips though from that lady.

Sarah really wanted to know. She wanted to be an auror and a writer when she was older.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TakemetotheBurrow

More questions? Hm. The blonde thought for a moment or two before raising her hand. "Do you think it's harder or easier to write about personal things that have happened to you rather than writing fictional stories?"

The question that the lovely blonde girl asked was a fascinating one indeed. It was certainly one that Norma could not just give one straightforward answer to. “I think it all depends on your preferences as a writer, dear,” the woman responded with a nod of her head. “Some people find it easy to write down events that happen in their own lives. Then there are others who like to write about a fantasy world that they created in their minds. Whether fiction or nonfiction, it is always easier for a writer if they enjoy and are interested in what they are writing. I personally enjoy writing both. As an old lady, I have many of my own life stories to tell. But I also enjoy making up fictional stories.”

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nordic Witch

Thinking of a few questions, Leo asked. "How long did it take to write your entry? Got any helpful tips to give new writers just starting out?"

And the final questions came from the students’ very own librarian. “Hmm. I’d say that it took me a little over half an hour to write my entry. I didn’t really keep track of the time,” Norma said, giving a rough estimate. His next question made her think for a little bit. There were so many tips she could give to the adorable young ones! “Well, the first bit of advice that I can give is to write about what you know best. This can be anything you are interested in. Once you have an idea in your mind, stick with it. Be confident in what you are writing and keep on doing it. Should you lose inspiration, find something that’ll get your creative juices flowing again. Speaking of inspiration…”

Norma paused for a moment to grab something out of her large handbag. One by one, she pulled out a signed copy of Plimpy Soup for the Wizarding Soul for everyone who showed up to the meeting. The growing stack hovered beside her until all of the books were out of her bag. She then sat upright on her beanbag and addressed the group as the books dispersed. “I find inspiration by reading other people’s stories. Inspiration can come from anywhere, be it a person, place, or thing. I hope that the entries in this book will give you some inspiration to write or, if you already are doing that, to continue writing. … Well, that is all I have for today. Thank you all for being such a great audience. Mr. Kitridge, the floor is all yours.”

Eliza was beginning to think she might enjoy writing. She already liked drawing and photography and reading and thinking and puzzles and riddles so it really only seemed to make the very most logical sense that she would like writing as well.

She took another bite of her desert and smiled in delight. This was a great way to spend some downtime at school! A nice meeting with cozy seats, good food, and a nice old lady to talk to them about stories? It was great! Her eyes widened even more when she saw the woman was now taking books from her bag. "We really get to keep one of those, ma'am? Wow! Thank you!" She loved presents, especially good ones. Things like books or thoughtful things with runes on them, or nice handwritten notes or drawings or pretty trinkets or really nicely preserved flowers and leaves...all of those were great things!

30 minutes to write a bestselling story?

O___O

Norma was clearly a natural. Leo couldn't even reply to letters in that short time period. But maybe it was different if you wrote a story that truly inspired you and you got into a writing rhythm. Shaking his head a little to gather his thoughts as Norma finished up Leo cleared his throat. With a smile to Eliza he said to everyone "All off you will course get to keep the signed Plimpy Soup book that Norma so generously have passed out."

Turning to the senior lady Leo said "Thank you so much for coming and speaking to us Norma. I think I'll speak for everyone when I say that you've inspired us to write."

Addressing the student's again Mr Kitridge continued. "Thank you all for coming, the book club meeting is adjourned. If anyone has any ideas for topics for future book club meetings you can leave them at the front desk."