tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266015362211013614.post1645753169497737845..comments2024-03-22T19:31:29.666+00:00Comments on Scribble Street News: VirtualAuthors.co.uk - a new web site for virtual author visits for UK schools.Jonathan Emmetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11413964991466780348noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266015362211013614.post-38382124567848682352014-05-10T09:52:56.756+01:002014-05-10T09:52:56.756+01:00Nice blogNice blogShiela Aguadohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07283870765270238451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266015362211013614.post-50656529947065385922014-03-19T12:39:33.994+00:002014-03-19T12:39:33.994+00:00Thanks for your comments, Helena.
It does mean be...Thanks for your comments, Helena.<br /><br />It does mean being in at a certain time, but that's one of the reasons I limit my own visit bookings to Wednesdays as I'm usually around then. Even then I will mark a day as unavailable on my bookings table if I think there's something else I might be up to. I also make it clear that I reserve the right to cancel a free virtual visit to accommodate work commitments, although I've never had to do this.<br /><br />I don't think it's mean to say that you're not willing to work for free. One thing that prompted me to start virtual visiting was that one of my publishers had asked me to do some 'in person” school visits for free to promote a new book. I had refused as a matter of principle, but felt slightly guilty for doing so. When the first US school got in touch to ask if I'd Skype with them for 20 minutes, I decided this was something I was prepared to do for free. And as I say in the post, I can easily spend 20 minutes replying to a child's letter or email and I don't charge for that.<br /><br />I do think the offer of free short visits is one of the things that's helped get virtual visits going in the US and the authors listed on my site can still charge for longer Skype sessions. Virtual visits are no substitute for 'actual' visits, but I think they could be a good way of supplementing them. I had a great 'actual' school visit a couple of weeks ago with a lovely rural school full of very motivated teachers and children, but it was the first author visit they'd had in 4 years and I've been to many where the gap has been bigger. I think virtual visits could be a good way to plug these gaps and could help remind schools of the benefits of an actual author visit.Jonathan Emmetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11413964991466780348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266015362211013614.post-8237297894791048812014-03-19T11:45:41.847+00:002014-03-19T11:45:41.847+00:00I think the idea of virtual author visits is a goo...I think the idea of virtual author visits is a good one, especially, as you pointed out, for schools in other countries or small rural schools who can't afford an author visit. Anything that links children with a real author can only be a good thing. I also think it's a way for authors who cant do school visits, for whatever reason, to link with their readers. The thing that would prohibit me from volunteering is that I don't like being tied to a specific time on a specific day. It would be like waiting in for a parcel to be delivered. I realise it's not the same thing but it's a similar commitment and I'd find myself unable to settle to anything that day until after the interview. I'm afraid the money thing would also be an issue for me. I couldn't commit to offering my time for free any more than a teacher would offer to teach for free. Does that sound mean? I hope not. I already give of my time freely to several charitable causes and simply don't think I could take on any more. Good luck with the initiative, Jonathan - I think it will be a hit.Helena Pielichatyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00964952838331458329noreply@blogger.com