About Linda Ellerbee Channel’S “The Suite Life on Deck.” Debby, 15, Was Born in Huntsville, Ala

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from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate Opening Doors Writing Is Exciting! Writing is a skill that can help you all Writing as a kid through your life. Writers tell stories — Linda said: “I am a writer because I true ones and was a reader. I was an only child, and fictional ones. like many only children, I spent a lot of Their words time with my nose in a book.” can touch As with many other kids, she said, her people’s hearts first inspiration for becoming a writer and provide was Jo March, a character in “Little needed Women.” Like Jo, Linda “wanted to get information. out in the world and write about it.” To give you examples of some of the Her aunt gave her a diary when Linda places writing can take you, The Mini was 10, and she wrote in it every day. She Page talked to two writers, a journalist still keeps a journal. She has saved all and a TV series script writer. her journals, including that first diary. Linda Ellerbee She said it is good for everyone to keep Linda Ellerbee is a journalist, news a journal. When you have thoughts you anchor and television producer. She has want to put down, or hear interesting from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate written several books for adults. She also conversations, or see something you want writes books about a girl reporter in the to remember, write it down. “You can take TM a picture with your Rookie Cookie’s Recipe “Get Real” series for kids. photo courtesy Lucky Duck Productions She is the producer, host and writer for Linda Ellerbee, 64, has a daughter, Vanessa, words,” she said. Easy Granola Mix Nickelodeon TV’s “Nick News.” 39, a granddaughter, Violet, 5, a son, Joshua, Benefits of writing 38, and twin grandsons, Gabriel and Ruben, 2. You’ll need: This makes a great topping for yogurt or ice cream. Fiction and nonfiction “It is important to • 2 cups regular oats (not quick-cooking) have more than one way • 1 cup shredded coconut Fiction and journalism are very Writing as a journalist • 1 teaspoon salt different types of writing. But both are Linda said writing “has everything to to express yourself,” • 1 (14-ounce) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk about storytelling, Linda said. “All stories do with” being a journalist. “You cover the Linda said. “It is often • 1/4 cup canola oil easier to write things • 1 cup pecan pieces have a beginning, a middle and an end. story and then write the story; at least, • 3/4 cup dried cranberries “Part of real writing is editing, going that’s how it’s supposed to be.” down than to say them out loud. I joke • 3/4 cup golden raisins over it again and again and again and Some TV reporters have other people that sometimes I don’t know what I think What to do: until I see what I write. 1. Line a large baking sheet with sides with waxed paper. fixing it until you get it right. write what they say on the air, but Linda 2. In a large bowl, mix oats, coconut, salt, milk, oil and pecans. “If you’re e-mailing somebody, I urge writes all her own reports and stories. “Writing helps you sort out the 3. Spread mixture evenly on baking sheet. you to go back and look it over and She said it is important that she writes thoughts in your brain. It is a very useful 4. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Stir mixture every 20 minutes. way to look back years later and see who 5. When cooking time is through, stir in dried fruit while the mixture is still hot. consider who else might be reading that her own stories “because I don’t want 6. Enjoy as a topping on yogurt or ice cream, or by itself. e-mail or posting on that blog,” she said. somebody putting words in my mouth.” you were, because we forget.” *You will need an adult’s help with this recipe. from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate

from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate Meet Debby Ryan Debby Ryan stars as Bailey in the Disney More About Linda Ellerbee Channel’s “The Suite Life on Deck.” Debby, 15, was born in Huntsville, Ala. Opportunities Linda Ellerbee She grew up in Killeen, Texas, then in talks with kids in Germany, and came back to Keller, Texas. Linda said: “Writing has given me a an episode of She has acted in school and local theater wonderful career for more than 30 “Nick News.” productions and has also been in several years. I’ve seen the world on someone commercials. She has appeared in both a else’s dime. I’ve been able to meet some

photo courtesy the Disney Channel DVD movie and in a regular movie. of the most interesting people. Debby likes making paper crafts, making unscripted movies “No two days are alike. One other for fun, listening to music, and riding her bike and playing wonderful benefit is that I’m being paid Rollerblade street hockey.

to go learn something.” photo courtesy Lucky Duck Productions/Nickelodeon She now lives in Los Angeles with her mom, going back to The downside is Texas as much as possible to see her dad and brother. She has a Learning from kids Young writers Yorkie named Daisy and a cat named Isaac. that journalism often from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate involves a great Linda said her interviews with kids have Linda said that this generation of

from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate deal of travel. “This been her favorite interviews in her career. kids “are all going to be much better TM can be wonderful, “Kids are more honest, more direct, writers than my own children’s and it can be hard if you’re a mom.” less cynical.* In their answers they generation. This generation now is Making a difference often say the things we might want to growing up writing. That’s the good Supersport: Brandon Crawford say and can’t. Their answers sometimes side.” Height: 6-3 Birthdate: 8-16-76 Journalists have the power to make a change us,” Linda said. The bad side is that kids forget that Weight: 260 Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind. difference in the world. An example is At one time, playing college football appeared to be about the *When someone is cynical (SI-ni-kul), he or “the word ‘you’ is actually spelled ‘y-o-u’ last thing Brandon Crawford would ever do. Work in a factory? an interview Linda did with a 7-year- she doesn’t believe people will do the right instead of ‘u.’” Yes. Serve in the Marines? Yes. College football? Forget it. old girl who was HIV-positive.* thing or act the right way. She said she But Crawford, a 32-year-old junior, is playing for nationally *HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. ranked Ball State University — and with the toughness of an ex-Marine. He Linda’s advice to kids loves the fact that led the Cardinals in sacks and tackles-for-loss last year and is pacing the Linda said: “The girl said she just “You are smarter than you think. You kids are blogging squad in tackles-for-loss again this year. wanted to be treated like other children. know more than you think, and your and e-mailing. Crawford, who has two siblings, simply took the unconventional path to She burst into tears, and sat there She reminded stardom. He worked in an automotive factory after graduating from high voice counts. Use it. One very fine way school and later spent several years in the Marines. crying and crying.” to use your voice is by writing. kids that the printed word can also be After receiving an honorable discharge in 2003, he decided to give football That little girl’s honesty probably “It is a simple thing. If you want to be very dangerous. “You put something in a try and wound up at Ball State. And the team’s “Old Man” quickly showed changed more people’s minds about HIV print, and it’s there. That’s why the diary the kids he could play and win head-to-head battles on the front line, just a writer, write. That’s all there is to it.” like a Marine. than any show for adults, Linda said. my aunt gave me had a lock on it.”

from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate Meet TV Writer Pamela O’Connell TM All the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category? Pamela Eells O’Connell is a script Getting started writer and executive producer for the Pamela did not plan on being a writer William: What did the Christmas tree ask the new Disney Channel show “The Suite when she was a kid. But, she said, “I ornaments? Life on Deck.” She has also written and loved reading from the time I was 2. I Waldo: “Why are you just hanging around?” produced shows in the series “The Suite loved reading, loved film and loved TV.” Life of Zack & Cody,” “The Nanny” and She said when she was a kid she Wanda: What is Tarzan’s favorite holiday “Family Matters.” never knew you could make a living song? A group effort writing for television. Writing for TV did Wallace: “Jungle Bells”! Pamela said the difference between not become her dream until she was an adult. Wesley: What could we call Frosty the Snowman if writing a TV script and writing a book he sported a suntan? is that a script is written with many After college, Pamela became an Winston: A puddle! other people. “A book exists in your assistant director in a TV network news department. She then decided she head, and the only other person you from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate TM

photo by Dean Hendler, courtesy Disney Channel wanted to become a comedy writer. She might have to consider is the editor.” Basset Brown TRY ’N She said: “When writing a film or TV Pamela Eells O’Connell writes sitcoms, or watched old TV comedies to study how The News Writing FIND situation comedies, and teaches college writers made people laugh. She wrote a Hound’s script, you need other people to bring it classes in writing them. A sitcom is a TV Words that remind us of writing are hidden in the block below. Some to life, including actors, directors and series where the same characters appear in script and tried to sell it. words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find: STORY, set people. There are about 100 people different funny situations. Joys of writing SCRIPT, TELEVISION, SHOW, MOVIE, JOURNALIST, BEGINNING, MIDDLE, END, DIARY, JOURNAL, READ, LEARN, INTERVIEW, working on a TV show.” Pamela said the greatest joy of her When writing TV comedies, she said: Writing for TV BLOG, WORDS, PRINT, FICTION, LAUGH, PRODUCER, IDEA. job is that “I’ve spent the last 20 years SSSB I VLRECUDORP “You sit in a room with unbelievably Pamela said the biggest difference DO YOU surrounded by people trying to make FTCHLDGNI NNIGEB funny writers. I might say I think it between writing for movies and for TV me laugh. And I’ve been trying to make KEEP A JOURNAL? IMOROOEVWSDROWD would be funny if Zack and Cody become is that in TV, the writer is the them laugh. The result of all that is we super heroes. Then you pitch (or present) executive producer, or the boss. In have hopefully made a lot of people all COR R IWGAK T N I RP I your idea.” movies it is different. There the director over the world laugh.” TVEEYPLLANRUOJA Then the is the boss. One downside of being a script writer IIANMVTKELDDIMR writers start Everybody reports to the executive is job security. Writing for TV can be a OEDDTS I LANRUOJY thinking of producer in TV, she said. “Costumes, risky business. But, she said, for her it NHGUALWE I V RE TN I what could props, art direction on the set, what an is worth it. NRA E LNO I S I VE L ET happen with individual set looks like, the music, Cody and from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate that idea. Each writer contributes his or everything, comes to the writer for final TM approval.” Bailey her ideas. The group of writers has to search come up with a funny story that has a When writers work on a script, they for a sea Mini Spy . . . beginning, a middle and an end. do not just write the plot. They write monster Mini Spy is writing an exciting story! See if you can find: When the network approves the idea, the dialogue, or the conversation. They in “The • question mark • word MINI • number 4 • number 7 also write the action directions, giving Suite Life a smaller team of writers from the on • olive group writes the new episode. The rest the actors suggestions about when and Deck.” • bell • kite of the writers work on the episode being how to move. • sailboat filmed at the moment. Pamela said: • book “Writing a script is so • letter Z Look through your newspaper for stories spectacular because • carrot about kids. it’s like playing house, • letter D Next week The Mini Page is about giving all only real people are photo by Dean Hendler, • banana your dolls.” courtesy Disney Channel year long. • arrow The Mini Page Staff • tin can Betty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist • safety pin

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