Ask the Author: Jean Reidy
Answered Questions (4)
Jean Reidy
Oh, I always seem to have 5-6 picture books and a middle grade novel going.
Jean Reidy
Whether you love to write or hate to write, my advice is the same. First, read, read, read. Read a lot. Read often. Comic books, magazines, cereal boxes, funny books, sad books, adventures, fantasies – whatever you like … and some things you don’t. Reading can be the best teacher of writing. I actually schedule reading time into my work schedule. Then write. Don’t be afraid of the blank page or the blank computer screen. Don’t be afraid of sounding stupid. Just do it. Get it down. Write fast. Really fast. Write when you’re not expecting to write. There are a million different ways to write. Start with something you enjoy. Make lists, doodle, rant, rap, write poems, wacky stories, diary entries. But just write. And if you want to, you can always go back and revise. The more you write, the easier it becomes, AND the better a writer you will be.
Jean Reidy
Well, I need to rephrase that question to "What’s the best thing about being a children's writer?" Because my favorite thing about writing for kids is trying to think like a kid. And then when all the hard work of writing is done, watching that kid fall in love with a book.
Jean Reidy
Writer's block rarely plagues me. I try to keep several projects going at once. So if I'm struggling with one, I jump to another. I also find that runs, walks, showers, yoga and bike rides serve as amazing idea generation activities. So I usually end up with the opposite problem - too much to write and not enough time.
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