Judy Lindquist's Blog, page 2
July 11, 2021
The Power of a Bookstore
Bookstores are the soul of a community. Whether they are a big name chain, or a small independent shop, they are the place where people shop and wander, gather for coffee or book discussions, run into friends, and discover their next favorite author. They are places of comfort, discovery, curiosity, and growth.
This week I found out that my local bookstore will be closing in September. This was devastating news for me. This particular store has been a central part of our community for over 20 years. I have so many memories related to this store.
As a patron, barely a week has gone by when I have not stopped in for something. It is my first stop when gift shopping, and my last when indulging in a me-day. It is my go-to place when I am adding to my class library, or to my personal book collection. As a grandmother, it is always a destination when I have my granddaughters with me. Whether for an informal walk around to find a book, or to join a story time event, it is always a favorite stop.
As an author, this particular bookstore was the place where I held my very first Author Book Signing event 13 years ago, when my very first book was published. While I have participated in many others over the years, both at this store and at many other book shops, that first one will always hold a special place in my heart. This book store has provided limitless opportunities for me to connect with readers, book lovers, and other authors. It has also been the place of many scheduled meetings with students. I have met elementary students there to talk about books and writing, and I have met my college students there to dig into children’s literature. My husband and I have even gone there for quiet couple-time, to just get a cup of coffee and wonder the shelves.
Bookstores, like many brick-and-mortar establishments, have suffered greatly during this pandemic. As people have sheltered at home and shifted to on-line shopping, actual storefronts have suffered. Even as vaccines are being rolled out and we are returning to normal activities, many people have been reluctant to give up the convenience of on-line shopping. Added to this is the growth in digital books, and it is clear that physical book shops have most likely suffered more than any other type of retail establishment.
And this is tragic. Truly tragic.
If we allow these pillars of ideas, intellect, creativity, and discovery to disappear, what will fill the gap left behind?
I am not sure anything can be done to save this bookstore, but if you have a local book shop, plan to stop in soon and let them know how important they are to the soul of your community.
This week I found out that my local bookstore will be closing in September. This was devastating news for me. This particular store has been a central part of our community for over 20 years. I have so many memories related to this store.
As a patron, barely a week has gone by when I have not stopped in for something. It is my first stop when gift shopping, and my last when indulging in a me-day. It is my go-to place when I am adding to my class library, or to my personal book collection. As a grandmother, it is always a destination when I have my granddaughters with me. Whether for an informal walk around to find a book, or to join a story time event, it is always a favorite stop.
As an author, this particular bookstore was the place where I held my very first Author Book Signing event 13 years ago, when my very first book was published. While I have participated in many others over the years, both at this store and at many other book shops, that first one will always hold a special place in my heart. This book store has provided limitless opportunities for me to connect with readers, book lovers, and other authors. It has also been the place of many scheduled meetings with students. I have met elementary students there to talk about books and writing, and I have met my college students there to dig into children’s literature. My husband and I have even gone there for quiet couple-time, to just get a cup of coffee and wonder the shelves.
Bookstores, like many brick-and-mortar establishments, have suffered greatly during this pandemic. As people have sheltered at home and shifted to on-line shopping, actual storefronts have suffered. Even as vaccines are being rolled out and we are returning to normal activities, many people have been reluctant to give up the convenience of on-line shopping. Added to this is the growth in digital books, and it is clear that physical book shops have most likely suffered more than any other type of retail establishment.
And this is tragic. Truly tragic.
If we allow these pillars of ideas, intellect, creativity, and discovery to disappear, what will fill the gap left behind?
I am not sure anything can be done to save this bookstore, but if you have a local book shop, plan to stop in soon and let them know how important they are to the soul of your community.
July 4, 2021
Writing- Solitary or Social Endeavor?
For the first time since February of 2020, I was back on campus at the University of Central Florida this week! Having spent the last 4 semesters teaching on-line classes, I am teaching a face-to-face class this summer. It felt wonderful to be back and it felt spectacular to be in a classroom and see my students sitting there in-person.
The class I am teaching is for those studying to be teachers and focuses on how to teach writing to elementary school students. This topic is totally within my circle of passion, so it is a pleasure to teach. Our first class this week involved a very interesting discussion on whether or not writing is a solitary or social activity.
Being a traditionally published author of middle grades novels, in addition to being a classroom teacher and college professor, gives me a unique perspective on this question. Writing, after all, permeates every aspect of my life and is something that is an integral part of my daily routine. And with all honesty, I have to say- it is both!
This is not a cop-out or an avoidance of taking a position. It is simply the conclusion drawn when taking a close look at the stages in the writing process and the realization that comes from the fact that some stages are very much solitary, and some are entirely social.
Let’s take a look at each of the accepted stages of the Writing Process:
- Planning
o This when the writer is laying the groundwork for their piece of writing. It may involve collaborative discussions or brain storming, both of which are social. It may involve research which might be more solitary. Planning could also involve outlining or creating character backstories. Another critical component of planning is thinking of the finished product or the intended audience, which could be considered both solitary and social. Planning in a classroom is usually more social than planning for an adult author.
- Drafting
o This is decidedly solitary. Unless you are collaborating and doing a piece with multiple authors, drafting is probably the most solitary stage in the writing process. During this stage, the writer lives with just their thoughts, their characters, their ideas, and getting the story onto paper. No matter the genre or final product, at this stage the writer is working alone. Whether a novelist or a student working on an essay, the drafting is most productive when done alone so that the writer can focus on getting their initial thoughts and ideas down.
- Revising
o For the revising stage to be productive, it must be social. It must involve others. This is where the writer shares their writing with beta readers, historical experts, teachers, or critique partners and seeks their feedback. What works? What does not? Where are the plot gaps? This information is critical to improving and revising our work. Just this past week, one of the professional writing groups to which I belong held a Critique Event. We had to sign up and provide our writing ahead of time, and industry professionals read our work. We were then scheduled for ZOOM conferences in which they shared their thoughts on our work. I submitted a picture book manuscript that I thought was done and polished, but that I had been having no luck with during the submission process. Well, the feedback from this agent made clear that it was not as done and polished as I thought. Her feedback has now given me a new direction as I go through another set of revisions to this story.
- Editing/Polishing
o Again, this stage also needs an additional set of eyes to catch those editing errors we all may miss. We all know how to correctly capitalize and punctuate our work, but those types of errors inevitably sneak onto the page. A clear set of eyes will help to flush them out and make sure our work is as error free as possible.
- Publishing/Sharing
o This is when our writing is sent out into the world. It is finally ready for our readers. And while the reader and writer may never actually meet, this becomes a social relationship as the reader interprets and experiences the writers words and thoughts. While the reader may be solitary as they read, they are building a (social) relationship with the writer.
Whether you are in a solitary stage, or experiencing the social part of writing, my best to all the writers out there. Savor and enjoy every step in the process.
The class I am teaching is for those studying to be teachers and focuses on how to teach writing to elementary school students. This topic is totally within my circle of passion, so it is a pleasure to teach. Our first class this week involved a very interesting discussion on whether or not writing is a solitary or social activity.
Being a traditionally published author of middle grades novels, in addition to being a classroom teacher and college professor, gives me a unique perspective on this question. Writing, after all, permeates every aspect of my life and is something that is an integral part of my daily routine. And with all honesty, I have to say- it is both!
This is not a cop-out or an avoidance of taking a position. It is simply the conclusion drawn when taking a close look at the stages in the writing process and the realization that comes from the fact that some stages are very much solitary, and some are entirely social.
Let’s take a look at each of the accepted stages of the Writing Process:
- Planning
o This when the writer is laying the groundwork for their piece of writing. It may involve collaborative discussions or brain storming, both of which are social. It may involve research which might be more solitary. Planning could also involve outlining or creating character backstories. Another critical component of planning is thinking of the finished product or the intended audience, which could be considered both solitary and social. Planning in a classroom is usually more social than planning for an adult author.
- Drafting
o This is decidedly solitary. Unless you are collaborating and doing a piece with multiple authors, drafting is probably the most solitary stage in the writing process. During this stage, the writer lives with just their thoughts, their characters, their ideas, and getting the story onto paper. No matter the genre or final product, at this stage the writer is working alone. Whether a novelist or a student working on an essay, the drafting is most productive when done alone so that the writer can focus on getting their initial thoughts and ideas down.
- Revising
o For the revising stage to be productive, it must be social. It must involve others. This is where the writer shares their writing with beta readers, historical experts, teachers, or critique partners and seeks their feedback. What works? What does not? Where are the plot gaps? This information is critical to improving and revising our work. Just this past week, one of the professional writing groups to which I belong held a Critique Event. We had to sign up and provide our writing ahead of time, and industry professionals read our work. We were then scheduled for ZOOM conferences in which they shared their thoughts on our work. I submitted a picture book manuscript that I thought was done and polished, but that I had been having no luck with during the submission process. Well, the feedback from this agent made clear that it was not as done and polished as I thought. Her feedback has now given me a new direction as I go through another set of revisions to this story.
- Editing/Polishing
o Again, this stage also needs an additional set of eyes to catch those editing errors we all may miss. We all know how to correctly capitalize and punctuate our work, but those types of errors inevitably sneak onto the page. A clear set of eyes will help to flush them out and make sure our work is as error free as possible.
- Publishing/Sharing
o This is when our writing is sent out into the world. It is finally ready for our readers. And while the reader and writer may never actually meet, this becomes a social relationship as the reader interprets and experiences the writers words and thoughts. While the reader may be solitary as they read, they are building a (social) relationship with the writer.
Whether you are in a solitary stage, or experiencing the social part of writing, my best to all the writers out there. Savor and enjoy every step in the process.
June 27, 2021
The Writing Marathon
I recently was reading about a way to help students get their creative juices flowing as writers. It is called the Writing Marathon. Teachers would take the time to plan out a “route” around the school, with stops planned to actually write. Hallways, auditoriums, the playground. Anywhere that will accommodate the student-writers. Armed with their notebooks and pencil and pens, they set off. At each “stop” the teacher reads a poem or essay or excerpt from a longer piece of writing, then poses an “Invitation to Write” or prompt. The teacher has a timer and the writing time is limited, based on the age of the students. During the actual writing time, the teacher is expected to write as well. When writing time is over, there is then 5 minutes for anyone to share if they would like. During the sharing time, people only listen- no commenting, no critiquing. Just listen.
These ideas came from the National Writing Project, a wonderful organization of teacher/writers. The resources and support materials were recently posted on the Write Now Teacher Studio, a place “Where teachers write, share, and talk shop about writing and the teaching of writing.”
As I was planning to use this with my students, I thought about how fun it would be for an adult writer’s group to implement. An adult group of writers would not be limited to a school campus the way the student group would be, so imagine the possibilities. It would take some planning for the facilitator, but think about how fun it would be.
Steps:
- Select the location, route, and stops.
o If you are lucky enough to have access to multiple locations through walking, all the better. Maybe a downtown park, the lobby of the downtown library, and then maybe a history center. Or perhaps a coffee shop, then a bookstore, then a nature trail.
o Be sure each stop has space to accommodate the group, and if it is a business, plan to get permission ahead of time and to respect the space.
- For each stop, find a poem or piece of writing to plan to read to the group.
o Be sure the piece has a purpose or connection to the location. When I did this with my students, in the cafeteria, we were reading about food; in the library, about books; and on the playground, about friendship.
- Create an Invitation to Write for each stop.
o Similar to a prompt, this can be the starting point for writing. Remember though, this is just an invitation, and if someone has something totally different they would rather write about, that is perfectly alright. The important thing is that during the writing time, everyone is writing.
- Sharing time is judgement free.
o That means there is NO commenting or critiquing. Sharing is simply that- a chance to share and hear others’ words. And sharing is totally optional. After, we simple thank them for sharing.
As I get ready to also begin the Summer writing class I am teaching at the University, I am thinking of some fun ways to incorporate a Writing Marathon into one of our classes!
These ideas came from the National Writing Project, a wonderful organization of teacher/writers. The resources and support materials were recently posted on the Write Now Teacher Studio, a place “Where teachers write, share, and talk shop about writing and the teaching of writing.”
As I was planning to use this with my students, I thought about how fun it would be for an adult writer’s group to implement. An adult group of writers would not be limited to a school campus the way the student group would be, so imagine the possibilities. It would take some planning for the facilitator, but think about how fun it would be.
Steps:
- Select the location, route, and stops.
o If you are lucky enough to have access to multiple locations through walking, all the better. Maybe a downtown park, the lobby of the downtown library, and then maybe a history center. Or perhaps a coffee shop, then a bookstore, then a nature trail.
o Be sure each stop has space to accommodate the group, and if it is a business, plan to get permission ahead of time and to respect the space.
- For each stop, find a poem or piece of writing to plan to read to the group.
o Be sure the piece has a purpose or connection to the location. When I did this with my students, in the cafeteria, we were reading about food; in the library, about books; and on the playground, about friendship.
- Create an Invitation to Write for each stop.
o Similar to a prompt, this can be the starting point for writing. Remember though, this is just an invitation, and if someone has something totally different they would rather write about, that is perfectly alright. The important thing is that during the writing time, everyone is writing.
- Sharing time is judgement free.
o That means there is NO commenting or critiquing. Sharing is simply that- a chance to share and hear others’ words. And sharing is totally optional. After, we simple thank them for sharing.
As I get ready to also begin the Summer writing class I am teaching at the University, I am thinking of some fun ways to incorporate a Writing Marathon into one of our classes!
June 13, 2021
June 13, 2021- What To Keep? What Bring Back? What To Give Up Forever?
With Summer 2021 now underway, it is clear that life is returning to pre-pandemic norms. Masks are being discarded, gatherings are being scheduled, flights are being booked. But as we rush to resume life as we previously knew it, I admit I have some reluctance.
I believe that I am not alone in having mixed feelings. These past 15 months have had some silver linings. There have been lessons learned, priorities uncovered, and passions discovered. There has also been, on a more concrete level, adjustments to our daily routines that we have both loved and hated. So, as we begin the transition to our new post-pandemic lives, perhaps we should think carefully about the life into which we are jumping. Are there things from our previous routines that we do not miss and can eliminate permanently? Are there adjustments we have made for this pandemic that we want to keep as part of our lives going forward?
There is much being written right now on our “return to normal”. Articles, news reports, studies, blogs. And while there are many nuances and variations in what individuals want to keep from our pandemic-world, there are also many common threads running through most of what is out there.
Things I want to keep:
- Not going TO the gym.
o During the pandemic, like many people, my husband and I added to our home gym set-up. We added more weights, he built resistance clips into one wall, we invested in a new rowing machine. We do not plan to rejoin the gym to which we used to belong, because we have discovered that working out at home is so much more convenient.
- On-line shopping.
o I have come to love the convenience of on-line shopping. Not for everything, but for a great many things. Personally, I adore grocery shopping, so I did not partake in shipped or other grocery services, but I do love shopping for most other things on-line. Clothing, toiletries, household items. Click and then they are delivered.
- Virtual Meetings.
o The convenience of being able to log into meetings from anywhere, is one that I do not want to give up. As a teacher, I also know that parents loved being able to meet without having to actually come to the school. Hopefully, we will continue to schedule as many meetings as possible this way.
- Webinars.
o As many conferences and professional groups moved on-line, I enjoyed the accessibility. Attending Conferences no longer required trips and hotel rooms, and I registered for so many more than I did prior to the pandemic. The benefits of being able to watch from the comfort of my own home were doubled because in most cases, the webinars were available after the live-session for several weeks or months, so scheduling conflicts were virtually non-existent. While I am eager to attend in-person conferences again, I also hope to balance that with continuing to take advantage of webinars.
While we all rush to embrace our own new normal, be sure to hang on to anything that was a positive for you.
I believe that I am not alone in having mixed feelings. These past 15 months have had some silver linings. There have been lessons learned, priorities uncovered, and passions discovered. There has also been, on a more concrete level, adjustments to our daily routines that we have both loved and hated. So, as we begin the transition to our new post-pandemic lives, perhaps we should think carefully about the life into which we are jumping. Are there things from our previous routines that we do not miss and can eliminate permanently? Are there adjustments we have made for this pandemic that we want to keep as part of our lives going forward?
There is much being written right now on our “return to normal”. Articles, news reports, studies, blogs. And while there are many nuances and variations in what individuals want to keep from our pandemic-world, there are also many common threads running through most of what is out there.
Things I want to keep:
- Not going TO the gym.
o During the pandemic, like many people, my husband and I added to our home gym set-up. We added more weights, he built resistance clips into one wall, we invested in a new rowing machine. We do not plan to rejoin the gym to which we used to belong, because we have discovered that working out at home is so much more convenient.
- On-line shopping.
o I have come to love the convenience of on-line shopping. Not for everything, but for a great many things. Personally, I adore grocery shopping, so I did not partake in shipped or other grocery services, but I do love shopping for most other things on-line. Clothing, toiletries, household items. Click and then they are delivered.
- Virtual Meetings.
o The convenience of being able to log into meetings from anywhere, is one that I do not want to give up. As a teacher, I also know that parents loved being able to meet without having to actually come to the school. Hopefully, we will continue to schedule as many meetings as possible this way.
- Webinars.
o As many conferences and professional groups moved on-line, I enjoyed the accessibility. Attending Conferences no longer required trips and hotel rooms, and I registered for so many more than I did prior to the pandemic. The benefits of being able to watch from the comfort of my own home were doubled because in most cases, the webinars were available after the live-session for several weeks or months, so scheduling conflicts were virtually non-existent. While I am eager to attend in-person conferences again, I also hope to balance that with continuing to take advantage of webinars.
While we all rush to embrace our own new normal, be sure to hang on to anything that was a positive for you.
June 6, 2021
Setting Goals With Children
Goals. What a common yet powerful word. I am big on goals. Setting them. Working toward them.
There are all kinds of goals. Long-term goals; short-term goals; personal goals; common goals. The list is endless.
There are also piles of resources and support out there to help with setting and working toward your goals. SMART Goals. WIGS. Leveraging habits. Strategic planning.
I was recently having a conversation with the parent of one of my students when the conversation turned to goals. She wondered what the most effective approach to setting goals was for her to use with her children. While much depends on the age/maturity of the child, as well as specific family preferences, there are some guidelines that I recommend when setting goals with children:
- Do not have children work on goals that are too long-term.
o As adults, setting long-terms goals helps us to define and refine our purpose and philosophy of life, but children have a hard time thinking that long-term. That does not mean you should not have life-goal conversations, but keep in mind that these are shifting and fluid- as they should be when you are not yet an adult. Therefore, setting up working goals and action plans around them may not work. After considering the age of the child, set up the ending parameter as no longer than a year.
- Definitely have tiered goals.
o That means there need to be some longer-term goals (perhaps year-long or seasonal) and then shorter-term goals that lead to that longer one. This is critical for them to begin to understand that working toward goals is a process, not a one-time act. I would suggest starting with an annual goal, then working your way down to quarterly, or monthly goals that feed into that annual goal. If annual is too long-term, start with a seasonal goal. Then work down to weekly goals to help meet that seasonal goal.
- Make sure to have goals in more than one area of their lives.
o Do not focus their goals only on school or academic goals. Help your child to chunk their life into categories and set a goal in each category. Categories may include things like specific hobbies, (learning to bake a chocolate cake or building a birdhouse) sports they may be involved with, (mastering a dance move or a video-game-level) or a personal goal like keeping their Legos organized. Make sure they have at least one goal that involves relationships and connections to others. Maybe a goal involving grandparents who live out of town or a best friend.
- Make use of a calendar.
o This is a very visual reminder and prompt that will help them to see that the daily or weekly goals that they have support the journey toward their ultimate goal. This allows them to see the connections as well as their progress. Be sure to celebrate these small steps toward the larger goals. This allows you to leverage the sense of accomplishment that they feel when completing smaller steps/tasks and this in turn feeds their motivation.
- Schedule regular “goal-check-in” time.
o Once you have helped your child set their goals, you MUST periodically sit down and revisit and discuss the goals and the action items and the progress. If this is eliminated, the goals will most likely be forgotten. These check ins can be weekly or twice a week, but these check-ins are critical in keeping the goals relevant.
While the goals themselves are critical, the process of setting and working toward them is just as important. The skills, approaches, perspectives, and self-knowledge that develop as a result of the process are life skills.
During this process, be sure to share your goals, and the processes and strategies that help you. When children see the value in your life, that becomes a powerful example for them.
If a goal is ultimately not met, this becomes a valuable learning experience. This is when a discussion is involved to pinpoint why. Was the goal ultimately unimportant and therefore, was no longer a priority? Was progress toward reaching the goal made, but just not in the time anticipated? Were the strategies productive? Sometimes goals and action-plans do need to be reworked, and occasionally, even abandoned. These are all important parts of the process.
And of course, celebrations when goals are reached, become motivational and can feed the pursuit of additional goals.
So with Summer 2021 just getting started, this is a great time for everyone to set some goals!
There are all kinds of goals. Long-term goals; short-term goals; personal goals; common goals. The list is endless.
There are also piles of resources and support out there to help with setting and working toward your goals. SMART Goals. WIGS. Leveraging habits. Strategic planning.
I was recently having a conversation with the parent of one of my students when the conversation turned to goals. She wondered what the most effective approach to setting goals was for her to use with her children. While much depends on the age/maturity of the child, as well as specific family preferences, there are some guidelines that I recommend when setting goals with children:
- Do not have children work on goals that are too long-term.
o As adults, setting long-terms goals helps us to define and refine our purpose and philosophy of life, but children have a hard time thinking that long-term. That does not mean you should not have life-goal conversations, but keep in mind that these are shifting and fluid- as they should be when you are not yet an adult. Therefore, setting up working goals and action plans around them may not work. After considering the age of the child, set up the ending parameter as no longer than a year.
- Definitely have tiered goals.
o That means there need to be some longer-term goals (perhaps year-long or seasonal) and then shorter-term goals that lead to that longer one. This is critical for them to begin to understand that working toward goals is a process, not a one-time act. I would suggest starting with an annual goal, then working your way down to quarterly, or monthly goals that feed into that annual goal. If annual is too long-term, start with a seasonal goal. Then work down to weekly goals to help meet that seasonal goal.
- Make sure to have goals in more than one area of their lives.
o Do not focus their goals only on school or academic goals. Help your child to chunk their life into categories and set a goal in each category. Categories may include things like specific hobbies, (learning to bake a chocolate cake or building a birdhouse) sports they may be involved with, (mastering a dance move or a video-game-level) or a personal goal like keeping their Legos organized. Make sure they have at least one goal that involves relationships and connections to others. Maybe a goal involving grandparents who live out of town or a best friend.
- Make use of a calendar.
o This is a very visual reminder and prompt that will help them to see that the daily or weekly goals that they have support the journey toward their ultimate goal. This allows them to see the connections as well as their progress. Be sure to celebrate these small steps toward the larger goals. This allows you to leverage the sense of accomplishment that they feel when completing smaller steps/tasks and this in turn feeds their motivation.
- Schedule regular “goal-check-in” time.
o Once you have helped your child set their goals, you MUST periodically sit down and revisit and discuss the goals and the action items and the progress. If this is eliminated, the goals will most likely be forgotten. These check ins can be weekly or twice a week, but these check-ins are critical in keeping the goals relevant.
While the goals themselves are critical, the process of setting and working toward them is just as important. The skills, approaches, perspectives, and self-knowledge that develop as a result of the process are life skills.
During this process, be sure to share your goals, and the processes and strategies that help you. When children see the value in your life, that becomes a powerful example for them.
If a goal is ultimately not met, this becomes a valuable learning experience. This is when a discussion is involved to pinpoint why. Was the goal ultimately unimportant and therefore, was no longer a priority? Was progress toward reaching the goal made, but just not in the time anticipated? Were the strategies productive? Sometimes goals and action-plans do need to be reworked, and occasionally, even abandoned. These are all important parts of the process.
And of course, celebrations when goals are reached, become motivational and can feed the pursuit of additional goals.
So with Summer 2021 just getting started, this is a great time for everyone to set some goals!
May 30, 2021
May 30, 2021: The Power of Mentor Texts
I often use Mentor Texts with my students when we are working on specific writing techniques or skills. Mentor Texts are pieces of writing taken from quality published works, and using them as a model to practice that technique ourselves. It may be a sentence. It may be a paragraph. It may even be a longer piece of text.
In the classroom, mentor texts can be used to teach everything from how to use specific techniques like appositives or alliteration, to how to structure a convincing argument. They are fun ways to analyze writing, learn grammar, and strengthen our own skill.
As a teacher and a writer, I firmly believe we cannot use something effectively in our own work if we are not able to recognize it in the work of others. This is why I believe that using Mentor Texts is not just for student-writers. Being able to recognize, deconstruct, and mimic writing techniques and skills is a great way to grow as a writer.
So what are some ways that we, as authors, can and should use mentor texts to strengthen our own writing?
First- the Big Picture:
- Study the work of those who are successfully published in your genre.
o We all know that there are techniques and skills that are genre specific, so read as much as you can within your genre. Select one piece of work you particularly admire and read it multiple times. The first time to get the feel for it. The second, to understand the structure, the flow, the plot, the nuances. Then a third time to examine those techniques that make the book successful.
Next- think about your specific needs as a writer. What are your weak areas? What kinds of feedback have you gotten in critiques of your work? Creating conflict? Authentic dialogue?
- Select some pieces of text that you think demonstrate that successfully.
o Take it apart. Analyze it deeply. Study it. Mimic it. Practice and practice.
Using Mentor Texts is NOT to mold you into a clone of another writer. It is NOT to dilute your voice or your uniqueness as a writer. It is NOT to influence the presentation of your ideas.
Therefore, I recommend only using Mentor Texts when you are working on your general skills as a writer. Kind of like the research stage of the writing process. What we do prior to actually beginning the drafting stage.
Once a writer starts to work on drafting their story, Mentor Texts are put away. The focus is your own writing and the story you are telling. I also steer clear of doing much reading in the genre in which I am drafting, as I do not want to be influenced by the style of another author.
Using a Mentor Text to work on a specific writing skill can be like having a personal writing coach. And there are so many great ones out there!
In the classroom, mentor texts can be used to teach everything from how to use specific techniques like appositives or alliteration, to how to structure a convincing argument. They are fun ways to analyze writing, learn grammar, and strengthen our own skill.
As a teacher and a writer, I firmly believe we cannot use something effectively in our own work if we are not able to recognize it in the work of others. This is why I believe that using Mentor Texts is not just for student-writers. Being able to recognize, deconstruct, and mimic writing techniques and skills is a great way to grow as a writer.
So what are some ways that we, as authors, can and should use mentor texts to strengthen our own writing?
First- the Big Picture:
- Study the work of those who are successfully published in your genre.
o We all know that there are techniques and skills that are genre specific, so read as much as you can within your genre. Select one piece of work you particularly admire and read it multiple times. The first time to get the feel for it. The second, to understand the structure, the flow, the plot, the nuances. Then a third time to examine those techniques that make the book successful.
Next- think about your specific needs as a writer. What are your weak areas? What kinds of feedback have you gotten in critiques of your work? Creating conflict? Authentic dialogue?
- Select some pieces of text that you think demonstrate that successfully.
o Take it apart. Analyze it deeply. Study it. Mimic it. Practice and practice.
Using Mentor Texts is NOT to mold you into a clone of another writer. It is NOT to dilute your voice or your uniqueness as a writer. It is NOT to influence the presentation of your ideas.
Therefore, I recommend only using Mentor Texts when you are working on your general skills as a writer. Kind of like the research stage of the writing process. What we do prior to actually beginning the drafting stage.
Once a writer starts to work on drafting their story, Mentor Texts are put away. The focus is your own writing and the story you are telling. I also steer clear of doing much reading in the genre in which I am drafting, as I do not want to be influenced by the style of another author.
Using a Mentor Text to work on a specific writing skill can be like having a personal writing coach. And there are so many great ones out there!
May 16, 2021
We Are All Writers
I have spent a great deal of time this month revising and finalizing the syllabus for the class I will be teaching at the university this summer. It is a class for pre-service teachers and will focus on teaching writing in the elementary classroom.
Not an easy task, since so many children come into the classroom already thinking they are not good writers. And many never outgrow it and become the adults who claim they can’t write.
The problem is, these claims are just not true. Everyone is a writer. Everyone can write. Everyone should write!
Writing is not something reserved for the novelist and poet. It is not an endeavor earmarked for journalists and academics. It is something that permeates our lives and adds depth and meaning. It is personal and universal at the same time. And research also tells us, writing is good for us!
It does not take too much effort to uncover mountains of links, articles, and websites that tout the importance of the act of writing. From the scholarly articles that cite research into the benefits of writing, to the blogs and anecdotal stories that showcase how good it is for us, there is no doubt that writing is something that should be an integral part of everyone’s life.
We are all WRITERS.
Whether you realize it or not, you already write. While an individual may not write everything on this list, most people would check off several.
WHAT we write:
- Letters
- Emails
- Poems
- Essays
- Stories
- Reports
- Directions
- Blogs
- Lists
- Journal Entries
- Love notes
- Texts
- Posts
- Recipes
Whether these writings are part of your work life or your personal time, we write for many of the same reasons.
WHY we write:
- To understand the world
- To understand ourselves
- To clarify our thinking
- To change the world
- To share our stories
- To connect with others
- To explain our positions
- To convince others
- To share ideas
- To document things
- To matter
Yes, teaching children (and college students) writing is going to involve teaching grammar and conventions, and writing process, and techniques for revising, and how to harness purpose and audience.
It is endless and can often feel overwhelming for both the teacher and the student. But the most important thing is to teach them to believe that they are a writer! Perhaps undeveloped and unskilled; perhaps without yet a purpose and a voice. But a writer, nonetheless.
Once you view yourself as a writer, anything is possible.
Not an easy task, since so many children come into the classroom already thinking they are not good writers. And many never outgrow it and become the adults who claim they can’t write.
The problem is, these claims are just not true. Everyone is a writer. Everyone can write. Everyone should write!
Writing is not something reserved for the novelist and poet. It is not an endeavor earmarked for journalists and academics. It is something that permeates our lives and adds depth and meaning. It is personal and universal at the same time. And research also tells us, writing is good for us!
It does not take too much effort to uncover mountains of links, articles, and websites that tout the importance of the act of writing. From the scholarly articles that cite research into the benefits of writing, to the blogs and anecdotal stories that showcase how good it is for us, there is no doubt that writing is something that should be an integral part of everyone’s life.
We are all WRITERS.
Whether you realize it or not, you already write. While an individual may not write everything on this list, most people would check off several.
WHAT we write:
- Letters
- Emails
- Poems
- Essays
- Stories
- Reports
- Directions
- Blogs
- Lists
- Journal Entries
- Love notes
- Texts
- Posts
- Recipes
Whether these writings are part of your work life or your personal time, we write for many of the same reasons.
WHY we write:
- To understand the world
- To understand ourselves
- To clarify our thinking
- To change the world
- To share our stories
- To connect with others
- To explain our positions
- To convince others
- To share ideas
- To document things
- To matter
Yes, teaching children (and college students) writing is going to involve teaching grammar and conventions, and writing process, and techniques for revising, and how to harness purpose and audience.
It is endless and can often feel overwhelming for both the teacher and the student. But the most important thing is to teach them to believe that they are a writer! Perhaps undeveloped and unskilled; perhaps without yet a purpose and a voice. But a writer, nonetheless.
Once you view yourself as a writer, anything is possible.
May 9, 2021
Book Festivals
Book Festivals are wonderful!
A place for readers and writers to find each other and connect. I have had the honor of being part of more than 30 such festivals in the 13 years since my first book was published. And no two are exactly the same.
From formal and well organized, to relaxed and casual; from large and all-encompassing, to small and genre-specific.
Book Fests, from an author’s point of view, are a great way to “get out there”. Categorized under the sales, marketing, and publicity part of our careers. We pack up our books, banners, and swag and set up our tables. We smile and greet strangers and friends alike. We get to talk with both fans and new readers about our stories, our characters, and our processes. We do readings, sign books, and take pictures. It is so very different from our day-to-day work of writing and revising and writing and revising- most times in isolation.
And some Book Fests are wildly successful for us in terms of sales, while some are dismal. But they all allow us the opportunity to connect with the readers of our work.
Book Fests, from a reader’s point of view, are also awesome. It is a chance to chat with an author whose work you have enjoyed, and a chance to perhaps discover new works. It is a chance to support the art of literature and the power of books. It is an opportunity to get signed books as gifts for loved ones, and to add to your own collections. It is a place of inspiration and discovery.
Sadly, Book Festivals as a face-to-face event evaporated a year ago. Yes, some are on their way back, but virtual Book Fests have jumped in to fill the gap. So how do they measure up?
While you may miss out on the intimate discussion with the author, as a reader, there are many benefits of a virtual Book Fest:
- You can fit it into your schedule.
Most virtual Book Fests are longer in length, some spanning weeks, not days, so you can “attend” when it works for you. Available 24 hours, you can browse when insomnia hits or you have that lull in your work on the computer.
- You do not have to go anywhere.
With your technology tool, you can visit the Book Fest from your home, your backyard, or the beach. No need to get in your car and go somewhere.
- You can easily share the experience with others who might enjoy the books or authors featured. Posting a review, sending a link, tagging a friend, adding a picture- these are all things that allow you to let your friends and family know about this great opportunity.
There are also benefits for the author:
- Once your on-line “booth” is set up, there is no work. You do not need to pack up and haul things to a location. You do not need to break things down and store them at night. You do not have to re-stock your displays.
- You do not have to go anywhere or commit to specific hours. Your booth is there as long as the Book Fest is open. Once you have uploaded your pictures, links, videos, books and downloads, you do not need to be there.
- A recorded interview can reach so many more readers. I only have to “chat” once and then anyone interested can listen to my talk.
This current Book Expo was only going to run til May 10th, but it has been so successful, they are extending it! So before this ends, be sure to check out the Florida Writers Book Expo at: www.floridawritersbooks.com
And my specific booth: www.floridawritersbooks.com/judy-lind...
A place for readers and writers to find each other and connect. I have had the honor of being part of more than 30 such festivals in the 13 years since my first book was published. And no two are exactly the same.
From formal and well organized, to relaxed and casual; from large and all-encompassing, to small and genre-specific.
Book Fests, from an author’s point of view, are a great way to “get out there”. Categorized under the sales, marketing, and publicity part of our careers. We pack up our books, banners, and swag and set up our tables. We smile and greet strangers and friends alike. We get to talk with both fans and new readers about our stories, our characters, and our processes. We do readings, sign books, and take pictures. It is so very different from our day-to-day work of writing and revising and writing and revising- most times in isolation.
And some Book Fests are wildly successful for us in terms of sales, while some are dismal. But they all allow us the opportunity to connect with the readers of our work.
Book Fests, from a reader’s point of view, are also awesome. It is a chance to chat with an author whose work you have enjoyed, and a chance to perhaps discover new works. It is a chance to support the art of literature and the power of books. It is an opportunity to get signed books as gifts for loved ones, and to add to your own collections. It is a place of inspiration and discovery.
Sadly, Book Festivals as a face-to-face event evaporated a year ago. Yes, some are on their way back, but virtual Book Fests have jumped in to fill the gap. So how do they measure up?
While you may miss out on the intimate discussion with the author, as a reader, there are many benefits of a virtual Book Fest:
- You can fit it into your schedule.
Most virtual Book Fests are longer in length, some spanning weeks, not days, so you can “attend” when it works for you. Available 24 hours, you can browse when insomnia hits or you have that lull in your work on the computer.
- You do not have to go anywhere.
With your technology tool, you can visit the Book Fest from your home, your backyard, or the beach. No need to get in your car and go somewhere.
- You can easily share the experience with others who might enjoy the books or authors featured. Posting a review, sending a link, tagging a friend, adding a picture- these are all things that allow you to let your friends and family know about this great opportunity.
There are also benefits for the author:
- Once your on-line “booth” is set up, there is no work. You do not need to pack up and haul things to a location. You do not need to break things down and store them at night. You do not have to re-stock your displays.
- You do not have to go anywhere or commit to specific hours. Your booth is there as long as the Book Fest is open. Once you have uploaded your pictures, links, videos, books and downloads, you do not need to be there.
- A recorded interview can reach so many more readers. I only have to “chat” once and then anyone interested can listen to my talk.
This current Book Expo was only going to run til May 10th, but it has been so successful, they are extending it! So before this ends, be sure to check out the Florida Writers Book Expo at: www.floridawritersbooks.com
And my specific booth: www.floridawritersbooks.com/judy-lind...
May 2, 2021
Social Limbo
What a strange place we currently inhabit.
The shut-downs of the past year are easing, and every day, millions of vaccine doses are being given. Economic indicators are promising, and for the first time in over a year, people are making plans and looking ahead with optimism.
Yet on the other hand, virus mutations have taken hold and actual covid case numbers are once again on the rise. Scientific experts are urging caution and vigilance as we navigate this critical transition.
This leaves so many of us in social limbo.
For someone who leans toward introvert tendencies, last March when the CDC and WHO guidelines told us to shrink our social circle into a pandemic-bubble, it was not difficult for me to do. I found comfort in the solitude. I enjoyed the extra time in my calendar that used to be filled with attending events and socializing. I enjoyed participating through virtual options for some events that were sidelined, and others, I just skipped all together. I do love to entertain, and missed hosting cocktail and dinner parties, but I easily adjusted to weekends of gardening, cooking, reading, writing, and time with my immediate family members.
Depending on where you live, mandates and expectations differ, which complicates this transition phase. There are no hard and fast rules for how and when to “return to normal”. There are so many things to consider. Family work and health situations vary so greatly and yet are so central to these decisions.
So the current question for each of us is- at this point, how much should we really open up our social circle?
Many people have already thrown caution to the wind and have resumed their pre-pandemic lives. Maskless and defiant, they are once again gathering in enormous groups, with no effort to physically distance themselves. This cavalier approach could easily threaten to undo all the progress being made.
However, staying in a strict pandemic-bubble does nothing to help us transition to normalcy.
How does one strike the appropriate balance?
This question was front and center for me recently, when a dear friend and neighbor invited us for cocktails and appetizers with a group of also-vaccinated people. Most were mutual friends, but a few were friends from out of state visiting them. Ultimately, we passed on the invitation. Mainly because our kids and grandkids are not yet fully vaccinated and we could still potentially expose them. But another invitation for dinner at a friend’s, we accepted. The risk was much lower. I now sit looking at an invitation for a baby shower. A face-to-face gathering of many friends with a celebratory meal. I do not know the vaccination status of most of the other guests, and I have no idea of their social interactions and therefore their risk factor. I will send a gift, but will not be attending. I hope she understands.
As we navigate this time of social limbo and try to strike the right balance, let’s make sure we support our friends and family in the choices they make. They may have a different threshold and different risk-tolerances. Everyone needs to make the choices that feel right for them, even if they are different than the choices we make at this time.
The shut-downs of the past year are easing, and every day, millions of vaccine doses are being given. Economic indicators are promising, and for the first time in over a year, people are making plans and looking ahead with optimism.
Yet on the other hand, virus mutations have taken hold and actual covid case numbers are once again on the rise. Scientific experts are urging caution and vigilance as we navigate this critical transition.
This leaves so many of us in social limbo.
For someone who leans toward introvert tendencies, last March when the CDC and WHO guidelines told us to shrink our social circle into a pandemic-bubble, it was not difficult for me to do. I found comfort in the solitude. I enjoyed the extra time in my calendar that used to be filled with attending events and socializing. I enjoyed participating through virtual options for some events that were sidelined, and others, I just skipped all together. I do love to entertain, and missed hosting cocktail and dinner parties, but I easily adjusted to weekends of gardening, cooking, reading, writing, and time with my immediate family members.
Depending on where you live, mandates and expectations differ, which complicates this transition phase. There are no hard and fast rules for how and when to “return to normal”. There are so many things to consider. Family work and health situations vary so greatly and yet are so central to these decisions.
So the current question for each of us is- at this point, how much should we really open up our social circle?
Many people have already thrown caution to the wind and have resumed their pre-pandemic lives. Maskless and defiant, they are once again gathering in enormous groups, with no effort to physically distance themselves. This cavalier approach could easily threaten to undo all the progress being made.
However, staying in a strict pandemic-bubble does nothing to help us transition to normalcy.
How does one strike the appropriate balance?
This question was front and center for me recently, when a dear friend and neighbor invited us for cocktails and appetizers with a group of also-vaccinated people. Most were mutual friends, but a few were friends from out of state visiting them. Ultimately, we passed on the invitation. Mainly because our kids and grandkids are not yet fully vaccinated and we could still potentially expose them. But another invitation for dinner at a friend’s, we accepted. The risk was much lower. I now sit looking at an invitation for a baby shower. A face-to-face gathering of many friends with a celebratory meal. I do not know the vaccination status of most of the other guests, and I have no idea of their social interactions and therefore their risk factor. I will send a gift, but will not be attending. I hope she understands.
As we navigate this time of social limbo and try to strike the right balance, let’s make sure we support our friends and family in the choices they make. They may have a different threshold and different risk-tolerances. Everyone needs to make the choices that feel right for them, even if they are different than the choices we make at this time.
April 25, 2021
The Power of a Day-Job
I am once again grateful that I am not a full-time author.
I know- that seems to be in conflict with the goal of most people who want a career as a writer. For many aspiring writers, the indicator of whether or not they are a real writer, is if they support themselves through their writing. Does their writing pay the bills?
However, there is something to be said for the power of a day job. Elizabeth Gilbert has often talked about how she purposefully kept her early years as a writer free of economic demands by always having another job that paid the bills. She said this was to protect her creativity and her art. It wasn’t until her fourth book was published, (Eat, Pray, Love -which was also made into a movie) that she says she had the courage to be a full-time writer.
I was recently attending (virtually) a panel discussion with several Children’s Book Agents, and one specifically talked about how she loved working with writers who were not full-time authors. She said they often had a passion and joy in the work that those who wrote full-time did not have. Not because they were any more talented, but because they did not have the added pressure of forcing their work to pay the bills. Their writing was the “fun” part of their life.
The reality is that writing books is not typically a lucrative career for the vast majority of authors anyway. Yes, there are the glamorous success stories of the authors who constantly and consistently grace the best-seller lists with everything they write, but they are truly only a fraction of the published authors out there.
For most of us, the income from our writing alone, will never reach the levels of the giants in the field. That however, does not mean our writing is any less valuable. And not being a full-time writer, does not make us any less a real writer. And personally, I find there are several benefits to not being a full-time writer.
The benefits of not forcing your writing to pay your bills:
- I can be more patient- with both myself and my projects.
Writing takes time. Quality writing takes even more time. And the wheels of the publishing world move slowly. It is much less stressful to endure the long and winding journey when buying my groceries or paying my mortgage is not hinging on my writing sales.
- The joy does not get overshadowed by the day-to-day realities of economics.
I love writing. Every single stage, from the idea taking hold, to the planning, research, drafting, revising, and submitting. Watching each project grow and shift is a constant thrill. Since I do not have to constantly think about the economic impact of each project, I can savor and enjoy every part of the project and let it move at its own pace.
- I do not have to ever settle or compromise.
I have known professional writers who have taken on free-lance work or agreed to specific projects, not because the work excited them, but because they needed the paycheck. I do not want my writing to become something I have to do. It is something I get to do!
- My writing career has grown organically.
When something grows in a natural way, the effort is not forced, the result is a thing of beauty. It grows to fit perfectly into its surroundings. My writing is a perfect fit for my life, my passions, and the other things that fill my life. It is complimentary to my other responsibilities and not in conflict with other aspects of my life. And it has grown this way over my adult life, as I have grown in my skill, passion, and prowess as a writer.
As Elizabeth Gilbert said, “Most of the things of beauty and value that were made in this world were made by people who are not landed gentry, they were people who had to get by other ways. They were farmers, they were businessmen, they were Melville – when he was writing Moby Dick he was working in the customs office. He had a job his whole entire life, he was never able to just be a novelist.”
I know- that seems to be in conflict with the goal of most people who want a career as a writer. For many aspiring writers, the indicator of whether or not they are a real writer, is if they support themselves through their writing. Does their writing pay the bills?
However, there is something to be said for the power of a day job. Elizabeth Gilbert has often talked about how she purposefully kept her early years as a writer free of economic demands by always having another job that paid the bills. She said this was to protect her creativity and her art. It wasn’t until her fourth book was published, (Eat, Pray, Love -which was also made into a movie) that she says she had the courage to be a full-time writer.
I was recently attending (virtually) a panel discussion with several Children’s Book Agents, and one specifically talked about how she loved working with writers who were not full-time authors. She said they often had a passion and joy in the work that those who wrote full-time did not have. Not because they were any more talented, but because they did not have the added pressure of forcing their work to pay the bills. Their writing was the “fun” part of their life.
The reality is that writing books is not typically a lucrative career for the vast majority of authors anyway. Yes, there are the glamorous success stories of the authors who constantly and consistently grace the best-seller lists with everything they write, but they are truly only a fraction of the published authors out there.
For most of us, the income from our writing alone, will never reach the levels of the giants in the field. That however, does not mean our writing is any less valuable. And not being a full-time writer, does not make us any less a real writer. And personally, I find there are several benefits to not being a full-time writer.
The benefits of not forcing your writing to pay your bills:
- I can be more patient- with both myself and my projects.
Writing takes time. Quality writing takes even more time. And the wheels of the publishing world move slowly. It is much less stressful to endure the long and winding journey when buying my groceries or paying my mortgage is not hinging on my writing sales.
- The joy does not get overshadowed by the day-to-day realities of economics.
I love writing. Every single stage, from the idea taking hold, to the planning, research, drafting, revising, and submitting. Watching each project grow and shift is a constant thrill. Since I do not have to constantly think about the economic impact of each project, I can savor and enjoy every part of the project and let it move at its own pace.
- I do not have to ever settle or compromise.
I have known professional writers who have taken on free-lance work or agreed to specific projects, not because the work excited them, but because they needed the paycheck. I do not want my writing to become something I have to do. It is something I get to do!
- My writing career has grown organically.
When something grows in a natural way, the effort is not forced, the result is a thing of beauty. It grows to fit perfectly into its surroundings. My writing is a perfect fit for my life, my passions, and the other things that fill my life. It is complimentary to my other responsibilities and not in conflict with other aspects of my life. And it has grown this way over my adult life, as I have grown in my skill, passion, and prowess as a writer.
As Elizabeth Gilbert said, “Most of the things of beauty and value that were made in this world were made by people who are not landed gentry, they were people who had to get by other ways. They were farmers, they were businessmen, they were Melville – when he was writing Moby Dick he was working in the customs office. He had a job his whole entire life, he was never able to just be a novelist.”
