Heading south

I'm off to teach at BYU's annual (and excellent) Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers workshop. Anybody with an interest in the world of kids' books should seriously check this one out. it's an amazing conference.

This is probably the fourth or fifth time I've taught and I'm feeling almost not up to the task because (I hate to say this) the break thing has taken more out of me than I want to acknowledge. It's an intense, hard week for participants. And yet I'm thrilled to be involved. Honored, even. I'm always so energized by my fabulous students who teach me more than I teach them. So light a candle for me with the prayer that I can do right by all those involved.

I'll try to post throughout the week and share what I'm learning.

Hmmmm

I just glanced over my recent posts and REALLY! If I didn't know myself and read these, I would say "Here's a big baby girl who's feeling picked on." How unattractive is that?! Sorry. I'll stop whining about column readers' comments. The truth is that most people who send me e-mails are lovely and gracious. And I am lucky, lucky, lucky to have the opportunity to do what I do.

Meanwhile--I read again to Randi's class. Here's what I learned today. That all the things we tell our students to do at the Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Workshop at BYU--staying in scene, showing not telling, avoiding flashbacks--are true. I think adult readers (and writers) are okay with interior action (and that includes remembering), but I REALLY noticed that the kids lost interest when the action wasn't moving forward . . . and fast.