the langley school

We set ourselves a challenge at the Langley School last month: three days of personal narrative writing with grades three through eight, each class seen each day, with a goal of getting each student to a point where he (she) understood that his stories are important and need to be told, used a notebook and storytelling devices to list memories and stories, selected and knew what clear moment in time he wanted to write about, had it clearly focused, had a great lead, knew the story inside and out, shared it with a listener (and became a good listener as well), and was prepared to move forward and write a draft.

This is the work of pre-writing, which I consider writing. It is process. It is what we often leave out of the teaching of writing, and yet it is the most vital piece of the puzzle. It makes all the rest possible. If it's done well, and understood thoroughly, the writing and revising (which has been started in the pre-writing) comes naturally.


Self-selection is an important component. Focusing that selection to one clear moment in time is crucial. Finding the just-right lead is key. Telling the story out loud is a first draft. Learning to listen to a partner's story and ask good questions is a second draft. And not one word of the actual finished story is on paper yet. It's hard work. And it's totally engaging.

Whew. It was a lot. There are things I would change next time. There were lovely surprises out of the blue. And there were fabulous stories -- the eighth graders presented theirs on our last day -- some of them not yet written, but still well known. Owned. And amazing. Now teachers will take them forward with next steps. I've asked them to send their stories to me when they are done -- I hope they will.

We learned a lot. And I am so glad for the opportunity to do good work together. Thank you to everyone at Langley for such a wonderful three days, especially to librarian Janet Silvano and her team for setting up these days with me, and to all the hard-working teachers who chose do this in the first month of school in order to jump-start their writing program, and to the students who worked with me in finding and telling their stories. It was my pleasure to spend three intensive, process-filled writing days with you.

no more excuses

Ha! On the road in Scottsboro, Alabama. Good writing prompt! Cool.

But  not as cool as Reverend Stud!

Or maybe it's a study of Revelations... think?

At any rate, no more excuses. Here's the beginning of a catch up. Mostly photos. Get ready!

Sept. 28 and 29, Scholastic Book Fairs, Alabama Library Expo, Scottsboro, Alabama:

Part of the creative chaos of doing good work at the Alabama Library Expo in Scottsboro:

Part of the tired team, at the end of four travel days (Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Scottsboro), taking a breather before the last push to... I forget where. I went home from here, and was glad to have been part of the hard work in Birmingham and Scottsboro. Good people. Good work. Good times. Thanks so much, Fairs friends, for hosting me. I am in awe of your talents and work ethic.

Next up: photos from The Langley School, Scholastic San Francisco, SIBA, and home. Whew! What a fall. I'll post these pictures, as much for myself, so I can remember, as anything, and I'll catch you up on the new novel as well. I've been home two days. Two days more before the next travel. I'm in the pink chair now, for long hours. Can't wait to share with you what I'm discovering about book two of the Sixties Trilogy.

southern festival of books, nashville

I talked about Countdown today at Southern Festival of Books in Nashville. I was on a panel called "Ticking Time Bomb: Coming of Age during the Cuban Missile Crisis"l with  Ellen Wittlinger; both of us have written Cold War stories. Ellen's is This Means War!

I got to meet Ellen and her husband, daughter, and daughter in law. Got to hug Helen Hemphill, who introduced us and moderated. Likewise Ed Sullivan -- old home week, that's what it was, at Southern Festival of Books. Thanks so much for having me, y'all.

 

 I took these shots on my walk from the hotel to the War Memorial Plaza (and back), where the festival takes place. I've got my good camera with me on this trip, and it makes a huge difference in picture quality, doesn't it? I haven't used it for a month; I've missed it.

I've got so much catching up to do here... I'll try to do it soon, as I head home tomorrow and have FOUR WHOLE DAYS HOME before the next travel. Four whole days. I'll take 'em.