Regular life feels somehow frivolous, undeserved, when friends in Boston have been recently locked inside their homes, waiting for the next round of firing, when we have all witnessed via television, bombs, explosions, shootouts, lives thrown into grief and chaos. A blog about writing for kids almost feels like playing … [Read more...] about Life on the Back Porch. Life in the Street.
News
Heard and Seen in Illinois
Last weekend I was in Springfield Illinois for the Illinois Reading Association Conference and was fortunate to be in the audience when Eric Rohmann gave his acceptance speech for the Prairie State Award for Excellence in Writing for Children. He spoke with warmth and grace: The imagination doesn't require much: a … [Read more...] about Heard and Seen in Illinois
Wry Revision, er… Revision and Rye…Rye and Revision
Last week I was in Maine, visiting with my sisters Laura and Audrey and my mother. We had a great time cooking, sewing, laughing, remembering, listening to Team of Rivals. Part of the cooking was me making rye bread flavored with pickle juice. I'd tried it once before and found it perfectly rye and sour. And this time … [Read more...] about Wry Revision, er… Revision and Rye…Rye and Revision
Happy Birthday Langston Hughes
Writers Almanac tells us today is the birthday of Langston Hughes. Also that he lived for much of his childhood with his grandmother in Lawrence, Kansas. And this is one of the things that's important about that: Langston was fascinated by the streetcars in Lawrence, and he wanted to be a streetcar conductor when he … [Read more...] about Happy Birthday Langston Hughes
When an Idea Knocks…
It's January again and time for the winter residency of the Hamline MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. I always look forward to this winter "writers' camp," where we talk about writing from breakfast until dinner--and after, with lectures, workshops, readings, and old-fashioned conversation. This winter I … [Read more...] about When an Idea Knocks…
Whittling
It's all about process, whether it's story building or housebuilding. That's why I love this story about a man who loves wood and has spent thirty years whittling his own house. He's not done, but he loves the process. … [Read more...] about Whittling
