SOME WRITING QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
Q: Why do I write for kids?
A: My mom made a new rule the summer I was between 3rd and 4th grade. She said I had two choices after lunch.
A: My mom made a new rule the summer I was between 3rd and 4th grade. She said I had two choices after lunch.
|
1) I could take a nap - and that wasn't happening because who wants to waste vacation sleeping?
2) I could read a book - and that did happen even though I complained a lot at the beginning. |
|
My reading got better because I practiced every day, and one afternoon, it felt so easy that I forgot what I was doing and decided to run after my new friends. That was impossible, of course, because I could only join them when I was reading.
Q: Do I always know the whole story before I write it?
A: Never! It begins when something happens to a kid (or animal) I’d like to meet. Then a few other characters – who always include a dog – enter the picture.
It’s their story after that, and they share it with me when I’m typing, or lying in bed trying to fall asleep, or taking a shower.
And I don’t always write the chapters in order. Sometimes I write the exciting stuff first and fill in the rest later.
A: Never! It begins when something happens to a kid (or animal) I’d like to meet. Then a few other characters – who always include a dog – enter the picture.
It’s their story after that, and they share it with me when I’m typing, or lying in bed trying to fall asleep, or taking a shower.
And I don’t always write the chapters in order. Sometimes I write the exciting stuff first and fill in the rest later.
MAYA
from THE DOG WHO SLIPPED BETWEEN THEN AND NOW |
NINJA
from WANTED: BEST FRIEND FOREVER |
Q: What’s the hardest part of being a writer?
A: Books must be published to share them with readers, and that takes a great story, excellent writing, and lots of luck!
A: Books must be published to share them with readers, and that takes a great story, excellent writing, and lots of luck!
That means you should start writing now if you want to be an author!
(But it's never too late...)
(But it's never too late...)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was turned down by 12 different publishers before the 13th one gave it to his 8-year-old daughter to read, and she loved it and wanted to read more.
More than 120 million copies of the book have been sold, and it was made into a movie (along with the rest of the series). |
|
A Wrinkle in Time was turned down by at least 26 publishers before it was printed and went on to win several major awards including the Newbery Medal.
More than 10 million copies of the book have been sold, and in 2018 Disney made a movie based on the book. |
|
While the exact number isn’t known, between 20 and 40 publishers turned down Dr. Seuss’s first book. He went on to write and illustrate 44 books for children.
Over 600 million of his books were sold, and they were translated into more than 20 languages. |
