Summer Camp – Day 4

Today was a short day. In class it was share day. We were asked to share our picture book or the first page of our chapter book to be discussed by the class. I politely declined this invitation. I knew my picture book wasn't ready, and, rather unusual for me, this has been more of a listening class than a participatory one. That tells me one thing. I still have much to learn and a lot of work to do on my book.

Picture books are generally under a 1000 words. Mine is only 500. Most people say "How hard is it to write only 500 words?" Well, when you are trying to communicate something important to a young child, it's VERY hard. Don't get me wrong – I love my book. I love it's message. I love my character. I see her doing all kinds of things in a series. That is precisely why I want to slow this whole boat down. Someday, when some teacher reads my book to her class, I want it to come off just right. I want the words to hit home. I want the children to feel the magic. That is why, now, in it's initial stages, I must take great care with every sentence. I must take great care with how each sentence connects with the next. I must take great care with how each page flows into the next. My goal? Work on it all winter and take the same class next summer and pay $150 for a mentoring session with the instructor, and move on from there.

A project such as this, that is meant to touch the lives of children, deserves deference and great care.

And so, as another day goes by, in this life, sometimes the spirit needs to be tempered, and ….I have written.

Be nice...please share.

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