Today was my last day of work. As much as I love my students, teaching and the library, I do feel the need for a break. This school year seemed interminable and, with temperatures climbing into the 80s and 90s, it was simply too hot for students to concentrate on learning much longer - at least not in a cramped, stuffy classroom.
As usual, I passed out a bibliography of books for summer reading, but this time I retitled it "100 Books You Should Read Before You Turn 13". I told my fifth graders they were lucky. Unlike the sixth graders, who only had two years to read all the books on the list, they had three whole years. If they got started right away, they might have time to finish all of them. The first thing the kids did was to run through the bibliography and check off all the titles they'd already read. Most of them had read somewhere between five to ten of the books. Today, a girl named Kayla called me as she leaving for summer vacation. "Mrs. Michel, I'm almost done with The Whipping Boy. Next I'm going to read The Secret Garden."
I gave her the thumbs up and smiled. "Happy vacation!" I called.
Now for two months of rest. Oh, and a big stack of books to make my way through.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
SCBWI Conference
Last Saturday I drove up to Poughkeepsie to attend the SCBWI Eastern NY Conference. I'd been to the Long Island SCBWI conference and wanted to try something different. Besides, the upstate conference offered manuscript critiques. The LI conference only offers first page criitques and then only a select few.
The keynote speaker was 1982 Newbery winner, Nancy Willard. She proved to be not only an amazing writer, but an inspirational speaker and captivating storyteller. Like me, she was born and raised in Michigan and has an avid interest in fairy tales, but man, if only I could write like her! I could have listened to her speak for another hour or two, if she'd been so inclined. If you haven't read her book, The Left-handed Story, I recommend it. The book is an eclectic collection of essays on the writer's craft, family stories, failures, successes, muses and the mundane and the mystical.
I also listened to part of author Colleen Paratore's talk on her journey to becoming a successful writer. She didn't talk about good luck so much as hard work, perseverance and butt in chair time. I didn't get to hear all of her talk because I stopped by to listen to agent Tina Wexler speak. She was interesting but not nearly as fascinating as Colleen and I wish I'd hung around to listen to everything she had to say.
Is it just me, or do nearly all these editors and agents look they're fresh out of college?
Alexandra Penfold, associate editor at Paula Wiseman Books (imprint of Simon & Schuster) spoke about what she looks for in a manuscript. She asks herself a couple of questions as she's reading through a submission. Is there an audience for this book? Does the story surprise me? Take me to places I'd like to go? Am I moved by the story? Does the action move at a good pace? Build tension? Is the character somebody I care about?
Tina Wexler, who works for ICM, spoke about the kind of stories she likes. She wants a book that makes her cry, makes her feel, think and not want to put it down. She likes books that take a risk, adventure stories, mysteries, coming of age stories and the quirky. She represents mostly middle grade and YA authors. I'm always mystified by the word "quirky".
Kim Griswell, editor at Highlights Magazine, discussed how to create a sense of place. She suggested we make use of our five senses as we write and to avail ourself to local newspapers, Chambers of Commerce, library archives, etc. to find out more about any particular place.
So went the conference. It's always good to connect with other writers in person instead of through message boards -- to see the faces behind the names. I was not disappointed.
The keynote speaker was 1982 Newbery winner, Nancy Willard. She proved to be not only an amazing writer, but an inspirational speaker and captivating storyteller. Like me, she was born and raised in Michigan and has an avid interest in fairy tales, but man, if only I could write like her! I could have listened to her speak for another hour or two, if she'd been so inclined. If you haven't read her book, The Left-handed Story, I recommend it. The book is an eclectic collection of essays on the writer's craft, family stories, failures, successes, muses and the mundane and the mystical.
I also listened to part of author Colleen Paratore's talk on her journey to becoming a successful writer. She didn't talk about good luck so much as hard work, perseverance and butt in chair time. I didn't get to hear all of her talk because I stopped by to listen to agent Tina Wexler speak. She was interesting but not nearly as fascinating as Colleen and I wish I'd hung around to listen to everything she had to say.
Is it just me, or do nearly all these editors and agents look they're fresh out of college?
Alexandra Penfold, associate editor at Paula Wiseman Books (imprint of Simon & Schuster) spoke about what she looks for in a manuscript. She asks herself a couple of questions as she's reading through a submission. Is there an audience for this book? Does the story surprise me? Take me to places I'd like to go? Am I moved by the story? Does the action move at a good pace? Build tension? Is the character somebody I care about?
Tina Wexler, who works for ICM, spoke about the kind of stories she likes. She wants a book that makes her cry, makes her feel, think and not want to put it down. She likes books that take a risk, adventure stories, mysteries, coming of age stories and the quirky. She represents mostly middle grade and YA authors. I'm always mystified by the word "quirky".
Kim Griswell, editor at Highlights Magazine, discussed how to create a sense of place. She suggested we make use of our five senses as we write and to avail ourself to local newspapers, Chambers of Commerce, library archives, etc. to find out more about any particular place.
So went the conference. It's always good to connect with other writers in person instead of through message boards -- to see the faces behind the names. I was not disappointed.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
How Do You Beat the Heat?
Lately we've been caught in the sticky web of a horrible heat wave. For several days running, the heat index has hovered in the upper 90s to 100s. UGH! And of course school is still in session. On Monday and Tuesday, the classes on the second floor of the school (where the temperature was above 100 degrees) were moved to the ground floor where it was only 98 degrees. I don't even want to venture to say what the temperature was in the kitchen and the nice ladies who work there didn't to talk about it much. Let's just say they weren't smiling.
The library is one of only two rooms in the school that is air conditioned (the office is the other). Our principal decided I needed to share my little oasis with the rest of the students. So, for several days running the library became "Camp Library". At one point, a fifth grade class, a kindergarten, a special ed., an ESL class and some speech students camped out around the library trying to focus on the task of learning. By afternoon, nearly everybody had given up and sat slumped in their seats watching James and the Giant Peach. That sad old air conditioner had about had it, too (it seemed to be wheezing) as had the rest of us. I didn't mind sharing the library, once I decided I just couldn't teach my usual classes there. It's sure been a weird week.
If administrators want us to teach till the end of June, they should give some serious thought to installing air conditioners in the classes. Who can learn or even think when their brain feels as though it's 'bout ready to melt?
The library is one of only two rooms in the school that is air conditioned (the office is the other). Our principal decided I needed to share my little oasis with the rest of the students. So, for several days running the library became "Camp Library". At one point, a fifth grade class, a kindergarten, a special ed., an ESL class and some speech students camped out around the library trying to focus on the task of learning. By afternoon, nearly everybody had given up and sat slumped in their seats watching James and the Giant Peach. That sad old air conditioner had about had it, too (it seemed to be wheezing) as had the rest of us. I didn't mind sharing the library, once I decided I just couldn't teach my usual classes there. It's sure been a weird week.
If administrators want us to teach till the end of June, they should give some serious thought to installing air conditioners in the classes. Who can learn or even think when their brain feels as though it's 'bout ready to melt?
Friday, May 16, 2008
Chautauqua Anybody?
I took the plunge and signed up for Chautauqua this summer. I'm hoping to wrangle a few graduate credits out of this summer workshop but, even if the administration doesn't approve, I plan to go and make the most of it.
As I read through the bios of the attendees, I experienced a little sinking feeling in my stomach. So many of them are established writers with a long list of writing credits - novels, contest wins, article after published article. Many of them are even college professors and so, what do I have to show for myself? I've won one SCBWI poetry contest (June Looms) and have had a handful of poems accepted for upcoming issues of magazines and ezines. Other than that? Nothing. I've subbed a few picture book manuscripts here and there and have even had a couple of comments come back but so far all I've had are rejections. And mostly form rejections. Truthfully, I haven't subbed much at all. I've been busy working on my middle grade fantasy. And since I work full time, it's slow going. Sometimes, I only write on the weekends. How ridiculous is that? And what business do I have going to Chautauqua?
And so I teeter back and forth between backing out and forging ahead. I think of George Zorn, my writing instructor in college, who encouraged me to apply to the University of Iowa's creative writing program. I never did, even though he told me he used my stories as examples of how to write a story. I thought he was joking but apparently not, or so I learned when I saw a copy of one of my stories in somebody's folder. Ha.
If anybody has been to Chautauqua and would like to share their thoughts and experiences, I'd sure appreciate it. It's not exactly a cheap venture but I've denied myself many things over the years. I should not feel guilty. Should I?
Quick, somebody tell me no! Please!!
As I read through the bios of the attendees, I experienced a little sinking feeling in my stomach. So many of them are established writers with a long list of writing credits - novels, contest wins, article after published article. Many of them are even college professors and so, what do I have to show for myself? I've won one SCBWI poetry contest (June Looms) and have had a handful of poems accepted for upcoming issues of magazines and ezines. Other than that? Nothing. I've subbed a few picture book manuscripts here and there and have even had a couple of comments come back but so far all I've had are rejections. And mostly form rejections. Truthfully, I haven't subbed much at all. I've been busy working on my middle grade fantasy. And since I work full time, it's slow going. Sometimes, I only write on the weekends. How ridiculous is that? And what business do I have going to Chautauqua?
And so I teeter back and forth between backing out and forging ahead. I think of George Zorn, my writing instructor in college, who encouraged me to apply to the University of Iowa's creative writing program. I never did, even though he told me he used my stories as examples of how to write a story. I thought he was joking but apparently not, or so I learned when I saw a copy of one of my stories in somebody's folder. Ha.
If anybody has been to Chautauqua and would like to share their thoughts and experiences, I'd sure appreciate it. It's not exactly a cheap venture but I've denied myself many things over the years. I should not feel guilty. Should I?
Quick, somebody tell me no! Please!!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day
I just want to take a moment to wish all you mommies out there a very happy Mother's Day. For me, this day is bitter sweet. My boys served me breakfast in bed which was great of them. Tonight they're taking me out for dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Cafe Joelle. I'm lucky to have two wonderful, healthy sons.
At the same time, I miss my own mom who died last summer in a car accident. I found an old postcard from her today on top of the fridge featuring Conway Castle in Wales. Funny, because lately I've been doing some research on castles as the beginning of my WIP is set in one.
Anyhow, above is an old photo of Derek, Dennis and I not too long after we brought Derek home. He was about 3 months old. We look so young.
Oh yeah, we were.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Who Says Books Are Outdated?
Ever notice that whenever a politician or a world leader wants to give his constituents the impression of being scholarly, smart and well read that he has his photograph taken or interview conducted in a library? Not in a computer room or before a Smart Board but in a room lined with lots and lots of those friendly, low tech books. And if he really wants to give the impression that he's literate, he'll actually hold a book in his lap. Not a laptop or a blackberry or some other electronic gizmo but a solid, rectangular book with a spine, a title page and all those famous, mundane bookish trappings.
And why is it that when people want to honor a former president, they build a library in his name? Again, not a computer lab but a library? Is it true that building a library in somebody's honor is the highest form of flattery? The best way possible to pay tribute to somebody's leadership and intellectual superiority?
So, I must ask myself, why is it schools are so willing to pump thousands of dollars into the latest technological marvels at the expense of their libraries? I don't get it.
Anyhow, here's one type of book that takes some engineering smarts. Check out the video above featuring pop-up master Robert Sabuda.
And why is it that when people want to honor a former president, they build a library in his name? Again, not a computer lab but a library? Is it true that building a library in somebody's honor is the highest form of flattery? The best way possible to pay tribute to somebody's leadership and intellectual superiority?
So, I must ask myself, why is it schools are so willing to pump thousands of dollars into the latest technological marvels at the expense of their libraries? I don't get it.
Anyhow, here's one type of book that takes some engineering smarts. Check out the video above featuring pop-up master Robert Sabuda.
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