I’m doing in-school visits again, and have been loving them.
Things to know about my visits:
I can do two “big group” presentations in one day, plus a smaller book group, lunch or small writing workshop.
I am also very happy to do only one presentation. Or one presentation plus a workshop, lunch, book group, etc. It’s really up to you.
I usually talk about where my books come from: In other words, my process from the first seed of an idea through writing and revision. A big part of my job is tolerating, for months at a time, the feeling that I don’t actually know what I’m doing, and I like to talk about that with students. Creativity can feel semi-magical, and that part always feels great. But how do we get through those times of uncertainty?
I love it when students share their own experiences as writers. In the past few weeks, I’ve gotten some terrific questions. For example:
How can I actually finish a story when all I want to do is run away and start another one instead?
How do you approach the revision of a story when, halfway through writing it, you’ve had a major realization about a character that “changes everything”?
How do you decide what your readers do need to know when you’re writing a story full of surprises and want to keep them guessing?
These were questions from fifth graders. I *always* want Q and A time with students, and am *usually* happy to let things run long unless I am about to miss my train or something.
I will always want to take the train to your school instead of driving there, if I can. But I do know how to drive. Mostly.
Questions? Email the terrific Lisa McClatchy at Liske@aol.com. She knows the basics.
(If you have a really weird question, you can email me.)