Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog.
December 4 question - Let's play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?
The awesome co-hosts for the December 4 posting of the IWSG are Tonja Drecker, Beverly Stowe McClure, Nicki Elson, Fundy Blue, and Tyrean Martinson!
What I want is MORE TIME! If I were living the dream, my days would be filled with more writing time. On the other hand, I love being a school librarian. Reading hundreds of books a year has tightened my writing, twisted my plots (in a good way), and given me a better understanding of the children's book market.
Even though I'm not a publisher or an owner of a cozy book store, I am a buyer, seller, and lender of kid lit. Easy readers, chapter books, graphic novels, full-length novels fly across my desk. Librarians use Scholastic Book Fair and other avenues for obtaining books. We are the gateway to a child's mind. Okay, that sounded way creepier than I intended.
In a nut shell, we know what genres kids of various ages want to read. This is the advantage of reading more books over more writing time. I've included some fun kid lit data on my new website that is still under construction due to technical difficulites. I promise it's coming soon!
What do you want this Christmas? More writing time? More reading time? More coffee?
Even though I'm not a publisher or an owner of a cozy book store, I am a buyer, seller, and lender of kid lit. Easy readers, chapter books, graphic novels, full-length novels fly across my desk. Librarians use Scholastic Book Fair and other avenues for obtaining books. We are the gateway to a child's mind. Okay, that sounded way creepier than I intended.
In a nut shell, we know what genres kids of various ages want to read. This is the advantage of reading more books over more writing time. I've included some fun kid lit data on my new website that is still under construction due to technical difficulites. I promise it's coming soon!
What do you want this Christmas? More writing time? More reading time? More coffee?
More time would be nice. I hope that dream comes true for you someday. For me, where I am right now, I'd love the skill to write faster, get out of my own way, you know? And thank you for being a book hero to kids!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! And, yes, get out of your own way when you write is such great advice.
DeleteA school could not survive with librarians. The children need your encouragement to read. Have a great day. (I'm a retired teacher.)
ReplyDeletePreach!!
DeleteCreepier - funny!
ReplyDeleteI want more time but I think it's more of me just making the time.
True. I could possibly make more time, but weekdays are crazy busy!
DeleteHi Jennifer, more writing time sounds great. I could do with that too. Your job as a librarian sounds cool. I wish I was surrounded by so many books and children :)
ReplyDeleteI do love being surrounded by books! I have piles of TBR books on my desk. Plus I keep my kindle next to me because, well, books!!
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI have planned to read during the Christmas season, starting with the twenty-sixth. I love reading and like you I learn a lot about tightening my own plots and styling my sentences through reading.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Reading is the best teacher!
DeleteYou are in the perfect position to know what the market is like right now. It will serve you well in the future. Alas, the more time thing... If we all could just have more time.
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes people don't trust us when it comes to understanding the market. But we are on the front lines of kid lit!!
DeleteI want more time too. And I'd love to have a career as a children's librarian like you.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a wonderful job:)
DeleteI want more time, too! One day I'll actually finish one of my own books.
ReplyDeleteHa! I bet you're always swamped with pubishing other people's books.
DeleteI definitely would love some more writing time.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope Christmas vacay is less busy this year and we can write. Bahaha. Probably not. :)
DeleteMore time - now there's a dream for me, as well.
ReplyDeleteYou have an awesome job! The school library was always a refuge for me as a kid. And before the internet age (wait, what? no internet?) I spent hours in the stacks and on microfiche. I still support our local library as much as I can.
That is so wonderful to hear! I spent hours reading as a kid because no internet too! (Wait, what??) :)
DeleteYes! More time would be awesome!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree - the more I've read, the more I've learned how to share that love of reading with kids. And the easier it's been to find those 'home run' books for kids.
I love finding books kids devour!
DeleteMore time would be grand, but then we can't do it all. And learning and giving the kiddos what they want is a win.
ReplyDeleteWe can't?? I love seeing the kids' faces as I hand them thier books each week. Win, win!
DeleteMore time would be awesome...but I've found that the more time I have, the more I waste. I need those tight deadlines ;)
ReplyDeleteTruth! I find I'm super organized now that I'm working full time.
DeleteTo me, being a school librarian is a dream. I'm sure that does give you wonderful insight into writing for children.
ReplyDeleteYes more time, more organized time to I get stuff done. Happy Belated IWSG! And Happy Holidays.
ReplyDeleteI think I want more of everything LOL. I hope you have a wonderful holiday!
ReplyDelete