GOLDILOCKS?

In need of hibernation, Daddy Bear was mildly perturbed to discover this unlikely duo curled up in his bed.

THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM

12:45 PM, July 4th, 2011 - 

Dad saunters in to oldest son's room, turns on the overhead light and says, "Rise and shine, son. It's time to get up and at 'em." 

Son, with covers pulled tightly up over his head, angrily replies, "Why do I have to get up so early!" 

Can hardly wait 'til this one reaches his teen years ...

HURRAY FOR READING!!!

Gotta love this:

Disadvantaged students given a gift of only 12 books to take home at the end of the school year earn higher test scores.

If this really works, why don't we do more things like this as a society? It makes me wonder ...

Detroit Public Library and McDonald's team up for kids | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Here is an article on how Detroit is attempting to promote reading by giving away free Happy Meals to kids that check out books from the library. Is this right or wrong? How do you feel about implementing incentive programs that are designed to encourage a change in behavior? I'd love to hear what you think about this issue.

Detroit Public Library and McDonald's team up for kids | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

HATCHING AN EVIL PLAN

In getting ready for our garage sale this weekend, we stumbled across my old typewriter. I considered selling it. But, after my wife showed the kids how it worked, and seeing how excited they got, I changed my mind.

"It's better than a computer!" giggled my daughter almost uncontrollably.

And with that knowledge, I hatched a plan. 

Instead of selling it, I will store it for another 8 years. 

Then, when the time is right, I will wrap it up all nice and pretty in pink paper with a big purple bow, and give it to my daughter as a gift before she heads off to college.

When she opens the present and invariably throws a fit at such an outdated form of technology, I will smile and earnestly say, "Hey! It's better than a computer." 

*Evil laugh*

PAPER BOOKS ARE DEAD

Okay, okay. I get it already. I've seen the writing on the crystal clear LCD screen with the 10 bajillion colors and mind bending apps that is taking over the world.

The experts tell me:

PAPER BOOKS ARE DEAD!

But are they? Only time will tell.

But just in case you're curious about what the future may hold for readers, here's a preview of a new IPAD app. It is a modern rendering of tales from one of the best loved fairy tale writers of all time. I present Hans Christian Andersen for your viewing pleasure ...

FATHERS

Today is Sunday, June 20th, 2010. It is Father's Day - a brief 24 hours to stop and reflect on the male species.  A time to think about all that Dad has done for you over the years. A time to let Dad know that he's an okay dude.

In honor of my Dad, and Dads everywhere around the world, I'd like to say ...

HAPPY 

FATHER'S 

DAY!




Now I must get off the internet and get back to spending quality time with the family. Have a great day, y'all!

AN INTERVIEW WITH (Children's Author?) JOHN GRISHAM

TEMPUS FUGIT

I'm in the home stretch at school. One more week of lessons and then I'm off for the Summer. Technically speaking, that is ...

In reality, I won't have teaching duties in the classroom for a couple of months. But, as is the case with many educators, I will be attending several workshops, trainings, and classes so that I can keep my teaching credential current. Not fun, but it must be done in order to stay employed. In addition, I'll be taking on some odd jobs to help improve the family's financial standing.

Today, however, is a day I've set aside for grading, ticking off items on the Honey-Do list, and ignoring the three million legos the boys have strewn all over the downstairs. No concerns though. The 4 year old has promised me that all the blocks will be cleaned up before Mom gets home. Is a verbal contract entered into with a child legally enforceable?

Tempus fugit.

DAILY AFFIRMATION

Feeling a little down in the dumps? Need a motivational speaker to get you pumped up? Then have I got a clip for you ...

WHAT GOOD IS A LABEL ANYWAY?

I spent time this morning adding labels to the blog posts I've written. Well, there was that, and listening to my 4 year old spell the word butt over and over again.

The tags I added to my posts will help potential readers locate this blog more easily. By adding key words, people conducting searches on the internet are more likely to find this site. Pertinent labels work as tiny advertisements, very similar to what you might come across in a newspaper or magazine.

My youngest child, coincidentally enough, also attracted attention by using a key word. He used the label butt to gain attention. It worked! His mother and I both asked him to report to our room for a quick discussion about proper etiquette.

So what is the point of a good label anyway? It attracts attention. Simple as that. And as more people are exposed to your writing, the better chance you have of gaining readers.

I'd love to write more, but it is time for me to sign off. It's not too often that we get sunny weather with temperatures in the 70's in Western Washington at this time of the year. So, I must take advantage of it and get outside to shovel some dirt. 

Have a happy weekend!

Henry Winkler book signing - MyNorthwest.com - Seattle Calendar of Events

Henry Winkler book signing - MyNorthwest.com - Seattle Calendar of Events

Posted using ShareThis

Book Progress Update

After more than a year of toiling away, "Macaroni and the Binky" and my query letter are finished! I sent both out to the first choice agent on my list, and now am awaiting a response. I will update this blog as news arrives.

Before I hear back, I wanted to share the beginning paragraph of my query letter for all to see. If you have any feedback for me, please write. I'd love to hear what you think! Here it is:

Dear … ,

Macaroni and cheese, beloved around the world by children of all ages, never looked so tasty. But what happens when that creamy treat becomes a dog that romps all over the house causing destruction and mayhem? Will seven year old Bud, along with assistance from his enthusiastic and gravity challenged sidekick in a diaper, be able to stop the pandemonium before Mom finds out? “Macaroni and the Binky,” an action-packed picture book manuscript of 982 words, provides answers to these questions and more.

Does this pique your interest?

That's right ... Fonzie is in the House!

If you are in the neighborhood next weekend, why don't you stop on by and meet the FONZ?  

Henry Winkler is scheduled to be in Bainbridge Island, Washington on Sunday, May 2nd at Eagle Harbor Book Company. He is stopping by to promote the latest book in his Hank Zipzer series, which he wrote in collaboration with Lin Oliver. 

Click on the link below for full details about this event ...

MEET THE FONZ

Editing and Revising

Raise your hand if you love to edit and revise your stories over and over again? Okay then ... That wasn't the overwhelming response I was expecting.

Really? There's not a single person out there who absolutely adores polishing their work over and over again until every single word shines like the North Star?

Ah, come on! I can't be the only one who loves to push, pull, and twist the things they've written ad nauseam as if shaping a lump of clay into the perfect shape. Can I? Apparently, since I don't see any hands raised in the room, I am.

Editing and revising are a pertinent part of the writing process that cannot be ignored. In order to present your manuscripts in the best light possible to potential agents and publishers, you must take as much time as is necessary to get it right. You only get once chance to make a first impression so it might as well be a good one.

Here are some the the steps that may help you:

1) Read your story aloud to yourself. Make notes of any possible changes.
2) Put your story away for two weeks.
3) Read your story aloud to yourself again. Edit/revise.
4) Put your story away for two weeks.
5) Read your story aloud to yourself one more time. Edit/revise.
6) Seek professional help. At this point, join a critique group or have a editor or other qualified individual read your work.  I recommend that you don't use a friend. They have trouble being as honest with you as is needed.
7) Evaluate based on feedback received from the professional(s). Does your story show promise? If so, proceed.
8) Edit/revise some more.
9) Find some students in the targeted age group for your story. Read your story aloud to them and get feedback.
10) Edit/revise, if necessary.
11) Seek professional help again. At this point, ask your critique group, editor, or other qualified individual read your work once again.
12) Repeat steps 1 - 11, as many times as necessary. 

Sounds painless, right? Not really? That's good. It shouldn't be.

The reality is that writing is hard work. I personally find it to be quite rewarding, and don't know what I would do if I couldn't express myself creatively. I sincerely hope that you enjoy it too. 

Happy writing!

Unpublished Author Contest Details

Cheerios is holding a Spoonful of Stories® contest for unpublished authors. If interested, details are available by clicking the link highlighted above. I've also included a related clip from notable author (and former elementary school teacher) John Scieszka. Good luck!

Bruce Coville writes stories that I love. He is also the proud parent of a company called Full Cast Audio that produces fabulous recordings of quality literature from multiple genres. If you're a student, teacher, or person interested in reading or listening to quality children's literature, I wholeheartedly recommend that you check out the clip of Bruce Coville and Daniel Bostick as they work on scenes from "Space Station Rat" by Michael J. Daley.

Running on Empty

It's late, and I'm tired! After working for several hours, I just finished writing the 13th (and latest - literally) draft of my "Macaroni ..." manuscript. Hurray!  

After lots of work and advice from others, I believe that my story is very close for submission. The characters seem real (finally) and propel the action forward at a logical pace. They are now integral to the plot, and don't feel like I just stuck them in because I needed to break up parts of long narration. I still want to edit/revise the newly added sections one more time before my Critique Group meeting this evening. But, for now, I'm too wiped out and must go to bed.

Good night, y'all. I mean, good morning everyone. Wish me luck?!!!

Spies on a Mission

“Sign our books!”

“What?” I confusedly answered after this unexpected demand.

“Sign our books to prove that we fulfilled our mission!”

“What are you talking about?” I stammered, still perplexed by the order. This command was being given to me by three nimble and wrinkle-free explorers who had just entered my abode. The squad had silently snuck up behind me and almost caught me by surprise. If I wasn’t blessed with the magic of peripheral vision, I might have been totally stunned.

In spite of it being over 70 degrees inside my house, the three members of the dangerous looking crew had on long coats and hats, with packs on their backs whose contents remained unknown. They also carried with them in their hands what appeared to be maps and light emitting devices. The oldest clutched a pointed object of some sort. To say that these three seemed out of place would be an understatement. They looked dangerous, and set me on edge.

My heart raced as sweat beaded upon my skin, and my other senses became heightened. I instinctively began to flex my hands. I silently cursed under my breath. If only I had been wearing my glasses, I might have been able to put up a better defense against these intruders.

“C’mon, Dad!” whined the three little spies. “Just sign our mission books already so we can get back to our job.”

The three, who I now took to be miniature Moen beings, all thrust out their self-made mission cards at me. Then, they all said loudly in unison, “Sign!”

As the small paper card from the largest child got closer to my nose, the print on it became legible. The piece of paper had on it a list of “missions” that each kid was supposed to accomplish. The first task – “Sneak up on Dad.”

“Would you please hurry up?” said my oldest. She then handed me the pointed object she was holding – a pen. “We have a lot to get accomplished today, and don’t have time to waste!”

“Okay,” I replied, while rapidly taking the pen from her and signing each child’s mission card. I handed each slip of paper back with my signature written as “Dad,” to each respective child. Then I asked, “All set?”

“Thanks, Dad!” they happily said. Then, all three of my imaginative children took off in search of another adventure.

As they traipsed around the corner, I quickly wrote down the spy gear they each had with them. Here is what I learned that each professional undercover agent needs in order to conduct a mission successfully:

Powder-Puff Girls Backpack
Notepad
Hand Sanitizer
Dictionary
Chapstick
Pencil
Pen
Light
Club Membership/Mission Card

Perry the Platypus would be so proud!

What you just read above is my second draft of an incident that I jotted down earlier in the week. I often write down a few words, sentences, or phrases on paper, record my thoughts on my digital recorder, and/or write out ideas using my computer’s word processing program several times a week. Sometimes these tidbits become stories or even blog posts. Others just become detritus.

In either case, valuable additions to my creative writing process has taken place – I get ideas, I think about them, and I decide which ones may have some merit. Then, I further develop the ideas that strike me as worthy of development. Others, I discard.

After writing for a bit on the “winners” for my stories and blogs, I sometimes sadly learn that some of pieces I’ve spent added time on don’t work. Rats! All is not lost though. I put these back in my portfolio and hope that someday I’ll happen upon them again just like I would a time capsule. Maybe these canceled ideas will work at a later date, and I’ll be able to recycle them in the future?

Below is my original ramblings about the “Spies on a Mission” short story I developed more fully above. Can you notice the similarities between the two?


My four year old son, along with his older siblings, snuck up behind me last night and caught me by surprise. Then, as all good spies do when accomplishing a task, my kids had me check off and sign their self-made “mission” cards to verify that they had fulfilled their spy mission by sneaking up on me quietly. They even had their own pens just in case I failed to bring one from my mission control reclining easy chair. Inspector Clouseau would be so proud!

To Write or Not to Write: That is the Problem

“I can’t think of anything to write about, Mr. Moen!”

I won’t even try to count the number of times that I’ve heard this sentiment expressed in my classroom. The pathetic sounding wail first takes wings and wafts across the room and to my ears from at least one, and sometimes more, of my students when I ask them to sit down and write something. Heck, I even say this to myself on those occasions when I find it difficult to get started with my writing. Of course, I don’t usually add the “Mr. Moen” part at the end. That would be too weird.

Whatever the reasons behind the complaining by those under my guidance, I can relate. As a matter of fact, I am feeling that I don’t have anything to write about right now either. Maybe I should hurl myself upon the floor and flail around wildly kicking the ground? Or, I could scream at the top of my lungs until someone notices me? Or maybe I should just cry instead? Then, I would get out of having to jolt my brain into gear and compose a blog entry for today. Right?

Of course, maybe I’m having difficulty focusing right now because I am working in an environment that is truly not conducive for creative reflection. Right now I am repeatedly distracted by the vivid pictures and sounds of a football game blaring on the TV at the same time I’m writing this - Go Seahawks! All the while, I’m also within earshot of the happy sounds of two of my kids cooperatively playing a board game in the kitchen, bombarded by the noise of my 4 year old attempting to sing karaoke through an amplified toy, and am encountering a repeated barrage from my three dogs, noisily romping and fighting all over the living room, knocking over furniture and occasionally, a small distracted child.

So, what is it exactly that a person can do to overcome these instances of “writer’s block?” Well, I have a few pieces of advice that may help you become unstuck. Here are some things that have worked for me:

1) Sit down and write anything that comes to mind – This by far and away seems to be the suggestion that works the best for me. If you feel like you have nothing to say, write that down! Maybe you should start by writing about the weather, a fly buzzing near your head, or how excited you are to clean the toilets. The point is, you must keep writing no matter what! Usually, within 10 – 15 minutes of time, you hit upon a topic that strikes a chord with you. Then, words start to flow more easily.

2) Leave – Take a break and get away from your writing for awhile. Go for a walk, do housework, shop, or dance the tango. It doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as you get away from your prose for a bit. And, be sure to do something that allows your mind to totally escape from the task of writing. Otherwise, you will spend your time away fretting over what you still have left to compose.

3) Eat – I know … this is probably a horrible suggestion to make to those of us abundantly blessed with more than ample girth. (Dang government BMI charts!) But, based on years of personal research, I have found that my mood improves if I can get a little nourishment and chocolate into my body. Plus, a person gets the added benefit of putting the impending task off until the digestive secretions get kicked into high gear. No more rumbling in the tummy to distract you!

So there you have it. Writing, much like other talents in life, is a learned behavior. The more you practice, the better you become at it. So, I’d encourage you be persistent. Even though the job of putting your ideas to paper may seem exceedingly challenging, I believe that you can be successful if you incorporate some of the tips I mentioned above and keep working. Plus, the more advice and help you get along the way, the more confidence and aptitude you’ll acquire. Good luck, and keep writing!