Encouraging the Next Generation of Writers.

The 'books' created by Tully's classmates in year 1. 

I had a completely different topic planned for today, but after reading Ellie’s fabulous interview with Lena Nelson Dooley (see below), I gained some fresh inspiration. Something Lena said resonated with me. The quote is:

‘I grew up in a family where everyone wrote, not for publication, just wrote.’

This statement made me think long and hard about the encouragement we give our children to write. 

I also wrote as a child. It was always fiction - big vibrant stories about crazy characters and even crazier situations. But somewhere along my childhood I lost my passion for writing. Maybe this was because I was steered into drama (which I also loved), but my writing fell by the wayside. Thankfully the Lord reminded me of my talent and renewed my passion.

Over the last few years I have taken this passion into my son’s classrooms. I talk to the children about the elements incorporated in books and writing, then give each student a blank booklet for them to write their own stories. It is amazing what these children produce. Their imaginations and talents astound me.

My son, Tully loves storytelling, and still produces his own 'books'. Recently he came home from school quite irritated. His third grade class had been given the task of completing a narrative. All the students were excited by this prospect until they were told they could not construct a story of their own. It had to be the story set out for them by the teacher. I can completely understand why a teacher would ask them to do this, but I shared his disappointment knowing how much these children love to write their own stories. It actually saddened me a little, because it was a task that seemed to lack passion.

It is so important that we encourage our young people to write their own stories. Who knows what passions we could be igniting when we share our enthusiasm for writing with the next generation?

I will finish off with the following ‘magnificent’ piece of writing. I encouraged Tully to dictate a report on a camping trip. He initially resisted the task, but then enjoyed it so much that he went on and on.

Here it is, in his words:

Mt Britton.

When I went to Mt Britton I saw 3 little creeks, a dead rat, lots of signs, and a very funny one. It said: ‘The owner of this land is very unstable – Smile’.

Mt Britton is a historical gold mining town near Nebo. The only things that are left are pieces of glass, an old fig tree to camp under, and some pieces of mining machinery. There are also lots of signs telling people about the past, and what was in the town.

A man planted the fig tree when the first white baby was born in the town.

Some of the buildings that used to be there are: A school, Mackay Hotel, Finch Hatton’s House, bee keepers. There are some random post signs too.

I went for walks. I mined for gold, but I didn’t find any.

I would definitely go there again because we finally got a piece of land up there, and if I am really good for Christmas I will get my own quad bike.  

Rose Dee is the author of the three book 'Resolution' series, and co-author of the Greenfield Legacy. You can visit Rose at; 

http://rosedee.com/

Working Together

Recently on Jervis Bay, they had the Hobie 16 World championships. This event was 18 months in the planning, and resulted in 901 athletes travelling from 24 different countries to participate in the 16 day regatta. 60 catamarans took part in the event. It created a great amount of interest from local  people and from visitors to the area and looked very colourful.  Below are a couple of the photos we took of the catamarans.

It was a huge coup for the area to host such an event. This event could never have happened without the co-operation of a huge number of people working together, many of them behind the scenes.

Sometimes writing can be a bit like that. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes that readers never see. They just want to find books on the shelves of shops for them to read.  As authors, don’t we all crave readers who like our work? Much as we might like to, we cannot always buy every book we would like. Recently I happened to mention on Goodreads that if people cannot afford to buy a book they really want to read, they can always ask their library to buy it in.  Another member of Goodreadspicked up on that comment and asked their library. The library ended up getting in three copies of Streets on a Map.

Later I was talking to someone on the phone and mentioned the incident. ‘I didn’t know you could do that,’ the person said.  While I was on the phone to her, she went to her computer, got her local library and asked for my book to be bought. Yet I suspect there are a lot of people like those two who don’t know you can do that or have never thought of it. So if you have a favourite Aussie Christian author, even if you already own the book, why not ask your library to order their book in? Even though it doesn’t sound much, since it’s only one book, the more libraries that hold an author’s books the more it brings in PLR, (Public Lending Right) which is the amount paid to the author in compensation for having their books on library shelves. Financial incentive aside, it all helps to get books out there and authors known and their books read by more people.

Another time a fellow writer on another group said she had just put up a giveaway of their book on Goodreads. She received a good response of people interested. Now, okay, it may not always mean every person will buy or read the book but it does bring it to the attention of more readers. Even if only a quarter of them decide to read the book and hopefully review it, it is worth doing. After all the more reviews and word of mouth as people talk about a book the more interest it promotes. I occasionally enter a giveaway and have won a couple, but only if I think the book is something I will read. Then I add it to my to read list.  If I don’t win, at least I can still check it out at the library or buy a copy.

From Australia Day I had a giveaway on my site. Over 800 people entered.  Only around half of them added it the book to their to read list. The winners were chosen by Goodreads and the books sent. I guess I’ll see in a while how many people choose to buy Streets on a Map, read and review when they didn't win.

Another effective way of helping other authors is to read and review their books. When I read a book I review it on my blog or on Goodreads or both. If it is a Christian book I try to also review on Koorong’s site or on this blog. You will find my most recent review on this site here. Another way of helping a fellow author is to buy their books either for you or for gifts. But if money is tight as it is for many of us then at least talk about what you have read and enjoyed. Another idea if you are in a book club is to suggest one of your fellow authors’ books as the one to read one month.

I’ve been taking part in marmarmino which started in March. It’s just a way of writers trying to help other writers. After all don’t we all want to be a blessing to our fellow authors and find more ways to help each other in this business of books? I’m sure some of you can think of other ways to help authors.  Why not share them so we can all benefit?

 

Dale writes fiction and poetry. Her latest novel, Streets on a Map, is now available as an E book. She has also written children’s books, bible studies, Sunday school material, devotionals, and articles about marriage, home and Christian living. She has recently finished revising and sent off her new novel, Sandstone Madonna.  The next fiction project, as yet nameless, is already underway.