The books are piling up and I'm nowhere to be found. More exactly, I'm wiping dirty noses and trailing kleenex this week. Both kids are sick. Plus, the hubby's commuting to an early shift, and what with train schedules and such, I'm flying solo for 12-13 hours a day.
So much for my New Year's resolution to review books within a few weeks of their arrival. Hah! I'll be lucky if I get to the spring books by Christmas.
I did have a small epiphany this weekend. My mother and two of my brothers flew in with their families for a Bar Mitzvah. It was a singular chance to have everyone on my turf for a change (I usually trek back east). Plus there was a large-ish assortment of nieces, nephews, cousins and my favorite aunt and uncle.
There was widespread agreement I should be writing children's books, and that too much time has elapsed already. Get busy! Get writing! I've no idea if they were all conspiring with my husband, or if someone slipped something funny into the Manischewitz.
There's so much I don't know about getting published, it could fill, well, a whole blog. I promised to give it a try. My hope is to write funny and sometimes satirical poems for kids. I'm working on an essay for National Poetry Month in April, which I'll post here.
In fact, I'll be posting more essays/round-ups like the one on Black History Month below, and some personal reflections on my favorite poems and stories. There'll be more linky-love with other kidlit blogs and more participation in events like Chicken Spaghetti's blog carnival.
The goal is to gradually familiarize myself with the kidlit market, while stretching some writing muscles and having fun. Sometimes the review-only schtick feels a little stale, like I can only play one song. Then again, Liberace made a fortune playing Chopsticks, so there goes that analogy.
Like the new me? Tell me it doesn't make me look fat. Please.
Meanwhile, it's back to germ warfare with the little ones.
See you all next week.
go, Anne, go! Funny satirical poetry for children would be GREAT.
Posted by: Susan | February 16, 2006 at 10:51 AM
I had nothing to do with the gang up by your family. But they're right (at least about this.)
Posted by: brettdl | February 16, 2006 at 11:02 AM
I agree with Susan and Brett, Anne. Go for it! It's my goal as well...Keep up with the market and when one of my 2 MGs are ready...off they go. Not to mention how much fun it is as well.
Posted by: Kelly | February 16, 2006 at 12:25 PM
I'm glad you want to write! It's a natural next step! You've immersed yourself in books, now you can write your own. Just take small steps and soon it will be an entire book! :-)
Posted by: Anastasia | February 16, 2006 at 07:05 PM
Wow, thanks for the kind words.
I've been slaving away at a fiction career, on and off, for about 14 years now with nothing to show for it. Maybe it'll go easier now that I'm switching to kids' books.
I've already started outlining a poem about a haunted toaster. Oh dear.
Posted by: Anne | February 17, 2006 at 11:18 AM
I would think that it would be tougher to write for children rather than adults, but perhaps it depends on the individual. My wife is very good with early elementary children, and I tend to be fairly good with adults...so as a result, we ended up teaching a junior high Sunday School for a couple of months. Heh.
However, you definitely have to watch out when writing to younger people. Years ago, there were some siblings that would visit our house, and they would ALWAYS want to watch our Yogi Bear movie video. Every time. One day, the four year old boy arrived and asked to watch the video, and we said, "Yogi died." Immediate silence from the boy. "Yogi DIED?!?" he asked as the tears started appearing.
I've seen your adult writing and the sophistication within it; I'll be looking forward to your material for your new audience.
Posted by: Ontario Emperor | February 18, 2006 at 11:09 PM