Shel Silverstein's Birthday

Today we celebrate Shel Silverstein! He introduced poetry to children everywhere. Below is a favorite of mine that he wrote:

Invitation

If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
a hoper, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer...

If you are a pretender,
Come sit by my fire
For we have some flax golden tales to spin.

Come in!
Come in!

Letting go of the perfect story...

I learned an important lesson today (and I'm sure if I think hard enough I'll find it's a life lesson too). I learned when rewriting I have to forget the perfect story I had in my mind before I wrote word one. You know... That explosion of excitement when you come up with a great idea and amazing characters and before you know it you're making millions like J.K. Rowling and signing book after book in great halls filled with readers who know your world better than you do? You know that perfect novel? I'm not dismissing this part of the process. Without it I don't think I'd write at all. It gets you motivated. Excited. But in rewriting I have found it can be detrimental.

I must remember to forget the perfect novel I had in my mind and deal with the story that is in front of me. Only then can I move forward. And I've realized this week that when I let go fully of my fantasy story and I see the actual story I wrote, my rewrite comes alive (and I even enjoy it!).

Sam, Feels Better now!

I thought I would "toot the horn" of a fellow author of mine. Jill Osborne just published a interactive story. We are part of the same critique group and I am proud to say she is now published! Below is her summary of the story:

Sam Feels Better Now!
Sam Feels Better Now!: An Interactive Story for Children incorporates elements of trauma therapy, as well as play and expressive therapies to assist children in working through crisis situations, traumatic events, and grief by helping the character, Sam learn ways to cope after his own difficult situation.

I truly feel this book will help the kids who need it. Thank you Jill! Great job!