Summer Joy

Working in the Garden!

We at Teaching Authors have been sharing our summer adventures these past few posts. Carmela offers her wisdom on coping with your inner wisdom. Esther is making magic in Vermont. JoAnn shares her summer reading and writing adventures, and a lovely shape poem. And Carla  presents a fascinating series of short videos exploring her research process for her newest book.


This summer, I must admit, I have lived vicariously through the travels of others. For example, I’ve enjoyed writer Marcia’s Strykowski’s (author of the wonderful middle grade, Call Me Amy)  trip to the top of Mt. Washington, the highest peak in New England. Two friends in particular, Harold Underdown, the literary critic and editor of Purple Crayon fame, has been posting magnificent pictures of his recent travels to England on his Facebook Page. It felt like I was traveling through time, peering into the mythic. And literary critic and children’s author Joanna Marple , otherwise known as Miss Marple Musings, has been traveling throughout the northeast, making connections with her writers and illustrators as well as the historic landscape of Gettysburg, Boston, Cape May and more. It's better than a PBS travel program.

I have been staying close to home these days, enjoying a stay-cation. Down time does a body good. It gives one the opportunity to step back and see the whole picture. It nurtures the imagination, making room for unexpected connections and strikes of inspirations.

First Draft

 It could be said that I’ve traded one type of busyness (teaching) for another (writing). I’ve been focused on getting a big project done, another historical middle grade novel. I still write my first draft by hand. (Remember my very first blog post, Writing By Hand ?) 


And I’m working on two important revisions. Which, of course, I also do by hand. Revision is an important part of the process, a topic we Teaching Authors have discussed in previous posts.


But the process can be teetotaliously tedious. Life becomes complex, an endless run-on sentence of problems to solves, tasks to complete, meetings, expectations, deadlines which leads to disappointments, self-shaming, regrets. It’s brain-numbing. Body draining. Soul negating.

Don't forget to play!

Sometimes, I get help in unexpected places, reminding me just how bright the sun is.  

We have to give ourselves permission to step away.

To be still, and enjoy the moment. To take care of ourselves. To play in the garden. Or play with the cats. Read a book for the sheer fun of it. To experience joy.




Or to be a Nana!

 

"What day is it?"
"It's today," squealed Piglet.
"My favorite day," said Pooh.

                                                                                ~ A.A. Milne


I hope you are experiencing your summer joy!

Bobbi Miller

A Luddite Celebrates Internet Day!

Remember the Egyptian Revolution of 2011? For two weeks and three days, the whole world watched as millions of protestors across Tunisia and Egypt demanded reform, ultimately toppling two powerful regimes. While other regional issues certainly followed, it doesn't minimize the enormous change that the internet helped bring about. The people had connected, and used the internet to show the world a new wave of revolution, ending a 31-year state of emergency.

On a much, much, much smaller scale, though just as fervent, the internet has certainly changed my world. I’m a Luddite by nature. I write manuscripts in longhand, use postnotes to organize everything, and write grocery lists on the back of envelopes. I prefer real books to ebooks. And yea, I still use snail mail. Only recently have I let go of my beloved stickshift, a relationship that lasted 200,000 miles. In its place is an automatic complete with all the computerized bells and whistles of modern convenience. This is me, rolling my eyes as I turn on the radio to listen to tried-and-true NPR. Not even the Tardis is this decked out. And this new car isn’t even high end!

Still, once upon a time I had spent hours in the university’s basement archives. Now, all of history is just a click away because of the internet. Remember my discussion on the Library of Congress?

Of course, the most powerful connections have been about people. It's always about the people. And these connections I’ve made by way of the internet have been at the very least life affirming, and at its best, life-saving.

In the two and some decades since I entered the business of writing for children, I’ve met some phenomenal people. Some had been my heroes and have now become close friends. (I’m talking about youuu, Eric Guru!) Some had begun as friends and have now become my heroes. (Thinking of you, Monica!)

And through all the good and the bad, and sometimes the very bad, that comes with the writing business, these connections have made the journey more than just bearable. They’ve made the journey worthwhile. (Always ever grateful, dear Karen!)

I’ve included below some of my favorite connections and favorite people I’ve gathered along the way. This is by no means a complete list. But, in celebrating Internet Day, it's always nice to remember the people on the other end of the wire.


The amazing Emma Dryden, otherwise known as Dumbledore, is a legend in the business, sharing her wisdom on life and writing in her blog, Our Stories, Ourselves.

Award-winning writer and teacher, Marion Dane Bauer is a national treasure. She shares her insights on life and writing on her blog, which includes a special section for educator’s at Educator’s Endnotes.

A mainstay in the business is editor Harold Underdown and his website, Purple Crayon.

Yvonne Ventresca, author of the amazing young adult novel Pandemic, always offers some interesting research and tidbits about a variety of topics.

Joanna Marple, long known for her wonderful explorations of children’s literature at Miss Marple’s Musings, recently went on an inspirational life-affirming cross-country journey, and shared her adventures on her blog.

Brainpickings is a wondrous exploration into all things art and human!

Bruce Black’s blog Wordswimmer meditates on the art of life and writing, using the metaphor of swimming. Calming, serene, wise and inspirational.

Recently I chanced upon Elaine Kiely Kearns and Sylvia Liu at KidLit411, and discovered a treasure trove of all of my favorite writing sources.

A group of ten writers after my own heart share their love of historical fiction, their insights and experiences about the genre on their group blog, Mad about MG History.

Another favorite group blog is From the Mixed Up Files, in which thirty authors write about all things middle-grade. A great resource for teachers, librarians, parents and everyone with a passion for children’s literature.

I could go on, but I don't want to hog the conversation. Who or what are some of your favorite  connections that you've made because of the internet? Feel free to share them in the comments!


Of course, the worse thing about the internet is the ever-so-easy access to online bookstores.  New books just a click away!

O no!! 

~ Bobbi Miller
(p.s. All photos courtesy of morguefile!)