I’ve spent the last four days surrounded by writers. Others who write for children. Others who love playing with language as much as I do. I sat next to someone on the first day who said, “Who knows, maybe by the end of the weekend, I’ll realize I shouldn’t be doing this.”
That’s not the case for me. I know I want to write for children. I also know I need to write. It fuels me. It both challenges and delights me. It gives me purpose.
I leave here with a better understanding of my strengths as a writer and new understandings of how to improve. I leave here with more ideas of how to help student writers, too.
I also leave here reminded that this process requires passion, patience, and persistence. Today on the beach, I chose a small shell to represent each. They will find a place on my desk at home: reminders of what I need to keep this writing dream alive.
As Neal Shusterman reminded us the other night, there is power in storytelling. How can writers change the world? One reader at a time.
It is so wonderful to hear how inspired you are from your writing conference. Looking forward to your passion pouring out into the classrooms full of students you visit and igniting their passion from yours.
I love to hear about your passion for writing!