A Little at a Time!

Early Tuesday Slice of Life Post-thanks Stacey and Ruth @ Two Writing Teachers!  Click on over and read great posts from other slicers too!

Last Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, I had an opportunity to attend and present at the OCIRA (Ohio Council of the International Reading Association) Literacy Conference at YSU (Youngstown State University).  I feel so blessed to have attended the conference in the capacities of participant as well as presenter.  So, I wanted to share some of my learning as I reflect on what I took away from the conference.

The keynote speaker was David Adler.  He's a well known author of many children's literature books but most especially the Cam Jansen Mysteries Series.  He shared that the beauty of writing is that when you sit down to write a story, no one can tell you it's wrong-it's your story and everyone has a story to tell.  His speech was really focused on 3 areas...his writing life, how he researches for his writing works, and how he teaches writing. 

The take away from the part about his writing life was learning that he decided to be a "stay at home dad" because his wife wanted to work.  He made a promise that he would spend a good portion of his day writing (at least 5 hours).  He planned his work along with naps for the baby and would deduct whatever time he spent during the baby's nap from the total and then spend the rest of that time in the evening doing his work.  He shared that he always stopped at 5 hours, even if he was in the middle of writing a "good part".  He shared one of his first books, A Little at a Time, a story about a little guy who is always asking his grandpa questions.  Grampa always responds, "A little at a time!"



When he shared about his research, he explained clearly that he emerses himself in the history of the time that he's writing.  He told us, "Good beginnings matter-no matter what genre the story is being written in."He shared about being willing to dig for details, finding interviews and newspapers from that time in history.   He even shared that during one of his writing sessions, he was so into the time, that when he came out of his office, he asked his wife why it was snowing in the middle of May-and she explained that it was really February...

And lastly, when he shared about how he teaches writing, he said he wants every writer to feel good about what they've written.  He suggested taking any short one page story you've written and share it with the class.  Then take suggestions from the students on how it could sound better.  Play with the ideas and take them or not.  Modeling the editing process with the students and show how to continuously improve the drafts.  He shared how he took one story through 11 drafts before he was satisfied.  As you model this process, "a little at a time" for students, they learn to trust ideas and suggestions from others because they see how you've done it too...I wonder if this is similar to ideas other writers and teachers of writing have...

I was glad to hear him share his thinking and know that I am constantly working to become a better writer and teacher of writing...a little at a time...

Thanks to David for sharing his thinking and inspiration!