In September of 2007, I started this blog
with a bit of writing advice. A little over a year later, I discovered how
little I knew about writing after hearing children’s writer, Lin Oliver speak
at a convention hosted by the Minnesota Society of Children’s Book Writers and
Illustrators. Since then, I have shared (with their permission) and applied the
writing wisdom of Lin Oliver, Jack McDevitt, Nathan Bransford, Mike Duran,
Kristine Kathryn Rusch, SL Veihl, Bruce Bethke, and Julie Czerneda. Together
they write in genres broad and deep, and have acted as agents, editors,
publishers, columnists, and teachers.
While I don’t write full-time, nor do I make
enough money with my writing to live off of it...neither do all of the
professional writers above...someone pays for and publishes ten percent of what
I write. When I started this blog, that was NOT true, so I may have reached a
point where my own advice is reasonably good. We shall see! Hemingway’s quote
to the left will now remain unchanged as I work to increase my writing output
and sales! As always, your comments are welcome!
I’ve been a science
teacher for over thirty years, having taken the opportunity to teach everything
from Astronomy to Zoology, at levels both low and high, and to students both
gifted and challenged by ability and language. My first book was an outgrowth
of my life as a science teacher.
But the fact is that
science is my JOB, so when I write, I don’t really want to write about what I
do every day. I’ve avoided writing about experiments ever since the publication
of SIMPLE SCIENCE SERMONS FOR BIG AND LITTLE KIDS (SSS) because I neither want
to lock myself into a career as a science writer nor do I want to back away
from writing fiction.
Even so, this seemed
like a fun project and I had the time – and I had a demonstration that was
ALWAYS a favorite with both kids and adults. Filling a plastic resealable bag
with water and driving a sharp pencil through it while not causing a disastrous
leak always impressed people! It was simple, spectacular, and as I had
grandchildren growing up, I thought I’d try my hand at a simple science
experiment.
The format was easy
enough to find after checking out and studying a couple of years of science
experiment articles, the format seemed relatively straightforward and
consistent with how I’d written SSS. Admittedly, the format was adapted from Janice
Pratt VanCleave’s multiple “how-to” science books with an introduction,
procedure, and an explanation.
I wish I could tell
you I agonized over it, but that would be a lie. This article played directly
to my strengths in both knowledge and style. There was no stretching; no
research. I knew exactly what I was doing and how to go about it. There’s an
aphorism in writing, “Write what you know” which is usually attributed to Mark
Twain and against which uncounted inexperienced writers rail citing hundreds of
exceptions which (I hear) proves the rule...or something. This is evidence that
it works to the advantage of a writer to write what they know. I’d put this
together fairly easily; after all, I’d been doing science demonstrations for
three decades! I was definitely playing to my strength here.
I typed it up (US
Kid’s TURTLE and HUMPTY DUMPTY editor Terry Webb Harshman didn’t accept
electronic submissions at the time) along with another idea, sent it off, and
forgot about it. To tell the truth, I often forget about submissions. It’s the
only way I can remain sane in this world of craftsman story writing and
publishing. Don’t get me wrong, I check up on my subs – I’m just not obsessive
about it!
When I got the note
back from Terry Webb Harshman accepting the manuscript, I was thrilled!
Everyone seemed to know the magazine and I’d read it even when my kids were
young; it seemed like every other doctor’s office had a copy lying around
usually right next to HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN. She wanted a few edits, which I
happily did, and the demonstration appeared several months later – with a
really fun illustration. As an aside to anyone who’s a new writer, you should
know that you have absolutely no control over the illustrations that are paired
with your writing. I have never regretted the illustrations – though I’ve been
surprised by several.
If I had to categorize
this experience, I’d say it was pretty painless. It was also FUN!
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