Here's What One of My Students Has to Say About the Writing Process

The students in my "Writing for Children" have been working on their first chapters of a junior novel. Thanks to them, I'm getting to read some pretty amazing stories. One of my students, Emily Distefano, is writing about a girl from Texas who comes to Canada to live with her magician uncle. The girl's parents have disappeared under mysterious circumstances. At the end of Tuesday's class, Emily stayed to get some help -- and to chat a little about the writing process. I thought many readers and writers would be able to relate to what Emily had to say: "Writing is hard! I want this, but how do I get there?" I almost laughed when she said that because that's EXACTLY HOW IT IS FOR ME -- and I imagine it's the same for just about every writer! Writing is definitely hard; we have a sense of what we want, but getting there is tough. And of course, things tend to change along the way. Okay then, I've gotta run. I'm doing a book talk, and then I've got a busy afternoon at school. Will check back in over the Easter weekend. Bye for now!!