back to school

Does Back-to-School Make You Want to Start Something New?

This post was originally sent through my author newsletter on September 8th, 2023. To subscribe to my newsletter and receive up-to-date news, musings, and more, click HERE.

School is in session! My kiddo is officially in first grade! 

Pause here for a meditation on the unrelenting passage of time...

All joking aside, I love back-to-school season. I'm not necessarily one of those writers that goes on and on about school supplies—smelling bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils, cracking the spines of blank notebooks—but I do love the feeling of newness in the air. Everything smells like potential. 

Admittedly, September didn't mean as much to me between 2004 (college graduation) and 2008 (start of grad school), or between 2010 (finished grad school) and 2020 (my daughter started 3K). I'd see kids heading off to school with their shiny new backpacks and lunchboxes, and it would make me smile, but I didn't have any skin in the game myself, so to speak.

These days, the end of summer vacation carries more weight. It's not just the looming arrival of autumn (although when we did school drop-off on the first day at 8:15 a.m., it was already 85 degrees). Starting a new school year actually brings more changes to our lives than starting a new calendar year. (Maybe instead of new year's resolutions, we should make new school year's resolutions? But I digress.) It's as big a milestone as a birthday: she turned six, and now she's in first grade. First grade! 

I'm feeling those vibes in my own life, in a big way. But, since I'm not heading back to school myself anytime soon, it's more of a nebulous, drifting, wishing I were starting something new feeling. 

A new manuscript? A new freelance project? A new hobby? A new goal? 

Last week, I got Instagram-marketed to by a guided journal company. I clicked their attractive ad and got directed to a quiz meant to determine which fantastical, life-changing journey I needed to go on. I completed the quiz (why not?) and ever since, have been receiving daily emails with discount offers to actually buy the guided journal in question. I haven't taken that step yet...but I'm awfully tempted. 

I do feel like going on a journey. I do feel like starting fresh, like taking steps forward toward something unexpected or different or just...new. 

Do you get this feeling around back-to-school time? Do you act on it? If so, how? What do you do to find autumn equilibrium after the chaos and freedom of summer vacation? Do you try something new or double-down on routine until the feeling passes? 

Should I buy the guided journal?? 

There's a quote from The Lord of the Rings that's been bouncing around in my brain—probably because the guided journal's theme was finding fantasy/adventure in your everyday life: 

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." 

I'm a bit ready to be swept off. I'm also a bit ready to become a homebody, with a book and a blanket and a mug of something warm and yummy on the table beside me. A hobbit, but maybe a hobbit on an adventure of sorts. 

I should buy the journal, right? 

~Kathryn 

What I'm: 

Reading: Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova—the third romance novel in Disney's series of classic animated movie reimaginings. As you can probably guess, this one's based on The Little Mermaid. Ariel is a pop star wanting to get out from under her dad/manager's thumb, while Eric is the lead singer of an indie band on the rise. A fun read! 

Watching: I needed some giggles this week, so we started another series of "Taskmaster," the UK show where comedians complete ridiculous challenges. 

Eating: My daughter requested sandwiches from a local cafe as her last-day-of-summer-vacation lunch. Lest you think having a six-year-old is all sunshine and rainbows, here's how it went: she wanted to create a custom sandwich using one ingredient from each of the various specialty breakfast sandwiches. After we'd gotten the cashier to agree to this, my kid decided she didn't actually like eggs. So she got a regular turkey sandwich and I got bacon, egg, and cheese. Then, at the playground, she eyed my meal: "Are those scrambled eggs? I like scrambled eggs. Can I eat your sandwich?" 

Loving: Sandwich difficulties aside, it was a great summer. Here's one last glimpse of my gal walking in the surf. Until next year, beach... 

What Happens on an Author School Visit?

This post was originally sent through my author newsletter on September 9, 2022. To subscribe to my newsletter and receive up-to-date news, musings, and more, click HERE.

Also, you can read more about my author school visits HERE.

It was T-minus two minutes until students were set to arrive, and my presentation was still not showing up on the big screen. We'd tried connecting my laptop to the school's system. Their devices didn't like my Macbook, so we'd switched to a school laptop...only for me to have trouble logging into my Google drive. I changed my password, and the confirmation was sent to my husband's email. (He was at a nearby park/playground with our kiddo.) The school's technology coordinator was the picture of patience and persistence, with myriad solutions—and USB cords.

As the first eager faces appeared in the doorway to the gymnasium, my first slide finally popped up onscreen:

We were in business! 

The rest of the day went much more smoothly than that harried half-hour before the students came in. (Even with one more TV glitch that forced us to switch monitors between presentations...) Despite not having done a school visit in person since probably 2016, and never for elementary schoolers, I found my footing. I left at lunchtime so very ready to visit more schools and to talk to more kids about the process of creating stories. 

So, what actually happens during an author visit? 

The Nuts and Bolts

Sam Houston Elementary School is a K-3 school in Maryville, TN, the town where I grew up. (I didn't go to Sam Houston myself, but I know many people who did—and some of them have kids there now!) I did two separate presentations, first for the entire 3rd grade and then for the entire 2nd grade. Each period was an hour long, so I'd prepared to present for about 45 minutes, including Q&A time at the end. (More on what I prepared vs. reality in a bit...) 

My Class Critters books are aimed at kids ages 6-9, so 2nd and 3rd grades are really the sweet spots. That said, now that I've got these two presentations under my belt, I can see how I could offer a simpler version for 1st graders or even kindergarteners, as well as a more complex version for 4th graders. The basic framework I came up with—Recipe for a Story—really does work for a variety of ages. In fact, I may create a version of the same presentation for middle-schoolers in 2024, using examples from The Thirteenth Circle instead of Class Critters! 

These are the ingredients that I use to create my stories: 

  • Ideas

  • Questions

  • Research

  • Imagination

I began by talking to the students about the initial spark that led to the Class Critters series (the title of book one: Tally Tuttle Turns into a Turtle), and how I knew it was an idea worth pursuing because it made me ask questions. Some of those questions led me to do some research. Other questions required me to use my imagination to fill in the blanks. And each answer I found or came up with gave me more ideas and/or led to more questions. 

Each ingredient feeds the others, and the story begins to take shape. 

Once we'd gone over the recipe, I asked the kids to mix together some story ingredients of their own. I gave them their idea: what if you turned into an animal for a day? We dove in from there. 

The Surprises

I rehearsed this presentation over and over before the big day. Honestly, I was pretty nervous about it. Elementary schoolers can be a tough audience! All of that practice did pay off—but I still had to be flexible. A couple things surprised me and forced me to think on my feet: 

  • I'd been worried about not having enough material. About finishing too soon. About awkward silences. Instead, I found that I'd prepared a bit too much! The kids were so engaged in the writing activity that it took longer than I'd planned for—meaning that we had very little time left for Q&A at the end. I adjusted in the moment by skipping parts of my script that seemed extraneous. 

  • The difference between 2nd and 3rd graders was eye-opening! I began with the older kids, who were generally able to write with confidence in response to my prompts. They had tons of ideas and, although the teachers and I were walking around to help, they were pretty self-sufficient. Then I had the 2nd graders, a lot more of whom needed help thinking of an animal that started with the same first letter as their name, and then spelling that animal, and then thinking of things they knew about that animal...basically, they needed more guidance and hand-holding. Which is totally fine and normal! It just took more time, which again caused me to have to adjust and trim on the fly. 

So, what am I thinking in response to these two surprises? I'm going to go through my script and my slides and see if there are any places that definitely should be streamlined—anywhere where I simply gave too much information. Then, I also want to highlight tidbits that are optional—a.k.a. things that could be cut for time if necessary. I know that the more I do this, the better I'll get at responding to the specific group of kids in the room in that moment, but I also want to be prepared. 

One other thing, which wasn't so much a surprise as an unexpected perk: the school's principal told me beforehand what their "quiet signal" is: a raised hand and the words "Give me five." This was invaluable information! The writing activity encouraged collaboration. The kids really enjoyed talking to each other about their animal and their questions and ideas about their story...which meant the gym got pretty loud at times. Knowing what quiet cues the students were accustomed to following helped me keep order and bring everyone back to focusing on me so I could move forward. I am definitely going to ask about this at every school I visit from now on. 

The Highlights

Without a doubt, one of the highlights of the day was how excited and invested the kids were in doing the creative activity. Their imaginations were really working hard, and it was a joy to see! I asked their teachers to let me know if any of them actually end up writing a story about their animal day, and I really hope they do. I spoke to nearly 300 kids, so the odds are good that at least a few have the writing bug!

Another amazing thing about this particular visit was that the school purchased a paperback of either Tally Tuttle or David Dixon for every child in the 2nd and 3rd grades. The kids didn't know about this beforehand, and when their principal made the announcement at the end of my session, well...it was the closest I'll ever get to being a celebrity. The squeals of glee! The shocked faces! The happy dances! I am over the moon that the school was able to support both me and their students' love of reading in this way.

I walked out of the school building at noon absolutely exhilarated. (Also, exhausted. All that extroverting is hard work.) I couldn't wait to talk to more students. I would have gone straight to the other local elementary schools that afternoon, if it could have been arranged. Hopefully, it will be soon!

Which brings me to the part of all this where, perhaps, you come in. Do you have kids in elementary school, or connections to an elementary school? Let's chat! I would love, love, love to come talk to your students about how stories are created, and to ignite their imaginations with a fun, stress-free writing activity. I can do this presentation in person or virtually, depending on your location and needs. I can also offer free casual Zoom chats, if budget is an issue. It's not just about spreading the word about Class Critters. It's also about inspiring the next generation of readers and writers.

What I'm:

Reading: Lauren Magaziner's brand-new young middle-grade novel, The Mythics: Marina and the Kraken! This is book one in a new five-book series set in a world where every kid bonds with an animal on their 10th birthday. Marina and four other girls are the exceptions: they are destined to bond with mythical creatures, like Marina's kraken! Each book will follow one of the five girls as they find their "Mythies" and learn to work together as a team. I thought book one was full of humor and heart. If you have a 7- to 10-year-old, definitely give this series a look.

Watching: It's fascinating to have the new Game of Thrones series and the new Lord of the Rings series airing at the same time. (What a time to be a fantasy nerd!!) After two episodes of "The Rings of Power" and three of "House of the Dragon," I think I'm leaning toward middle-earth at the moment...but really it could change from week to week. Are you watching one or both series?

Loving: Look at this kindergartener! I am so very proud of her.

Back to School Already?!

This post was originally sent through my author newsletter on August 12, 2022. To subscribe to my newsletter and receive up-to-date news, musings, and more, click HERE.

It's the moment you've all been waiting for: giveaway time!!! The subscriber who will win a trio of Class Critters hardcovers, chosen by Random.org, is...

Kathy Daugherty!

Congratulations, Kathy! I will email you at the address you gave me when you subscribed—a.k.a. the account you're reading this email in now! If I haven't heard from you in a week, I'll choose another winner, so keep an eye out for a message from me. :)

If you didn't win today, stay tuned for more giveaways—including a massive group chapter book giveaway featuring ten (10!!) new titles from some big names (including me...am I a big name?). The group giveaway goes live this Sunday, August 14th, and will be open for one week. Check my social media starting on Sunday for all the details!

It may be over 90 degrees as I write this, but it's back-to-school time in many parts of the country. My own kiddo goes back after Labor Day, and her first big-kid backpack just arrived in the mail. (She chose a Frozen design, with her name monogrammed in purple.) But my daughter's impending kindergarten launch is only one reason I have back-to-school on the brain. 
 

I mentioned two weeks ago that I have a school visit on the horizon! I'm super excited, because this will be my first in-person school visit since Covid...and thus my first in-person visit about Class Critters ever! I'll be at Sam Houston Elementary School in my hometown of Maryville, TN, speaking to 2nd and 3rd graders, all of whom will receive a paperback copy of either Tally Tuttle or David Dixon. (Yay, books!!!) 

Over the past two weeks, I've been polishing my presentation, which I'm currently calling "Recipe for a Story." What are the ingredients needed to write a story? How did those ingredients come together for me as I created Class Critters? After I talk about my process, we'll do an exercise together, using a prompt: What if you turned into an animal for a day?  

After an admittedly stressful and emotional summer, it's been really nice to get back to the basics of my craft. What are the ingredients of my storytelling process? How can I clearly and engagingly convey to elementary schoolers how I build a story, giving them tools that they might be able to use to get creative on their own? 

Here's where I've landed—at least, for this particular presentation. Boiled down to bare bones, the ingredients of my creative process are: 

  • Ideas

  • Questions

  • Research

  • Imagination

The idea is the story's first spark. It's the thing I jot down in a notebook or in the Notes app on my phone while I'm doing other things. It's what grabs me. But like every writer, I have a lot of ideas. How do I know that this one is meant to become something more? 

It makes me ask questions. Who, and what, and where, and when, and how, and why? Questions make ideas bigger, and when each question I answer leads to more questions—more ideas—I know I'm onto something. 

Some questions can only be answered through my own ingenuity (or through trial and error, a.k.a. writing things wrong repeatedly until finally finding the right solution...). Other questions require research. For Class Critters, I did a ton of research. In order to help my characters move through their environment as animals in a realistic way, I needed to know a lot about how painted turtles, dachshunds, and mice behave. Research is also great for generating...you guessed it...more ideas! 

Imagination is where all the pieces come together. It's where the magic happens. (And here's where I'll talk a bit with the kids about things like plot, character, setting, and motivation.) How can I use the ideas and questions I have and the research I've done to create a compelling story with a beginning, middle, and end? 

I want to leave the kids who attend my presentation feeling ready to write a story of their very own, whether it's one about being an animal for a day or something else they come up with that sparks their creativity. 

I also want this to be the first of many school visits this year. So, if what I wrote above sounds interesting to you, and you work in a school, have school-aged kids, or simply have connections with a school that brings in authors—please reach out for more info! I want to offer in-person visits where it's feasible, such as within driving or train distance of Brooklyn, but I can also do virtual presentations. (Here's the School Visits page on my website.) 

Did you ever get to meet authors when you were young? What did you want to ask them? When did you first learn about the ingredients that make a story? 

~Kathryn 

Next week, you'll get the sixth and final (for now?) installment of Creating While Parenting, the short interview series I've been running this summer with fellow parents who work in creative fields. Did you enjoy reading these interviews? Did you want more? Or are you glad the series is over? Feel free to send me some feedback!

And don't forget, Madison Morris is NOT a Mouse! releases on 8/16/22. Have you ordered your copy yet??

What I'm:

Reading: I read two romance novels I really enjoyed over the past week: Something Wilder by Christina Lauren and Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey. Something Wilder is a romantic adventure about two people who broke each other's hearts a decade ago and end up reconnecting on a wild west outdoor adventure–turned–treasure hunt. Meanwhile, the premise of Very Sincerely Yours is basically, "What if Mr. Rogers was hot?" It's about a woman who's feeling aimless after a breakup who falls for a children's TV show presenter who is a little too committed to his work. I think you should read both of these books!

Watching: As I write this, we've just finished "Umbrella Academy" season 3, which means we're starting either "For All Mankind" season 3 or "The Sandman" next...

Listening to: I'm in a slump. I need recommendations. Something fun and poppy, perhaps? But with clever lyrics? Or maybe a wailing indie chick? Argh, I don't know. Who are you obsessed with listening to right now?

Eating: I scored a free ice cream machine from our local Buy Nothing group a few years ago, and it ended up in the back of our hall closet. I finally dug it out and put it into action! The result was DELICIOUS. Can't wait to make more.

Loving: Soaking up the last rays of summer even as we prepare for school in the fall.