How do you talk about a book in such way that it makes people
want to read it? Well, some 4th graders at Long Branch Elementary
(Arlington, VA) certainly did that. Working with their teacher, Michael Evans,
they created their own movie trailer for my novel Flying Solo. Here’s what they
came up with:
Hi, I'm Ralph Fletcher. I’m a writer. For the most part, writing is private and invisible. In this blog I'll give readers an inside view of the writer I know best: me. Every few days I'll share my musings, habits, daily schedule, brainstorming, snippets from my writer's notebook, drafts, revisions, finished pieces, correspondence with editors and readers. It’s my hope that writers of all ages might find this useful.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Flying Solo: Correspondence with a teacher
Many 4th
and 5th grade teachers read my book Flying Solo with their students. I recently
received an interesting letter from Robert Degnan, who teaches 5th grade in
Rhode Island. Here's what he wrote to me, in part:
One of my reading groups is currently
devouring your book Flying Solo. We absolutely love it! As
serendipity would have it, one of my children in that group is an extremely shy
talker; certainly not a selective mute like Rachel, but she is timid and barely
audible when communicating. Therefore, I feel at times she is almost
empowered by her ability to at least speak compared to Rachel's complete
inability (or lack of desire) to communicate verbally.
During group, we have been using a lot of text dependent questions, trying hard to state why you as the author wrote something in the book to honor your craft and give evidence to prove it. For instance, I may ask them why you wrote the chapters from varying points of view or why on page 46 did you list out Mr. Fabiano's story list instead of just writing it into a paragraph. These questions help them become better writers, while also respecting your hard work. Too many times, speculation tears away at the heart of a story, leaving the initial meaning or purpose scattered about. I want my kids to see not only what they can infer, but also what you did and why.
So, all of this is leading up to a big, overarching question I have for you—what would you consider to be the main theme of this book? Or are there several themes that carry equal weight in your eyes? To be honest I am kind of stumped and I don't want to lead them astray. It seems responsibility is a theme as they are taking responsibility for the classroom, but at the same point in time being irresponsible by not reporting it. Also another theme is change, as many characters seem to be dealing with major life changes. Or is it something along the lines of Independence? If you could please throw me some kind of a bone here that would be greatly appreciated. :)
During group, we have been using a lot of text dependent questions, trying hard to state why you as the author wrote something in the book to honor your craft and give evidence to prove it. For instance, I may ask them why you wrote the chapters from varying points of view or why on page 46 did you list out Mr. Fabiano's story list instead of just writing it into a paragraph. These questions help them become better writers, while also respecting your hard work. Too many times, speculation tears away at the heart of a story, leaving the initial meaning or purpose scattered about. I want my kids to see not only what they can infer, but also what you did and why.
So, all of this is leading up to a big, overarching question I have for you—what would you consider to be the main theme of this book? Or are there several themes that carry equal weight in your eyes? To be honest I am kind of stumped and I don't want to lead them astray. It seems responsibility is a theme as they are taking responsibility for the classroom, but at the same point in time being irresponsible by not reporting it. Also another theme is change, as many characters seem to be dealing with major life changes. Or is it something along the lines of Independence? If you could please throw me some kind of a bone here that would be greatly appreciated. :)
The questions in the last paragraph fascinated me, and really made me think.
Here's how I answered his letter.
Very nice to hear
from you, Robert. And thanks for your thoughtful questions. I'm happy to be
part of the conversation but, at the same time, I feel awkward doing so. A book
like Flying Solo really takes on it's own life after it's been published. Most
of the time I stand back and let it speak for itself.
I am not
really "thinking theme" when I write a novel like Flying Solo.
Rather, I'm trying to create a strong, engaging story with believable characters.
I put those characters into a situation that tries them almost to the breaking
point.
To me Flying Solo contains many themes including independence, as you say, and also tolerating difference. And responsibility: how are you going to act in this world? What choices will you make, and what will be the implications of those choices? Most of the time teachers are the ones who make all the important decisions in the classroom. I thought it would be intriguing to see what a bunch of regular kids would do if they suddenly found themselves with no adult in charge of making those choices.
I hope that helps.
To me Flying Solo contains many themes including independence, as you say, and also tolerating difference. And responsibility: how are you going to act in this world? What choices will you make, and what will be the implications of those choices? Most of the time teachers are the ones who make all the important decisions in the classroom. I thought it would be intriguing to see what a bunch of regular kids would do if they suddenly found themselves with no adult in charge of making those choices.
I hope that helps.
Sincerely,
Ralph Fletcher
Friday, January 25, 2013
A Quote and a Poem for Poetry Friday
Like a piece of ice on a hot stove, the poem must
ride on its own melting.
Robert
Frost
Here’s poem of mine that appears in my book Ordinary Things:
Poems From a Walk in Early Spring (Atheneum).
running water
dripping
off rooftops
liquified
diamonds
lit
by clean light
babbling
snow-melt
bringing
the gossip
spilling
off mountains
young
laughing
running
water
For more Poetry Friday poems, check out:
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Nina Ignatowicz
A writing teacher will have a definite influence on the work
produced by his/her students. In a similar way, editors impact the professional
authors they work with.
I just heard the sad news that my
original editor, Nina Ignatowicz, passed away a few days ago. It's impossible to overstate the importance of Nina Ignatowicz to me as a writer. I still remember the first time she called me, out of the blue, after my agent had sent the manuscript of Fig Pudding to her.
"These stories are hilarious!" she said, laughing.
Nina became my editor. Over the next eight years I worked with her on many books including Fig Pudding, Spider Boy, Flying Solo, Twilight Comes Twice, Hello Harvest Moon, Uncle Daddy, and The Circus Surprise. I can look back on each one of those books and see how they were improved by Nina’s guiding hand.
"These stories are hilarious!" she said, laughing.
Nina became my editor. Over the next eight years I worked with her on many books including Fig Pudding, Spider Boy, Flying Solo, Twilight Comes Twice, Hello Harvest Moon, Uncle Daddy, and The Circus Surprise. I can look back on each one of those books and see how they were improved by Nina’s guiding hand.
The dance between an author and
editor is both intimate and intricate. When it’s working well it feels
as natural as running water. When it’s not, well, it feels like stomping all over each
other’s toes.
Good editors don’t impose their
own vision on a writer. Rather, they find a way to step inside the writer’s
vision and extend it. Nina Ignatowicz really knew how to do that. She could be
generous but also tough when the situation demanded it. Many times she’d make a
suggestion, adding: “Why don’t you think about it?” I might initially oppose
her idea, but more times than not when I reread the manuscript I'd
realize that Nina was right. Over time I came to trust her instincts when it came to my books.
I always felt that Nina really
“got” me as a writer. She had my back. And I know many other writers (my friend
Louise Borden, for instance) who would agree with me. A skilled editor is a rare
and valuable thing. I treasure Nina Ignatowicz and all she taught me about
writing.
Rest in peace, Nina.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The Importance of Not Writing
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I’ve published forty-some books. It’s not unusual for me to publish
one or two books in any given year. I’m a prolific writer, a badge that most (though
not all) writers would be proud to wear. Years ago I marveled to Jane Yolen
about the staggering number of books she had published.
“I hope to be remembered as an
author of quality and not merely quantity,” she replied.
“You certainly will be!” I assured
her.
Most writers put a premium on getting
down to work and being productive. In any book about writing you'll find various shorthand slogans
to reinforce this notion.
BIC: Butt In Chair.
Never a day without a line.
Writers write, right?
Right.
But there’s another side to this story. I know that beginning to write a
book is like starting an intense relationship, one that will last for at least
a year, often much longer. I don’t want to enter into that relationship
lightly. I want to make sure that this is a project I want to sink my teeth
into.
“When I write a book I take a deep
breath and go underwater,” says Tom Newkirk, author Misreading Masculinity and
The Art of Slow Reading. “And I can hold my breath for a long time.”
I’m proud of being a prolific
writer, but I know that once I start on a new project I’ll be underwater for many months. So I’ve
come to cherish the all-too-rare times when I’m not writing. This rare in-between time feels luxurious, but I find it quite useful, as well. It's an ideal time for dreaming, gathering ideas,
musing, playing in my writer’s notebook, reading, taking long walks, letting my
mind wander, napping…and, ultimately, deciding what writing project I want to
work on next.
Viewed from the outside, I
probably don’t look very productive when I’m in my not-writing phase. And I
guess I’m not. But I’ve come to realize that this in-between time constitutes an
important part of my process, a time for gathering all the essentials (tangible as
well as intangible) I'll need for the long journey ahead.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Swan and Shadow by John Hollander
Sometimes I find something VERY cool and decide to put it into my writer's notebook. Take this remarkable poem, "Swan and Shadow," by John Hollander. I typed it up using different colors, printed it out, cut out the poem, and taped it into my writer's notebook so I can keep this swan forever.
I want my
writer's notebook to be filled with things like this. More than just the shape
of the poem, I'm inspired by the lush language in this poem.
Friday, January 11, 2013
A Poem For Poetry Friday
Beach Baby
She’s one year old. One tooth. A total pudge.
She tries to get out of the water but her
soaked diaper must weigh
ten thousand pounds
so all she can do is
sit.
Later she sees me eating Cheez Puffs
and toddles over, towering above me,
a baby so giant she blocks out the sun,
sticks out her hand and yells: “Mine’s!”
Her mother hustles over, apologizes,
and hauls her back to their blanket.
Then the baby starts eating sand, grinning,
grinding the grains with that one tooth.
from Have You Been To The Beach Lately?
For more Poetry Friday links go to:
http://www.nowaterriver.com/poetry-friday-first-anniversary-celebration-plus-bloopers/
http://www.nowaterriver.com/poetry-friday-first-anniversary-celebration-plus-bloopers/
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
The Writer's Notebook: Capturing An Image
A few nights ago
I woke at 3 am and went downstairs. It was so bright outside! It had been
snowing through the evening, but the skies must have cleared because a large moon had risen over the snow. I could see shadows cast by the
bright moon on the untouched white snow. Such a dreamy, magical landscape! I
wished I could have somehow captured that with my camera, and I went to fetch it, but it was frustrating because I didn’t know
how to adjust the settings to get an image in moonlight. But then I realized I
could capture it in my writer’s notebook.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
A Quote For Inspiration
I received some cool gifts over the holidays, including this
one from my fabulous daughter-in-law Jess. She created a little tapestry using various pieces of cloth sewn together. I plan to hang it above my desk so I can read the words, and let their wisdom inspire me, whenever I sit down to work.
Eliot's quote reminds me of a song by Harry Chapin: "All My Life's A Circle." It's true that many stories and poems bend in a circle. Think of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who dearly loves his house in the Shire, heading out on a great adventure in "The Hobbit" (I'm referring to the book, not the movie). Eventually Bilbo will return to the Shire, and when he does he'll understand his home in a new and deeper way.
This quote also makes me think of writing, particularly when you write memoir. Memoir allows you to return to a past event and, by writing about it, to gain a deeper understanding of what happened. This can be a powerful but also scary experience because you often end up making new discoveries about yourself and the people/events that have made you who you are.
This quote also makes me think of writing, particularly when you write memoir. Memoir allows you to return to a past event and, by writing about it, to gain a deeper understanding of what happened. This can be a powerful but also scary experience because you often end up making new discoveries about yourself and the people/events that have made you who you are.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Writerly Habit #1: Know The Task When You Sit Down To Write
Writer
Don Murray was an important mentor of mine; I suspect I’ll mention him a lot in
this blog. Don lived only a few miles from my house here in New Hampshire, and
I was lucky enough to call him friend. Not only was he a great guy with a wicked sense of humor, he was as a famous writer, as well. In his books and during our conversations over lunch, Don shared with me many important suggestions about writing, practical advice I still use today. Today I’ll share the first bit of Murray wisdom.
KNOW THE TASK BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN AT THE
DESK. Don pointed out that when you first sit down to write you can waste a
lot of time, thinking, trying to remember, shuffling papers, searching for the right
manuscript page or file on your computer, etc. It saves an enormous
amount of time if you know what you want to do before
you sit down to write.
Take
me. During the past few weeks I’ve been rereading and revising a new middle grade
novel I’m working on. (It’s titled Step Up To The Plate.) So far I have worked through page 103, so this morning I know I can start with
chapter 15, “Hospital Party” on page 104. Since I already know what I need to do, I don't have to waste time fiddling
and diddling at my desk, so this morning I should be able to make real progress
revising my manuscript.
Friday, January 4, 2013
A Poem For Poetry Friday
Poetry
Fridays has become a popular feature in blogs and websites. I love
poetry, so I’ve decided to join the fun. The following poem appears in my
book, Relatively Speaking: Poems About Family. (Alas, this book is out of print.) This poem explores the meaning of my last name. In days of yore the Fletchers crafted arrows. Today the feathered part of the arrow is still known as the fletching. As you'll see, this poem also relates to
the act of writing.
Grandpa
When the leaves turn colors
Grandpa comes to visit
and we go hunting
arrowheads.
Did you
know that your ancestors were archers,
makers of
fine bows and arrows?
It’s true,
you know.
They
fitted feathers onto their arrows
to make
them fly straight
and strike
true.
I tell him
archery is pretty cool
but I want to be a writer
when I grow up.
Well then,
he says, what feathers will you
use
to make
your words fly
straight
and strike true?
for more Poetry Friday links go to:
http://mattforrest.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/poetry-friday-first-of-the-year/
http://mattforrest.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/poetry-friday-first-of-the-year/
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Fossils, Relics, & Artifacts
My writing desk
is flanked by two windows, though you might be surprised to hear that I don’t look outside very much. Often I close
the blinds.
“Appealing
workplaces are to be avoided,” says writer Annie Dillard. “One wants a room
with no view, so imagination can meet memory in the dark.”
I like to
keep fossils, crystals, or other cool stones nearby when I write. Sometimes
when I’m stuck or when I’m pausing to think I pick one up one of these stones
and hold it in my hand, feel its substantial weight. Writing involves words and
ideas, which are undeniably powerful, but at certain times they seem floaty and
insubstantial. Holding rocks and relics in my hand, feeling their dense mass
and solid weight, helps to keep me grounded. They remind me of the ancient
world, the eternal life spirit, and the unstoppable power of time.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year!
Since this is a first blog entry (first ever!) seems
extra-special, it seems like I should kick things off with a snazzy beginning,
something bold and original. But I don’t really want to begin that way. Writing
this blog will be no different from how I write anything else. It starts
quietly, with me staring at the empty page or the blank screen.
After today the holidays are officially over. I really love
having people staying at our house, but there’s a downside, too. I don’t write!
For a few days I can live with that, but when I go for a string of days without
writing, well, I start getting moody. A few days more and I get downright cranky.
I enjoy writing, but it’s more than that. I need to write.
A few times a week I’ll share my process as a writer on this
blog. You’ll see what I’m up to: drafting, revising, dreaming, rereading, talking to one of my editors, or maybe just daydreaming about my next project.
If you ask ten different writers how they work, you’ll likely
hear ten different ways of writing. But there are some commonalities. For one
thing, most writers keep some kind of notebook to record ideas. And for
another, everybody needs a place to write. Here’s my desk, the sacred place
where I try to brew up a stew of magical words, stories, poems….
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