GUESTS

Thank you to Kathy Beatty who met us at Andrea Kristina's for a talk about John's Shelf Project and the life of a writer. Her honesty about the way she approaches her craft, insight about the editing process and the publishing industry were informational.

If we could encourage children to explore the writing process as a real writer, they may engage in more authentic, self-expressive and meaningful writing. The notion of letting writng simmer while working on another piece has  merit for young writers as well as adult; novice and seasoned.

Just getting ideas out on paper first frees children up from the conventions and mechanics of writing and identifies it as a creative process. Children not only begin to own their work but they own their individuality as a result. Children begin to recognize this and celebrate it.

Sharing work and listening to feedback is integral to the workshop model. But first trust must be established.

The Bisti Writing Project, affiliated with the National Writing Project is a must for all teachers who would like to recognize themselves as writers who teach and teachers who write. A question for pre-service teachers is: Do you see yourself as a teacher who writes and a writer who teaches? How comfortable are you as writers adn what will you do to become more comfortable as a writer?

Katy shared the following organizations with us:

Weeonesmagazine

Writers Digest

International Book Council

Book Bird Magazine (similar to Booklinks)

Highlights Foundation

SCBWI-NM

"We send story into the world for children" (Katy Beatty, April 21, 2008, ANdrea Kristina's)