Childrens Writers Chat Log 4-17-01

Guest: Author Kathi Appelt

Tuesdays

9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT), Writers Workshop

Children's Writers chat - writers and illustrators of children's books meet for specific topics and special guest speakers, moderated by HOST WRTR WBABE & HOST WRTR CGaley, with HOST WRTR sUe & HOST WRTR Neely (Greeters).

<HTML>Childrens Writers Chat Log 4-17-01

Guest: Author Kathi Appelt

CGaley: Hi everyone and welcome to the Children's Writers Chat

CGaley: We'll have full protocol tonight as we have a guest...

CGaley: We'll go into protocol NOW!

CGaley: As always...

CGaley: I'll ask a couple of questions then we'll take questions

CGaley: from the group...

CGaley: When I mention that we're preparing to take group questions,

CGaley: type ? for a question....

CGaley: or ! for a comment that has something

CGaley: to do with the subject being discussed...

CGaley: Marilyn Singer, our Co-Moderator can jump in with questions or

comments...

CGaley: Wave, Marilyn!

WriterBabe: Waving!

CGaley: Thanks, Marilyn!

CGaley: Our guest tonight is Kathi Appelt...

CGaley: From the books that she's written

CGaley: one can hear a distinctive Southern Voice.

CGaley: One that I've come to appreciate living here in the SOuth.

CGaley: Say hello, Kathi!

Brazoskat: Hello y'all.

CGaley: LOL!!! Well done!

WriterBabe: LOL

CGaley: From the newsletter ya'll received,

CGaley: you can see that she's won numerous awards

CGaley: and has been recognized nationally on several occasions.

CGaley: Kathi, before we start any questions,

CGaley: would you like to make any opening comments?

CGaley: ga

Brazoskat: Only thanks for having me here tonight.

CGaley: Well, you're most certainly welcome!

CGaley: I forgot to add that when you've finished your question or comment,

CGaley: type ga for "go ahead," for an ending to your thought.

CGaley: Kathi, you've written in so many age groups for children

CGaley: from early reader picture book to YA.

CGaley: I guess my question is

CGaley: how does one age group differ from another?

CGaley: ga

CGaley: In writing for them, I mean... ga

Brazoskat: Okay, let me get my thoughts together.

Brazoskat: It's true that I do write for a broad spectrum of ages

Brazoskat: primarily toddlers (the very young) and then teenagers

Brazoskat: Sometimes when I look at my books, all spread out, i feel

Brazoskat: like I have multiple personalities.

Brazoskat: But the truth is, toddlers and teenagers are actually fairly

similar critters.

Brazoskat: They're ego-centric, they're tempestuous, they're on the brink of

independence . . .

Brazoskat: both age groups are incredibly passionate. In fact, I'd boldly

say that, at no other times

Brazoskat: in our lives are we quite as passionate as we are when we're 4

and 14. I enjoy tapping into

Brazoskat: those emotions and I love writing for those ages.

Brazoskat: I will say that I have not written broadly for the middle

ages--6-9 year olds. I've tried,

Brazoskat: but haven't met with much success there. However, I like to

think that kids in those ages s

Brazoskat: still enjoy a picture book. ga

CGaley: That's a wonderful comment about toddlers and teenagers!

CGaley: I've never thought of it that way...

CGaley: Would you say that there differences in independance

CGaley: is only limited by their mode of transportation?

CGaley: I mean, the teenagers will have the whole world with

CGaley: a car, while the toddler explores that next room...

CGaley: Any comments on those two ages' scope of the world

CGaley: at that age?

CGaley: ga

Brazoskat: Well, of course the scope is different, but the thing that is the

most different

Brazoskat: is the scope of the consequences. The urge for independence

seems to me to

Brazoskat: be basically the same. A yearning is a yearning. It's power is

only tempered by our

Brazoskat: needs.

Brazoskat: And transportation has a lot to do with it.

Brazoskat: ga

CGaley: Beautifully put! That was a hard question, but you gave

CGaley: a insiteful (sp) answer! Now an easier one!

CGaley: How can a new writer approach that hard task of

CGaley: trying to write daily...

CGaley: What is your secret to that? ga

Brazoskat: I always encourage my students to make a five minute commitment.

Brazoskat: I know that sounds simplistic, but long ago, when I first started

out, I was complaining to

Brazoskat: a friend of mine that I could find time to do ANYTHING except

what mattered most to me . . .

Brazoskat: writing. So she asked me to make a daily commitment. At first

my response was that, okay,

Brazoskat: I could commit thirty minutes.

Brazoskat: She laughed and said that was way too long. I was surprised at

her response.

Brazoskat: So I said, okay, I can commit to fifteen minutes. Again, she

told me that was way too long,

Brazoskat: that I'd never make fifteen minutes a day. So, in frustrat

Brazoskat: ion, I said I would commit to five minutes. She said, fine

Brazoskat: I've never ever not written five minutes a day. Some days I

count my grocery list as my

Brazoskat: five minutes, but the truth is, anyone can find five minutes

Brazoskat: and the bigger truth is, it's the sitting down that's hard to do.

Once I've put my fanny in

Brazoskat: the chair, I find I can sit there for a purty long time

Brazoskat: It's the starting that's hard, not the time.

Brazoskat: ga

CGaley: What a great way to get started!

Brazoskat: Thanks

CGaley: OK, everyone... the cue's open...

CGaley: I'll ask one more short question...

CGaley: then we'll start fielding questions from the group!

CGaley: Kathi, what is your favorite book to date and why?

CGaley: ga

Brazoskat: Well, my favorite book changes from time to time, but currently

is my ya short story collect

Brazoskat: ion, KISSING TENNESSEE. Why? I think because it was such a

personal writing. More of my

CGaley: (cue's open folks)

Brazoskat: heart is in that book than my others so far. ga

CGaley: Kathi, I'll have to admit... I really enjoye KISSING TENNESSEE.

There was such

CGaley: an innocense to it... teetering on adulthood... well done!

CGaley: Ok, everyone... let's have those questions!

Brazoskat: Thanks, I worked harder on it than on anything else I've ever

worked on

Brazoskat: with possibly the exception of raising my boys--still in process

by the way.

Catherine4148: ?

Brazoskat: ga

Ekbruno: ?

CGaley: OK, Ekbruno... you question...

Ekbruno: How many hours a day do you write now? Do you begin early? ga

CGaley: ...your question... (sorry)

Rebeccakai: !?

CGaley: (Catherine.. sorry, you're next.. hang on..)

Brazoskat: Ekbruno--I don't really keep tabs on the time I write. I do have

fallow periods where I don

Brazoskat: 't write very much at all, then other days when I write a lot.

Brazoskat: I know that I'm more productive in warm seasons. I have no idea

why. My husband thinks it'

Brazoskat: s the bear in me. In cold seasons I sleep a lot:) ga

Ekbruno: ll thanks

Ekbruno: lol

CGaley: Catherine... thanks for waiting... what's your question?

Catherine4148: I write for adults but would like to write for children's.

It's hard for me. Can u give me

Catherine4148: any suggestions?

CGaley: ga, Catherine?

Brazoskat: Number one would be to read as many books for children as you

can get

Brazoskat: your hands on. When I teach writing for children, I'm

Brazoskat: often surprised by how "illiterate" my students are in the area

of children's literature.

Brazoskat: So, that's my first suggestion. The second would be find some

kids, if you don't have

Brazoskat: your own, to be around. When I say read children's books, I'm

not talking about a few here

Brazoskat: and there, I'm talking about a hundred a week or more.

Brazoskat: Also, if you're successful writing for adults, why do you WANT to

write for kids? ga

CGaley: Wow, Kathi... a great suggestion!

CGaley: Catherine, care to comment?

Catherine4148: I just would liket to write something different that's all.

Brazoskat: Which is a good response.

CGaley: OK, Rebecca Kai Dottlich... you're next with a comment...

Rebeccakai: Your writing is so poetic. You are a natural with language.

Brazoskat: I often feel the yearning to write for different age groups.

Brazoskat: Ahhh . . . look who's talking!

Rebeccakai: ...I bet we'd also love to hear what you are working on now...or

next.....or both

Rebeccakai: ga

Brazoskat: I usually have several "irons in the fire," plus I keep an "idea

file" on my computer, so th

CGaley: Kathi, what is next for you?

Brazoskat: at when I'm plum empty, I can scan it for a jump start.

CGaley: (Let's have those questions, folks...)

Brazoskat: I have a couple of picture books that I'm just fleshing out, and

a new collection of ya poet

Brazoskat: try that I'm in the middle of. I have a new "series" coming out

soon and have some ideas fo

Brazoskat: r more of those. These books are for the very young and they're

based on two characters

Brazoskat: named Bubba and Beau. Bubba is a "redneck baby," and Beau is a

"redbone hound-puppy."

Brazoskat: I also have a picture book biography of Lady Bird Johnson that I

just sold to HarperCollins,

Brazoskat: which will be my first foray into that particular genre. I'm

excited about it.

WriterRoss: ?

BOEDEN: ~¤~¤~¤~¤~¤~¤~15 MINUTE WARNING~¤~¤~¤~¤~¤~¤~

CGaley: ga, Kathi?

Brazoskat: ga

CGaley: That's great... it sounds like you're real busy!

CGaley: Ok, Marilyn has a question for you... then Writer Ross.

CGaley: ga Marilyn!

CGaley: ga

Brazoskat: okay

WriterBabe: Other than dialect, how would you define "Southern" writing,

Kathi--or would you?

WriterBabe: GA

CGaley: (great question!)

DJS2306: ahhh.,.,. Christian Writers?

WriterBabe: (Thanks, Chuck)

Brazoskat: I'm fairly certain that dialect plays a large role, but I also

believe that "place" is almos

CGaley: (DJS... we're in protocol)

BOEDEN: djs, rEAD yOUR IM'S

Brazoskat: t like a character in southern writing. And by place, I don't

mean

Brazoskat: just the landscape, I mean also the "aura" of it--here in the

south, we have the whole histo

Brazoskat: ry of slavery, manners, colonialism, football, all these things

DJS2306: !

Catherine4148: ?

Catherine4148: sorry

Brazoskat: that signify a background character that's not necessariy human,

but a character nonetheless

Brazoskat: Does that make sense? ga

WriterBabe: Absolutely, Kathi--and a great answer.

Brazoskat: thanks! ga

WriterRoss: Have you had to deal with rejection in recent years? more-

CGaley: I agree ... a great answer, Kathi... I've never heard it put so

well.

WriterBabe: The landscape affects the ethos, too.

WriterBabe: And vice versa.

Brazoskat: In recent years? I deal with it all the time. ga

WriterRoss: How do you work through it and past it?

CGaley: (DJS... I'll call for your comment in a moment... after this

question... thanks)

WriterRoss: ( I know. No one wants to talk about depressing topics...) ;>

BOEDEN: ~¤~¤~¤~¤~10 MINUTE WARNING~¤~¤~¤~¤~

WriterRoss: Thanks-- GA -- Pamela {}

Brazoskat: Marilyn, you're right about that. The ethos and pathos play

particularly strong roles in so

Brazoskat: southern literature. I know they do in other areas as well, but

the south is distinct.

Brazoskat: On rejection, I try not to dwell on it, but I don't mind having a

glass of wine to help wash

Brazoskat: it down. And I don't always see it as depressing.

Brazoskat: I try to see it as someone else's (some other editor's)

opportunity.

Brazoskat: I also use it as an opportunity myself, to see if there's

something I need to change.

Brazoskat: ga

Catherine4148: ?

CGaley: DJS... a comment?

WriterRoss: Excellent, timely advice. Thank you- {}

Brazoskat: youbetcha

CGaley: DJS... did you have a comment?

CGaley: OK, then... Catherine... you're next ga

Catherine4148: Do u do ur own illustrations? If not how do u find an

illustrator & make sure they have what

DJS2306: yes .. is this the Christian writer's workshop?

Catherine4148: ur looking for.

CGaley: (DJS... no it's the Children's Writers Chat... sorry)

Brazoskat: No, i do not do my own illustrations. My publisher is

responsible for finding the illustrat

DJS2306: bye

Brazoskat: ors. Thanks goodness, too, because I don't know anything about

art.

Brazoskat: ga

Catherine4148: ?

CGaley: Catherine... another question?

CGaley: ga

Catherine4148: ...but how do u know they're drawing what u want? Is there

communication?

Brazoskat: There is some small amount of communication between myself and my

editor. She serves as

Brazoskat: liasion between me and the illustrator. However, I really want

the text to become

Brazoskat: the illustrator's. In other words, it's important to me that the

illustrator "own" the book

Brazoskat: By the time the ms. is handed over to an artist, my part is

basically done. I'm only there

Brazoskat: then as a kind of silent advisor, and then only when there

Brazoskat: is a question on the part of the illustrator that my editor can't

answer.

BOEDEN: ~¤~¤~¤~¤~5 MINUTE WARNING~¤~¤~¤~¤~

Brazoskat: You have to trust that the illustrator knows what he or she is

doing. ga

Catherine4148: Oh!...i never thought about it that way. The "illustrator's

own" Thanks.

CGaley: (Cue's empty, folks)

CGaley: ga, Catherine?

Rebeccakai: !

CGaley: Becky!!! A comment?

Melduvall: ?

Rebeccakai: have you ever, ever, ever, ever been slightly disappointed

though? I mean w/o mentioning

Rebeccakai: any titles, of course

Brazoskat: Yes, I have. No doubt about it. But by the time I figure out

that I'm disappointed, it's

Brazoskat: basically too late to do anything about it. ga

CGaley: (Melduvall, I'll call on you for your question in a moment...)

CGaley: OK... Melduvall, a question?

Melduvall: What prompted biography as picture book?GA

Melduvall: Was it hard to write?GA

Brazoskat: Well, it's not a new genre. There are lots of pb bios out there.

As a Texan, I felt a

Brazoskat: great admiration for Lady Bird and the role she's played as our

nation's first real

BOEDEN: Sorry folks, it is the top of the hour. Thank you for coming.

CGaley: Thanks, Kathi!

CGaley: Any closing comments?

Brazoskat: "political" conservationist. I also felt that she was getting

"lost" in history and deserve

Brazoskat: d some mention, especially among the younger sset.

Brazoskat: Thanks so much for having me and good luck in your writing

endeavors.

RoxyanneY: Thank you, Kathi, Chuck, Sue, and everyone else! Great chat.

WriterBabe: What a great chat! Kathi, you are terrific!

Pete n Gun: Thanks Kathi, do guest again.

Brazoskat: I loved it.

Ekbruno: interesting chat ... thanks Kathi

MudderGG: Thank you Kathi...

CGaley: Everyone! Let's thank Kathi with our famous applause segment!

BOEDEN: Thank you Kathi! Terrific information. Thanks Chuckles, EXLNT Job!

BOEDEN: (Please send me a log.)

Rebeccakai: great writer. great person. she wears cute pj's too

WriterBabe: Chuck, you're an excellent host!

CGaley: YEA, KATHI! (CLAP< CLAP, CLAP!)

BOEDEN: LOL

Ekbruno: Sue ... it's on the way

Brazoskat: Now don't give away all my secrets Rebecca.

BOEDEN: applause! applause!

WriterBabe: With ducks on them?

Rebeccakai: I'll save one or two :) APPLAUSE for APPELT

CGaley: Flannel PJ's I might add!

BOEDEN: Nighty night folks. Happy writing!!

Brazoskat: I'm taking a deep bow, and no, it's cats.

((end))</HTML>

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