‘Think back to a pivotal moment from your childhood. One where the emotions are still raw and fresh. It could be good or bad. An epiphany or a turning point.’ This was the question posed to eleven of us by author and editor Rich Wallace at the Highlights Foundation workshop this past weekend in Pennsylvania.
The answers varied greatly: shop lifting, foster siblings, bicycle accidents. My moment was from middle school when I first realized my older brother did not in fact hate me, but actually cared for me - as evidenced by his ‘roughing up‘ a classmate of mine who was mean to me. (Ah, the good old days!)
No matter what the subject matter though, the moments and more specifically the emotions were powerful. After spending three and a half days with this group children’s writers and the amazing editors (and authors) who ran the workshop, several of us had an adult epiphany. Heather was the one to express it at our final Q & A session: She had tears in her eyes as she explained that this weekend had really been a defining moment for her and her career as a child’s author, her adult turning point. I think she spoke for many of us. It was a powerful, informative, fun filled, inspiring weekend.
The workshop presenters also included Lou Warnycia, Rachel Buchholz and Paula Marrow, as well as special guest Darlyne Murawski. They shared the ins and outs of getting published in the magazine market: how to write a good query letter, what the revision process looks like behind the scenes, how to really study the magazine market and so much more!
In between these packed sessions were amazingly delicious meals and entertaining conversation. My favorite was sitting next to Cristina Kessler and Darlyne Murawski, listening to them swap stories of snake encounters in the rain forest and lion attacks in the African bush.
The weekend also included lots of one on one sessions with the editors and a chance to have our work evaluated. The entire experience was invaluable. It has given me such renewed purpose and energy. If you are interested in writing for children and have not yet had the chance to attend a Highlights Foundation Workshop, I beg you to look into it and GO! And I thank Kent Brown Jr. for his dedication to the art of writing for children and providing such amazing forums!
Giddy up! Gotta go write!
