Suggested Audience: Pre-K to 3rd Grades
- I read three picture book manuscripts to the class.
- After reading, I ask the class which one they liked and to give their reasons why.
- I let them in on a secret. Shh, I tell them one of the stories was mine.
- I explain that I’m a writer, what I do, and why I do it.
- Ask them if they have any questions about writing.
ABC & 123 - THE MECHANICS…
Suggested Audience: 4th to 8th Grades
- Ask the group what they think about writing.
- Walk them through the steps of writing and trying to get published:
- Write manuscript
- Finding a good critique group
- Polishing your manuscript
- Researching on where to send your manuscript
- Submitting
- Receiving different types of rejections and getting acceptances
- Editing
- Illustrations
- Seeing the end results
- Promoting
- Awards
SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER…
Suggested Audience: 9th to 12th Grades
- Ask if they think it is harder to write for adults or children and explain why the right answer is: children.
- Explain why each and every word must count.
- Ask them to name different children’s book genres.
- Go into each genre and explain each as well as show the books of each.
- Give an example by telling a Young Adult version of a nursery rhyme and see if they can guess which one it is.
I can also do a challenge with the older groups. I explain, as a writer you have the first five to ten lines to ‘hook’ an editor. I then read a situation and let them have five to ten minutes to write the beginning of a story and get me hooked.
***************************************
C O N T A C T~~~I N F O R M A T I O N
***************************************
For information on availability, visitation fees, or any other questions you may have.
You can contact me at: traceymcox@yahoo.com
