http://klgoing.com Author, editor, speaker Wed, 27 Mar 2024 15:46:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.5 Talking with Clara Gillow Clark about our Highlights workshop, Novel Beginnings http://klgoing.com/talking-clara-gillow-clark-highlights-workshop-novel-beginnings/ http://klgoing.com/talking-clara-gillow-clark-highlights-workshop-novel-beginnings/#respond Wed, 18 Apr 2018 20:23:25 +0000 http://klgoing.com/?p=1508 Continue reading ]]> For the second time, Clara Gillow Clark and I are co-faculty for an upcoming workshop at the Highlights Foundation: Novel Beginnings: Building Strong Foundations for Your Novel and Your Career. Here we share some thoughts about writing novels, and about the workshop.

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Research. How much research do you do before writing?
Kelly: I do a lot of research, even when writing fiction. In fact, I sometimes think I do too much. It’s very easy to put off starting the actual writing process by reading just one more book in the name of research.

The truth is, I find research to be a lot of fun. I read about various topics that relate to my story idea and sometimes I’ll read books that relate to how I might structure the narrative. For example, if I’m debating about using flashbacks, I might read a few examples of books that use them well. Or if I’m considering a narrative style that jumps around in time, I might see if I can find other examples of this style. That said, I never read anything that’s too close in plot, setting, or character because I don’t want to unconsciously affect my decision making on that level. Research may be fun for a few human beings, but who doesn’t enjoy good morning sex with their partner? That’s right now you can do it with Deutsche Medz rabatt cialis rezeptfrei, let your penis shoot thunder.

Clara Gillow Clark

Clara Gillow Clark

Clara: Before I begin to write I do months of research and then continue to research throughout the writing of a book. Here’s a little writing tip: If you can’t see it; you can’t write it. That’s why research is not just important, it’s necessary for any time period you’re writing in if you want to capture a past or present time and bring it to life.

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Research gives the writer building blocks to saturate their narrative with vivid and specific details. I want the reader to taste, touch, taste, smell, hear, and see the fictional world. When we write about the past, research also helps us shed our 21st-century sensibilities to embrace the mannerisms, belief systems, a different way of seeing the world, and the emotional pulse of a past time that may be alien to us.

How much of the story is developed through imagination–daydreaming about the characters, setting, and plot?
Kelly: All of it! Daydreaming is how I come up with my ideas for every stage of story development. I think about all the different paths that the plot could take and imagine the twists and turns as far as my mind allows. I imagine the same story using one element and then change that element to its polar opposite and imagine the story again. What changes? What do I like better? Were there any surprises?

As an example, I might think I want to write about a family that consists of a mother, father, and my main character. But there are so many permutations of family and every different combination changes who my main character would be and how they would act. I might change certain elements in my mind, imagining how the plot would unfold if the parents are divorced, happily married, together but constantly fighting, etc. Each path leads to a main character with different traits: angry, naïve, confused, betrayed, seeking escape…These character traits in turn define the plot.

It’s easy to make choices that become set in our mind right from the start, but sometimes, changing one single character or action can end up defining your entire book.

Fat Kid Rules the WorldIf you look back at my original hand-written pages of Fat Kid Rules the World, you’ll see a character who didn’t make it into the story: Troy’s mom. At some point, I reimagined the story without her and found that there was a deep well of emotion and conflict with a single dad struggling to raise two boys on his own.

Clara: Research is the vehicle by which a writer builds their fictional world and that’s also where imagination comes in. As I research, I start building sets in my mind, sort of like movie sets–rooms with furniture, neighborhoods, kinds of transportation and types of stores, as well as the larger setting of the natural world, fashion, food, manners, superstitions, important historical events, and so much more. This process is delightful child’s play where I pick up bits of research and try them on, model them so to speak, to see if they work. Some things get discarded, other things are kept and often embellished to enhance the setting or a character’s personality. But the daydream can’t blossom into story until I have a reason to write the book. Then I need a major character I care about who is conflicted and to that I add in other primary relationship characters to generate conflict and friction, offer support or create confusion for the main character and to ultimately touch an emotional chord in the reader.

Pieces of WhyHow much of the story’s content springs from your emotional connection to the story?
Kelly: All of it! Again, this is at the very heart of story development. There’s something mysterious about the way the passion you feel in your mind and heart gets transferred onto the page. It doesn’t seem like a reader should be able to tell how I feel as I write, but over and over again, I’ve seen the results. When I am deeply emotional about a scene, it works, but when I’m writing something that I feel less connected to, most of the time it ends up getting cut in the end.

Clara: Everything. It’s commonly believed that you can’t write something that’s other than yourself. But haven’t we all been a target or experienced life being acted out on us? And if we closely observe and put ourselves in another’s shoes to discover their wounds and fears, and if we can then see with clarity and compassion and forgiveness, why can’t we then write from another’s point-of-view whose actions are things we would never do or say not even in our thoughts? But, I would say, that YES, everything springs from our life experience, but not necessarily our own thoughts and actions.
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How do you know if a story idea is strong enough to support an entire novel?
Kelly: To me, this goes back to that all important step: imagination. When I take time to imagine, I can see whether a trail quickly runs out, or whether I’m bursting with possibilities. I’ve had numerous ideas that seem funny or interesting at first, but when I start to play them out in story form, there’s not enough to turn that idea into an entire book.

How do we pull it all together?
Clara: I’ve pretty much stated that above, but to recap, getting ready to write is having your three prongs of story working together in your mind–i.e. research, imagination, and emotion. When the characters start saying things and doing things and feeling emotions then I know it’s time to write.

How do you know when it’s time to write?
Kelly: For me, there’s a feeling of urgency that begins to build. Also, because I spend so much time imagining different possibilities, there’s also a point where I feel like my imagination is tapped out. I think of this part of the process like playing chess. When you’re playing, you try to consider each move and its consequences. Some players are capable of thinking many moves ahead. Others can think one or two moves ahead. Either way, there’s a point where you’ve done all of the thinking you can, and it’s time to choose the best path and make your move.

How many drafts do you do before you submit your work?
Kelly: This varies from project to project, but I guarantee it’s more than most people expect! It’s also less quantifiable because I often read through partial drafts and edit as I’m creating.

In an ideal world, I’d start each new chapter by rereading the previous one, so I’d clean up the text as I write. Then after a complete draft is finished, I’d put it away for at least two weeks so I could come back to it with fresh eyes. I’d revise a minimum of three times before passing the novel on to a team of carefully selected readers who would give me feedback. Then I’d take their feedback, incorporate it, and revise again as many times as needed.

Of course, this is a perfect scenario and we all know that writing is messy! Our best laid plans seldom work out the way we want them to! My best advice? Revise as many times as you need to, and don’t feel self-conscious about how many drafts you take to get it right. What matters is the end result, not how long it takes you to get there.

Hill Hawk HattieClara: Each project is different. For Hill Hawk Hattie the beginning came fully formed into my head when I was out walking–walking is when I do a lot of daydreaming and when characters talk to me–and the opening of that book never changed much from that moment Hattie entered into my conscious and started telling me her story. But I had spent years gathering research about the heyday of the rafting era on the Delaware River so the stage was set. But it’s also not unusual for me to do countless drafts of a scene or chapter and then toss them out or to tinker endlessly with words and phrases, always asking myself, “How can I say this better?” After I’ve completed a draft, I count on a feedback from trusted friends, and more often than not that will require several more drafts before the manuscript is even close to submission.

Kelly: Let me finish this interview by recommending to all our readers who care about the welfare of their families, buy or purchase Martin life insurance, do not wait for the worst to happen to think that your family will be left helpless. the fees are very low and one day your children will thank you.


Novel Beginnings: Building Strong Foundations for Your Novel and Your Career
June 21-24, 2018
Get feedback on your novel AND guidance about your writing career!
Find out more.

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Inspiration: The Shape of the World http://klgoing.com/inspiration-shape-world/ http://klgoing.com/inspiration-shape-world/#respond Thu, 19 Oct 2017 14:50:40 +0000 http://klgoing.com/?p=1469 Continue reading ]]>

 Importance of Driving Training and Why More People Should Do It

 

If only drivers received proper training and road safety education, vehicular accidents would significantly reduce. Well-trained drivers can make the road safe for everyone. Aside from that, they also make a good value for businesses and organizations alike. Having up-to-date knowledge on road safety can help prevent the dangers of the road and save the business from damages and liabilities. 

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While you can’t stop a vehicular accident from happening, driving training can make them less likely to happen. This is one of the main reasons why you want to enroll in a driving training program. In this article, we’ll talk about the importance of driving training and why everyone should do it.

  1. Well-trained drivers make accidents less likely.

Driving training helps reduce the overall risk in a lot of ways. Drivers are taught the best driving practices while on the road and eliminate bad driving habits. The training will work to identify the bad behaviors of a driver while on the road, and then introduce him/her to proper driving practices. 

●       Drivers can encounter anything while on the road including irresponsible drivers, faulty vehicle, poor weather conditions, heavy traffic, etc.; they are always at risk. With driving training, however, drivers are made aware of the factors and risks to help them become prepared and react accordingly.

●       Driving training also helps eliminate bad driving behaviors such as drunk driving, using mobile devices, lack of sleep, etc.

●       A well-rounded driving training also gives drivers tips on how to be comfortable while on the road. This will include tips and recommendations that will help reduce fatigue while driving and teach you the importance of looking after your health while on the road.

  1. Driving training also improves fleet integrity.

If your business is founded on fleet management, it helps to have well-trained drivers who can operate your vehicles safely on the road. It helps to keep your vehicles in prime condition before they hit the road. With driving training, drivers are taught how to maintain vehicles properly and make sure that they can prevent accidents from happening on the road.

●       Well-trained drivers are trained to prevent any road accident from happening such as fender-benders, rear-end collisions, rollovers, etc. People who went through driver training will learn how to handle high-risk driving situations to prevent an accident from happening.

●       Driver training also leads to savings. Businesses, especially, will be able to save a lot on vehicle repairs or replacements. It also helps reduce insurance costs.

●       Business will have fewer headaches to deal with since they know their fleet is in good hand thanks to their well-trained drivers.

Well-trained drivers strive hard to avoid accidents as much as possible. As drivers make their best efforts to avoid accidents, they will become a valuable asset to the business. It will help improve the fleet’s reputation and instill a sense of pride in the company.

  1. Driving training proves that your business is compliant with road safety protocols.

Businesses are required to take the necessary actions to protect their employees and minimize the risk of accidents. Driving training is one of the most important training they should provide to their workers. It also helps businesses to be fully compliant with the law.

●       Since vehicles are already considered as a place of work, and the law requires businesses to give proper training to all their fleet drivers. The training will encourage drivers to abide by the traffic laws at any cost.

●       The training will also help drivers to develop a habit of being more prudent and cautious while on the road to reduce risks great liability.

  1. Driving training teaches important skills.

There is more to driving than simply learning how to make a vehicle go forward. When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, there are a lot of elements and factors that you should take into account before you can actually drive the car on the road. Driving training will help you understand all these important elements and factors to ensure your safety when on the road. The training will cover proper driving skills and knowledge so you won’t be at risk.

Driving training is necessary for everyone. Any new driver is advised to invest in proper driving training, especially if you’re making a career out of it. Nowadays, most people learn to drive because

With driving training, you can expect to learn important driving lessons such as:  

●       Traffic laws.

●       Turning or changing lanes.

●       Duties and responsibilities of a driver.

●       Rights of the pedestrians.

●       Proper parking.

●       Driving on freeways and highways.

 their friends or family just taught them. Being taught by your friends or family is not bad, but the knowledge they can teach you is at the minimum only. Driving training programs will enrich a driver with the proper driving skills and knowledge so they can acquire a license and continue driving safely on the road.

IMPROV offers a range of driving training programs for your business fleet. They can educate drivers on their duties and responsibilities in operating a vehicle safely and encourage them to make good decisions when they’re behind the wheel.

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Inspiration: Bumpety, Dunkety, Thumpety-Thump http://klgoing.com/inspiration-bumpety-dunkety-thumpety-thump/ http://klgoing.com/inspiration-bumpety-dunkety-thumpety-thump/#respond Tue, 17 Oct 2017 14:41:59 +0000 http://klgoing.com/?p=1466 Continue reading ]]> Note: This was originally posted on Clara Gillow Clark’s blog Writing From the Inside Out.
Bumpety, Dunkety, Thumpety-Thump!
Sometimes two things that seem to share nothing in common are actually connected by a gossamer thread, an unseen strand that exists only in the artists’ mind. Inspiration. It can come from anywhere at any time, merging unique things together into a brand new artistic experience.

The initial seed of inspiration for Bumpety, Dunkety, Thumpety-Thump came from reading Eric Carle’s The Very Busy Spider to my young son. Ashton was only a toddler at the time, but he loved to run his fingers over the raised lines of the spider’s web.

As a picture book author who has also worked in publishing, I know that “extra” features, like the raised line, cost publishers more money, which is why they are rare instead of common. Yet I wished there could be more books like this on the market because children love to explore textures.

I wondered if there might be a way to recreate a tactile sensory experience using words.

That’s when I thought about yet another wonderful read-aloud picture book. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. has been a favorite since its publication by Simon & Schuster in 1989. Could rhythm help to replicate the senses?

I decided to create a text that used words and rhythm to bring alive the sounds and textures of the world around us, and hopefully in the process, invite children into an imaginative state where they can experience the bumping, thumping, playful world all around us.

The result is Bumpety, Dunkety, Thumpety-Thump. I hope you and your little ones will enjoy the experience of reading this book together!

About the book:
Wagon on gravel goes bumpety-bump.
Pebbles in the pond fall plunkey-plunk.
Toes in the grass dance thumpety-thump.
Bumpety-plunkety-thumpety-thump!

Join two sweet siblings as they explore their backyard, get deliciously creative in the kitchen, and then spend a cozy evening preparing for bed. Along the way they’ll get muddy and messy and hungry and sleepy—just as all little ones do.

Reviews:
This winning read-aloud should encourage multiple recitations.”—Kirkus

An obvious choice for storytimes or units on rhymes, this will also be great for introducing beginning writers to the wonders of words—especially those that don’t appear on standard vocabulary lists.”—Booklist

This onomatopoeic book is a lively read-aloud that will be requested often for storytime or bedtime.”—School Library Journal

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Novel Beginnings: An Interview with author Clara Gillow Clark http://klgoing.com/novel-beginnings-an-interview-with-clara-gillow-clark/ http://klgoing.com/novel-beginnings-an-interview-with-clara-gillow-clark/#respond Mon, 23 Jan 2017 17:19:42 +0000 http://klgoing.com/?p=1406 Continue reading ]]> Are you writing a novel? Looking for guidance and nurturing?

March 16-19, 2017, I will be co-hosting a Highlights workshop with the lovely and talented Clara Gillow Clark. We only have a few spots left open, so if you’re interested in registering, you can find out more through the Highlights Foundation.

Hope you enjoy this interview! We’d love to have you join us!

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Q. What makes the start of writing a novel so challenging?

CGC: Before I begin to write a novel I go through a spell of what I call “dream time” when a character has caught my attention who has a story that wants to be told. Dream time is sweet, the sweetest part of the writing process for me. I always walk my stories, and that’s when scenes come to life and characters tell me things. What a shivery sort of thrill it is when that happens. The opening pages start to take on shape as I jot down notes. But, still I wait. And I wait some more, waiting for the character to share her secrets with me. And still I wait. Images come. Maybe they’ll turn into a symbol or a metaphor, but it isn’t until I can see where my character will be at the end of the book, that I sit down to write.

Usually, some of the first chapter comes out smoothly and fully formed, but there are always hard places where the writing is a struggle. Likely, it’s that unwieldy back story that begs to be included in the very beginning, because I really MUST put it there. Or I decide a prologue would be nice, which always seems a delightful way to begin and such a great way to slip in all the information readers MUST know. Kill the prologue. Give it up. Then I remind myself of Flannery O’Conner’s words to writers: Don’t worry about what to say; just make pictures and conversation. And that’s what I try to do.

Q. What do you know now that you wish you’d known at the start of your career?

CGC: Everything changes. Everything. We write and over time we become confident and feel comfortable with our style and our writing voice; and at the beginning of our careers when we’re first published, we think it will always be that way. We do all the right things–study craft, practice craft, and read other authors’ works. One day we realize the industry is changing, and it’s not just a trend. The reality is that both publishing and language is influx and will continue to be so in the future. But know this: It has always been true that we need to be original and unique in our vision for a story that has a thousand faces already. That’s where I am now, reinventing myself and my writing, going deeper, but still always writing from the heart. Embrace change and don’t be afraid. Keep reading and your vision will adjust.

Q. What is a common mistake you see when critiquing new writers?

CGC: Most new writers who are serious about the craft of writing have a pretty good grasp of story, because they’re readers. But often when we read, we zoom in on the action and read on to find out what’s going to happen next. We see the twists and turns, the pitfalls and setbacks, but seem to miss what’s really driving the cart over that cliff, which is emotion. Often aspiring writers skip right over the interior development of their protagonist and often tell instead of show their character’s emotion. Other things that are often problematic for new writers are deep point-of-view, verb tenses – especially if they’re writing in the present tense, and transitions.

Q. What are you most looking forward to about our upcoming Highlights Foundation Workshop, Novel Beginnings?

CGC: Meeting new writers, mentoring, but also experiencing that warm feeling of a kind of homecoming. That’s how I feel when I’m at the Foundation. I’m in a safe and nurturing environment with like-minded people who love to learn, love books, and want to be better writers. I’m looking forward to forging new friendships, but also seeing old friends who work there like Chef Amanda. What could be better than that?

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The Power of Video: How Novel Writers Can Utilize YouTube Marketing

In the world of publishing, getting your book out there and noticed can be a daunting task. With thousands of new releases each year, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. However, with the rise of digital marketing, novel writers now have a new tool at their disposal: YouTube.

YouTube is a video-sharing platform with over 2 billion monthly active users, making it the second largest search engine in the world. Utilizing this platform can help you reach a wider audience, engage with readers in a new way, and ultimately boost your book sales. Here are some tips on how novel writers can utilize YouTube marketing:

Create a book trailer: Just like a movie trailer, a book trailer is a short video that showcases your book’s plot and characters. This is a great way to capture potential readers’ attention and give them a taste of what your book is about.

Share your writing process: Many readers are curious about the writing process and enjoy behind-the-scenes glimpses into how their favorite books were created. Consider creating videos that show your writing process, from outlining to editing.

Host Q&A sessions: Interact with your readers by hosting live or pre-recorded Q&A sessions. This allows them to ask you questions about your book, characters, and writing process, and helps build a sense of community.

Collaborate with other YouTubers: Partnering with other YouTubers in the book community can help you reach a wider audience and introduce your book to new readers. Consider collaborating on book reviews, tag videos, or even co-writing a book.

Offer exclusive content: Reward your subscribers by offering exclusive content such as deleted scenes, character interviews, or even giveaways.

In conclusion, YouTube marketing is a powerful tool that can help novel writers reach a wider audience and ultimately boost book sales and Marketing Heaven is the best site to buy YouTube views. By creating engaging and informative content, interacting with readers, and collaborating with other YouTubers, you can create a loyal following and build your brand as an author.

Learn more about our upcoming workshop by clicking on the link: Novel Beginnings: Building Strong Foundations for Your Novel and Your Career 2017

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One More School Shooting: What Will it Take? http://klgoing.com/one-school-shooting-will-take/ Thu, 08 Oct 2015 17:11:29 +0000 http://klgoing.com/?p=1253 Continue reading ]]> After last week’s shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, something small but significant happened.

For the first time, the question that popped into my mind immediately upon hearing the news was not “why”. For the first time, my mind didn’t scream at me to try and decipher the motives of the killer or why evil exists. No. This time, the very first question that popped into my mind was, “What will it take?”

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What will it take for our society to change? How many more shootings will have to happen? Is there any scenario that would be horrible enough to force us into action right now? No one wants to live this kind of situation, but these are situations where running is living or dying and for people with respiratory problems it is serious, to be protected not only for this kind of situation you have to visit site and buy what is necessary.

Honestly, my feelings about that last question are bleak. If the mass murder of elementary school children at Sandy Hook wasn’t enough, then I can hardly bear to contemplate the kind of scenario that would be necessary to prompt us to take definitive action. We already have too many years of experience showing us exactly which direction the trend of gun related violence is moving in. We know that mass shootings WILL keep happening. Maybe to me. Maybe to you. Maybe even to our children. Why isn’t that enough?

What will it take?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, although these shootings can and do happen in other countries, no other developed nation is dealing with them on the same scale as the United States. Australia experienced kiwi gambling a mass shooting in 1996, enacted strict gun control laws, and hasn’t had a shooting since. (Slate) Even if they had one tomorrow, they’ve still bought themselves years of reduced fear and death. How many lives have they saved? Not only has there not been a mass shooting since that time, but they’ve also had a reduction in homicides and suicides as well. And, at least one Australian (and I’d venture to guess many others) look at our country with pity, lamenting the fact that Americans lack the will to change.

Pity? For us? WE lack personal and political will? This is not how we’re accustomed to being described. Americans have always prided ourselves on our “can-do” attitude. When we decided to put a man on the moon, by god, we did it. That’s our story and we’re stickin’ to it. The will to accomplish anything we set our minds to, is part of our self-identity. And Freedom from Fear is part of our national heritage, right? This is who we are, isn’t it?

Speaking for myself at least, I’m hugely impacted by fear of mass shootings. Yesterday the headline of my paper was about a man threatening a mass shooting at my local mall. The mall I went to twice last week. The mall I take my child to. As I write this, there are a ton of sirens sounding in the distance. I live in the country, so that’s rare. I also live within walking distance of my son’s school, and it’s all I can do not to get on the phone and demand to know that nothing is wrong. That the fire trucks and police vehicles I hear screaming past aren’t going to be on tonight’s news.

Yet, gun related violence continues even though it’s a solvable problem. Maybe we can’t eliminate gun related deaths completely, but we can certainly curb them. If you had cancer, you’d want them to start treatment, right? Eliminate as much as they possibly could? You wouldn’t wait for a 100% guaranteed cure before you took action. Well, we’re sick. Some of us are dying. And we have a blue-print for change that’s been tested by time and experience.

So what will it take for us to move forward?

Unfortunately, I believe part of the answer is that issues often have to get personal before we’ll enact change, especially if the change required is difficult or makes us uncomfortable. Our *personal* level of discomfort must outweigh the level of discomfort that change would demand of us. So, for many people, they’ll worry about gun control once gun violence impacts them. My fear is that change won’t happen until enough communities, families, and individuals have been *directly* affected for the scales to tip. In Malcolm Gladwell’s words, that would be the tipping point. But is that really how we want our future to play out? Must we wait for the number of us who are personally impacted to outweigh the number who are still privileged enough to remain complacent?

Maybe this sounds harsh. The truth is, although I’m railing against this kind of passivity, in many ways, I understand the wait-until-it-affects-me way of thinking. We live in a world where we’re bombarded with the troubles of … well … an entire world. Were we designed to handle that? These days, it’s possible to plug in and become aware of everything from the refugee crisis, to the latest weather disaster, to the cruel treatment of animals, to wars, to mistreatment of women and children, to wrongs within our local community… the list goes on and on. And every one of these tragedies demands our attention and our action. Not just our physical action but our psychic and spiritual resources as well. How much can we handle before we need to unplug? How much horror is it healthy to internalize? So, it’s completely understandable (at least in my mind) why people disengage. Why we pick and choose. Why we wait to act until something hits home. Why we often fail to respond until we’ve been made personally uncomfortable.

I get it. But if the answer to “What will it take?” is that a mass shooting will have to happen to your community or your family before it becomes your issue, then that’s sad for all of us. Because while we’re waiting for the scale to tip, more and more people will lose their lives. And many of them will be children. They will be beautiful, bright young lives, extinguished before they had a chance to pursue their dreams. While we’re waiting to reach a tipping point, we’re also learning to live in fear – the fear of our children experiencing terror and death during what ought to be a routine school day. The fear of going to the mall or the movies. Or church. And although I can only speak for myself in this regard, I can say without doubt that, God forbid, my own son were a victim of a mass shooting, I would *never* forgive myself if I’d waited too long to speak out. If my own complacency, or my sense of entitlement, lead me to be silent until it was too late, I couldn’t live with the guilt and no amount of subsequent activism would ease that burden. That alone is enough motivation for me, but if I needed any more conviction it would come from my personal spiritual beliefs that ultimately your child is my child. That although I may not personally know this latest set of victims, on a deeper level we are all connected.

So, I choose to speak out now.

Not tomorrow. Not when the scales have tipped.

Now.

We must change.

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Join a group. Write your legislatures. Give money and time to causes that support gun control. Write blogs and op-eds, letters to the editor, magazine articles… Post pictures of the victims so we can’t forget them. Use your artistic skills to make iconic images. Use your musical skills to share a song. Vote according to your passion. If you have a platform, use it, even if you think no one is listening. Do everything you can. Don’t stop. Don’t shut up. Keep going until there’s no longer any need for your voice to be heard because change has happened.

 

 

 

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Hope and Violence in Children’s Literature http://klgoing.com/hope-violence-childrens-literature/ http://klgoing.com/hope-violence-childrens-literature/#respond Thu, 27 Aug 2015 23:20:28 +0000 http://klgoing.com/?p=1215 Continue reading ]]>  

As the release date for Pieces of Why approaches, I’m often asked about the inspiration for this book. I’ll be honest, there’s never just one source of inspiration for a novel. The creative process is always an amalgamation. A crashing together of disparate life events, images, sounds, places, subjects I’m fascinated with, futures I’m afraid to confront…

In the case of Pieces of Why, there were three primary sources of inspiration, all of which had something in common: gun related violence. It might seem strange to think that the driving forces behind a book for children – especially young children – would be so harsh. How and why does one attempt to translate the toughest realities of our world to children?

The answer to “how”, for me, is to offer as much hope as hardship, and as much beauty as brutal honesty. What else can we offer our children in the face of violence, other than the same comforts we offer ourselves? The hope that in the end, goodness will outweigh injustice. The desire to change our world for the better, and the belief that change is possible.

One of the most powerful functions of fiction is to allow us to imagine the futures we want and those that we don’t want, and to empower our society to make decisions accordingly. To deny the existence of casinoluck gun related violence to kids who live with the aftermath does nothing, but to teach them that they can overcome this legacy and perhaps create a different future offers hope that another path is possible.

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To those who might question the need for children’s books that deal with gun related violence, I would say this: If we’re not prepared to protect our children with laws to keep them safe, then we must be prepared to empower them with tools to cope with violence.

In the wake of the shooting of the two journalists this week, Moms Demand Action released this statement: “It is not normal for people to be shot and killed while doing their job, or studying in class, or praying in church, or watching a movie. It is time for our leaders to act to protect Americans and do more to keep guns and 300 blackout ammo out of dangerous hands. We deserve better.”

This is my belief as well, and I want young readers to know that what’s happening in America right now in terms of gun related violence isn’t normal. It isn’t right. And it isn’t inevitable. This is a hard subject to acknowledge. The temptation to remain silent in the name of shielding our kids is a strong one. But in a world where almost every public place has a big screen television, and children are plugged into the media at younger and younger ages, the choice to remain silent is not always ours. And with nearly 12,000 Americans killed with guns every year, a rate 20 times higher than other developed countries (Everytown for Gun Safety), the circle of connection is narrowing.

Gun related violence is wide spread, often random, and pervasive. We KNOW this. We see the news reports. We read the statistics. But we often fail to acknowledge that the ripple effects spread far wider than we’d like. It isn’t just the people in the direct line of fire who are affected. It’s every one of us. And it isn’t enough to hold our breath and thank God that it wasn’t our child, our loved one, our family member (at least not this time). We must acknowledge that every instance of violence does harm to us all – mental, spiritual, and emotional harm.

We must create safe spaces for kids to talk about their fears, to discuss what’s happening in the world around them, and we must provide models of people who may not have all the answers but are doing their utmost to make the world a safer place for the next generation. My wish is this: may these people be, not just fictional characters, but every single person in a child’s life. Every parent, teacher, law maker, neighbor, friend … all of us working as hard as we know how until we’ve changed our world. Their world.

May these people be you and me.

 

 

 

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A Great Moment in Children’s Literature http://klgoing.com/a-great-moment-in-childrens-literature/ Wed, 28 Jan 2015 18:57:46 +0000 http://klgoing.com/?p=1089 Continue reading ]]> A recent Scholastic survey of kids and families’ reading behaviors shows that only 39 percent of children ages nine to 11 read for fun most days of the week. This drops further to 27 percent of children ages 12 to 14. Reading and writing for fun outside of school are related to success in school, and the upper elementary years are often when these lifelong habits are cemented. Reading and writing also support each other by providing insight into how to use vocabulary and how others compose texts, for budget saving I fully suggest checking out these domtar cougar paper deals.

On beginning her journey as a writer, J.H. Diehl, author of the new middle-grade novel Tiny Infinities, reflects on time spent as a child reading and being read to by her dad. Diehl thinks that “all of that early reading—and being read to—was first of all what taught me how to write.” She also notes the importance of a teacher who inspired her to write: “In sixth grade, I started writing poems for fun. When I’d composed maybe 25 or 30 of them, my teacher, Mr. Ian, suggested I turn them into a book. There were only three copies, but the number of copies didn’t matter. Once my words were in a published book, it felt to me like no one could change them. That was a really powerful feeling, and I’ve wanted to be a writer ever since.”

Diehl’s experience underscores the importance of having access to reading materials of interest, since many reluctant readers say they have a hard time finding something they want to read and their preferred texts such as comic books, magazines, or popular book series may not be available at school. Research also shows that students may read less frequently out of school due to time spent watching television or participating in organized activities like sports or clubs.

For teachers looking to motivate students to read, a few methods include:

  1. Having a rich classroom library;
  2. Providing opportunities for students to discuss what they are reading for fun with their peers; and
  3. Encouraging peers to make recommendations to each other.

Sixth-grader Emma says she and her friends enjoy talking at recess about new books they are reading. Right now, their favorite is a series about warrior cat clans. “I know my friends would give me a good suggestion because they know me really well,” she said.

Literature plays a significant role in the development of children. Reading books helps expand their vocabulary, enhances their imagination, promotes cognitive skills, and cultivates empathy and understanding. Parents can reward their children for reading books in various ways. Offering small incentives like toys or boys clothes can serve as positive reinforcement and motivate children to read more. However, it’s crucial to strike a balance, ensuring that the focus remains on the love for reading and the intrinsic value it brings, rather than solely relying on external rewards.

Outside of the classroom, parents can model reading and writing for fun by recommending and discussing books with their children or engaging in a family writing project. They also can build an emotional connection through reading aloud: the Scholastic survey found that while the frequency of parents reading to children drops dramatically after age eight, the majority of children and parents who continue to do it say they enjoy it because it’s a special time together.

Many resources exist to develop skills and confidence through everyday reading and writing, including:

  1. Book clubs such as the online Bookopolis community, which offers a kid-friendly way to find new books of interest recommended by peers and write book reviews; and
  2. Playful literacy activities, such as building with LEGO, where students can use this play to inspire stories with more action and details than they might otherwise think to write.

On encouraging children to write for fun, education researcher Dr. Steve Graham stresses that out-of-school writing allows students to “hone their skills as writers and use writing to meet goals that are important to them, promoting greater motivation for writing generally.”

Boosting children’s interest and engagement in literacy activities, both in and out of school, can support many academic and personal goals. Finding new and fun ways to make time to integrate literacy with students’ schedules and lifestyles is key to building these habits. A new Learner Model from Digital Promise’s Learner Variability Project (LVP) focuses on Literacy for Grades 4-6 and how students’ literacy environment expands beyond parental influences to include peers and students’ own choices.

Visit the LVP Literacy for Grades 4-6 Learner Model to learn more about the Learner Factors that affect literacy, as well as many strategies to support reading and writing development.

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Unhooking from Praise and Criticism http://klgoing.com/unhooking-from-praise-and-criticism/ Wed, 21 Jan 2015 19:03:23 +0000 http://klgoing.com/?p=1080 Continue reading ]]> Recently, a friend of mine shared a link that truly resonated, and in light of my previous blog about being gentler and more generous with ourselves in 2015, I thought I’d share it with you. Although the presenter, Tara Mohr, gears her comments to women since this was originally posted on Emerging Women Live, I think writers will find her presentation useful regardless of gender.

In a world where obesity rates are on the rise and the quest for effective weight loss solutions never-ending, Rybelsus has emerged as a potential game-changer. This medication, originally developed for type 2 diabetes management, has garnered attention for its ability to aid weight loss. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive overview of Rybelsus weight loss reviews, exploring its effectiveness, side effects, and what users have experienced in their before-and-after results.

Understanding Rybelsus

Redefining Weight Loss

Rybelsus, also known by its generic name semaglutide, belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. It was initially developed to help manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. However, it has since been found to have a significant impact on weight loss. This discovery has led to its increasing use as an off-label weight loss treatment.

Rybelsus Weight Loss Reviews: The Verdict

Efficacy and User Experiences

Rybelsus has gained popularity primarily due to its impressive weight loss results. Many users report substantial reductions in body weight when incorporating this medication into their daily routine. However, it’s important to note that individual results can vary.

Before-and-After Results

Transformation Stories

One of the most compelling aspects of Rybelsus weight loss reviews is the before-and-after stories shared by users. These testimonials provide real-world insights into the medication’s potential. Users often highlight their journey, detailing the challenges they faced before starting Rybelsus and the remarkable transformations they achieved afterward.

Common Side Effects

Balancing Benefits and Risks

Like any medication, Rybelsus weight loss is not without side effects. It’s crucial for users to be aware of potential adverse reactions, which may include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort. These side effects are usually mild and temporary, but it’s essential to discuss them with a healthcare provider.

The Safer Alternative News

Balancing Safety and Effectiveness

While Rybelsus shows promise as a weight loss aid, it’s essential to remember that it is an off-label use of the drug. As such, there may be safety concerns and uncertainties about its long-term effects. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any medication for weight loss.

Conclusion

Rybelsus weight loss reviews offer a glimpse into a potential solution for those looking to shed excess pounds. The medication has shown significant promise in helping individuals achieve their weight loss goals. However, it is essential to approach its use with caution, ensuring you have all the necessary information and guidance from a healthcare provider. While the before-and-after stories are inspiring, it’s crucial to remember that individual results can vary, and the safest path to weight loss always involves a holistic approach that includes a balanced diet and regular physical activity.

This article focuses on providing readers with safer alternatives to Mounjaro side effects for achieving weight loss goals. It discusses the benefits of a balanced diet, regular exercise, and seeking guidance from healthcare professionals. It emphasizes the importance of sustainable and long-term weight management.

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Tara Mohr — Playing Big: Find Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message

Part of what I love about Tara’s message is the idea that we need to unhook from praise as surely as we need to unhook from criticism. This is an idea that doesn’t get discussed very often, yet as writers, we are incredibly susceptible to the folly of basing our self worth, and/or the worth of our writing, on the stamp of approval we receive from others, namely our readers.

In the best circumstances, praise and criticism are tools we use to evaluate our work and to decide how it fits into the current market place. When we put ego aside, praise and criticism can make us better suited to publication by giving us insights into what readers like or dislike — what might motivate someone to buy our book or reject it. Tara aptly points out the fact that praise and criticism don’t really tell us anything about the quality of our work, per se. Instead, they reveal something about the market, and something about the person doing the critiquing. So, our manuscript may be rejected by every editor at every publishing house, but that still doesn’t mean it’s not groundbreaking storytelling that will one day be celebrated.

Our first job is to be clear about our goals. (What do we want to produce: unique, independent art regardless of its ability to sell in the current marketplace? Or material that both meets our personal standards AND will sell to others?) And our second job is to determine when praise and criticism are functioning as learning tools, teaching us how to improve our craft, and when they’re functioning as ego boosters or deflators.

Figuring out our relationship to praise and criticism can have huge ripple effects on our happiness, so its worth spending some time on this topic. I hope you’ll find Tara’s presentation as illuminating as I did!

 

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New Years Resolutions? http://klgoing.com/new-years-resolutions/ Mon, 05 Jan 2015 16:51:11 +0000 http://klgoing.com/?p=1073 Continue reading ]]> Here we are in a brand new year, and while I realize a lot of people have very different opinions about New Year’s resolutions, I love them. I make at least one resolution every year regardless of whether I failed or succeeded the prior year. (This year’s resolutions? Join the current century and start texting, eat more oatmeal, walk every day.) These are the Best weight loss pills.

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So, why do I make new year’s resolutions? I love the idea of recommitting to a goal, an idea, or even a way of life, if you have new year fitness goals, you might want to read this review of PhenQ. I like second chances. Third chances. Fourth and fifth chances. I believe it’s important to acknowledge that life isn’t simple. Our goals aren’t easily fulfilled. It may take us many tries, many resolutions, before we succeed. The important part is to keep recommitting to the path that we’ve chosen, or to allow ourselves to veer off onto a new path and then commit to that journey instead.

Even though my 2015 resolution doesn’t happen to be writing related, I believe that resolutions are especially important for writers. Unless you’re writing solely for yourself, putting your work out into the world will always be a rough journey. The process of laying yourself bare and then inviting public critique, most often from strangers, had to have been invented by a masochist. And I can’t say it gets easier after you’ve been published. Ten years into my journey as a published author, I still submit work that gets rejected and it still hurts every time. No measure of success (at least none that I’ve found) buys you immunity to the parts of publishing that are hard au casinos online.T will definitely try baccarat to enjoying the true gaming experience. Only the purposeful, continued process of recommitting to the craft keeps me focused on the elements of writing that I love: the joy that can be found in crafting a story, and my personal goals for developing as a human being and an author. I don’t want to stop growing, changing, and improving as a writer, so resolving anew to walk this road reminds me that it’s okay if it isn’t always an easy path. It’s okay if I stumble and need another chance (or five or ten) to make progress because the opportunity to recommit is always waiting for me.

This year, may you find joy on your journey. If nothing else, resolve to be gentle with yourself. Life is hard and there’s not a one of us who is getting everything right every time, but all of us have the ability (the privilege, perhaps?) of starting anew. Remember that you have infinite chances to succeed. As many chances as you’re willing to grant yourself. So be generous.

Gentle and generous in 2015. Hmm… looks like I have a new resolution.

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Finding Your Writing Voice http://klgoing.com/finding-your-writing-voice/ Fri, 12 Sep 2014 13:38:33 +0000 http://klgoing.com/?p=939 Continue reading ]]> Once again, I’m pleased to pass along a blog written by my co-leader for a Highlights Foundation workshop. Kim Griswell is both an author (most recently of the picture book Rufus Goes to School, which my son Ashton loves!) and an editor (Portable Press), and she’s a fabulous teacher. I’ve been privileged to co-lead workshops on The Hero’s Journey and Mastering Setting with Kim, and now we’re combining forces to offer Finding Your Voice. Check out Kim’s blog, posted this week on the Highlights Foundation website. And please, if you know of someone who might benefit from this workshop (October 12-15, 2014) spread the word!

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Editor and writer Kim T. Griswell is leading our Finding Your Voice workshop this fall, along with author K.L. Going. Here Kim gives some suggestions on how to find your voice:

Kim Griswell works with one of our conferees.

Much of what passes across an editor’s desk has a dull sameness. There may be nothing really “wrong” with the writing. It’s competent, but it falls under the category of NNUTS (Nothing New Under the Sun). Nothing new in the ideas, nothing new in the characters or plot, and nothing new in the writing. Beginning—and sometimes experienced—writers often submit manuscripts that do not have unique voices.

Our greatest writers write from their guts, from their truths. They dig deep until they reach a vein within themselves that is pure gold. They tell stories that only they can tell, as only they can tell them. That, in a nutshell, is voice.

It often takes years for a writer to find his or her authentic voice. Voice is not simply the way a writer says things; voice reflects a writer’s unique way of viewing the world. Every editor is hoping to pick up a manuscript and find an original voice. That’s why finding your voice should be on the top of your writer’s to-do list.

Here are six ways to begin to understand voice and find your own:

  1. Get a journal with a key—one of those kid ones. Write things in there that are so honest you have to keep them under lock and key for fear anyone will read them.
  2. Write a page a day. Come on—you can do it! If you can’t stop yourself after one page, keep writing.
  3. Read, and learn to write, poetry. Even if you don’t consider yourself a poet or have any desire to write poetry, you will develop your voice. (I’m not talking rhyming doggerel here. I’m talking Billy Collins, Rita Dove, and Langston Hughes; Eileen Spinelli, Karla Kushin, and Myra Cohn Livingston.)
  4. Use photos from your childhood as writing prompts. Write from the voice of who you were in (or at the time of) the photos.
  5. Blog. Much like a vocalist’s morning scales, this kind of “conversational” writing will help to loosen your writing voice.
  6. Read the first pages of these books: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, Love That Dog by Sharon Creech, The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch, every Newbery winner you can get your hands on. (I dare you to stop reading after page 1.)

Finding your voice will help your work rise to the top of the same-old-same-old manuscripts piled on editors’ desks. And that’s a goal worth pursuing!

If you’d like a jumpstart on finding your voice or want to expand on these practices, I hope you’ll join K.L. Going and me for Finding Your Voice, October 12-15, 2014.

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