BY VICTORIA SHERROW
As summer ends, another school year begins—a time to enter new classrooms, meet teachers, greet classmates, and embrace learning. During the summer, your writing might have taken a backseat. September offers a chance to get back on track, including learning new skills. Writers, including experienced authors, keep learning, about both the craft and business of writing. We can devise learning experiences to become better writers. Here are ways to go “back-to-school.”
* Gather your supplies.
Many writers recall the pleasures of buying new school supplies. What supplies or equipment could improve your skills and productivity? If you still write by hand (at least some of the time), you might want new notebooks and binders, fresh writing instruments. Maybe you need a new laptop or tablet, a desk organizer or writing bookshelf? If beverages are part of your writing routine, how about a mug with a literary theme? Accessories can inspire. On my desk are a ceramic pencil holder with the word “WRITE” and a small bronze owl one of my children gave me.
- School time
School days mean showing up on time and following a schedule and routines for learning. When can you study and write? Decide which hours and days you will devote to studying/writing. Note them on your calendar or computer. Then do it—this is your “golden rule” time to improve your writing. Make a fresh start for the “school year” by cleaning the area where you write, such as a table or desk. Organize your materials, including computer files.
- Curriculum: What do you want to learn?
Your study plan will depend on your goals as a writer. If you enroll in a ready-made course or workshop, you can study the materials your instructor recommends. If you are studying on your own, design a curriculum to suit your writing goals and needs.
- Do your homework.
Your “homework” assignments will depend on your goals and the curriculum you’ve chosen. If you’re taking a structured course, such as those at FCWS, you will automatically have projects, assignments, and writing exercises designed to build skills in fiction and/or nonfiction writing. Your homework might include reading books on specific skills and doing exercises you find in books or writing publications. You can also study books and magazines that contain the type of writing you want to do. Most of all, you will WRITE.
* Accountability
School means showing up to reach goals and complete projects. That kind of accountability can keep us moving forward, both with learning and writing. We can create accountability by taking a course or workshop and/or with critique partners. My students at FCWS say accountability is a major factor in making steady progress with their books. They have made a commitment to writing and want to get the most from their course. Being accountable can also motivate us to do our best work. You won’t need the proverbial “hickory stick,” but maybe a carrot stick can help, so reward yourself when you complete new assignments, read a book, or finish a “study unit.”
- Feedback: “How am I doing?”
It’s natural to wonder how we are progressing. In school, we received feedback in the form of comments, grades, progress reports, and report cards. Writers often have to reach out for feedback. These days, feedback from editors is rare, unless we have an ongoing relationship with them. A rejection often consists of a form letter or no response at all. We can make our own opportunities for feedback, however, by finding readers who will give honest comments on our work, and by joining a critique group, workshop, or writing class. Feedback in a supportive environment with a skilled teacher can enhance learning and growth.
The Joy of Learning
Remember the excitement of opening new books, listening to an inspiring teacher, and learning new things you can really use? Try to recapture that anticipation and energy as you head “back-to-school” with your writing. Unlike some of your previous school experiences, you are choosing this learning experience for yourself. Get ready to learn and enjoy!
— Victoria Sherrow is the author of more than 150 books for children and teens, published by Harper, Macmillan, Scholastic, National Geographic, Golden Books, Henry Holt, and others. She has also written numerous short stories, articles, poems, and activity books for different age groups.
Victoria’s books have received numerous starred reviews and awards, including the Parents’ Choice Gold Award, Best Books for the Teenage, American Association for the Advancement of Science, YOYA award, and Vermont Reading Circle award. Twenty-six of her books have been featured in Best Books for Children, Preschool Through Grade 6 and Young Adult.
Victoria has taught writing for more than 20 years, reviewed children’s books for newspapers, judged writing contests, and done numerous presentations at schools, libraries, and bookstores. She is a long-time member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and served as a judge for the SCBWI’s Golden Kite Award.
One of her greatest joys is watching her students achieve their writing goals, including publication. Victoria’s students have published stories, articles and books to major publishers including HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin, Delacorte and Macmillan.
Victoria teaches Writing for Children and Teens: Level Two and Writing the Picture Book.