Why the heck do people blog?

I used to think blogging was bizarre. I had to have it explained to me, very slowly, several times.

Me: “You mean, it’s like a web-site?”

My husband: “Kind of, but anyone can have one.”

Me: “And people write stories or something?”

My husband: “They can. Or they just write whatever they’re thinking about.”

Me: “And people read this?”

Every time I came to the same conclusion: Why?

Why should I care what some random person wants to blab about? I thought it sounded self-indulgent and… really kind of useless.

(Skip ahead a year or two.)

I started reading children’s literature blogs. I found dozens of intelligent, witty, helpful people out there who were blogging: writers, agents, editors, readers and others who love children’s books. And boy, were my eyes opened! I saw what a blog COULD be. I became like a kid in a blog candy store.

Here is what I discovered about the joys of reading kid-lit blogs:

First, it’s a way to learn. Many people out there are sharing practical, meaty advice on everything from writing a first draft, to managing your flourishing career. (Lists of my favorites coming soon.) There are interviews with agents, sample query letters, publication stories. I could go on and on! I truly feel like the kidlitosphere has been a huge contributor to my writing education.

Second, it’s a way to connect with other writers. This just in: Writing can be lonely! When you read the blogs of other writers you get to see their process and see how they handle things like: revision, first drafts, submissions & rejections. Plus, you get to see that you’re not alone on the writing roller coaster (the agony! the exhilaration! the drudgery! the glee!)

Third, it’s just plain fun. When you get to peek into Mo Willems’s dining room and see the chalkboard walls or read Libba Bray’s hilarious journal, you realize: this stuff is better than TV.

So, this has been the tale of how I transformed from a Blog Cynic into a Blog Lover.

Cheers!

Bonafide Hurler

Wow! Hello!

What fun to be entering the blog world! I am happy to be joining the ranks of other children's literature bloggers. As the title suggests, I am an aspiring novelist, a proud, playful mama, and a relentless dreamer. I plan to talk about all of the above in between writing one novel and revising another, driving my kids to school, and keeping an ear cocked toward other dreams and imaginings.

So! If you enjoy any of these things, I hope you will say hello!

I must admit that it took me a long time to come around the idea of blogging. Partly because I am a chronic editor. I edit my one-sentence e-mails. I edit my grocery lists. I edit things after I've just spoken them aloud...

And I worried that I'd spend all my free time (aka: WRITING time) perfecting my thoughts and sentences for a blog.

Guess what folks? NOT gonna do it.

I'm going to try to play a little bit fast and loose. I'll share things I learn about writing, about the publishing universe, about the wonder of children, and about the magic of following your heart and your passions. Those are the things that matter most to me. And I think they'll be FUN to write about.

So, I'm just going to dive in.

I should come out and say something right away. I come to the field of writing by way of the theatre. And many of the things I learned in acting school have had an enormous effect on my writing. So, here is the first thing I will share.

On the first day of grad school, my wonderful teacher, Steve Pearson told us about his acting teacher. His acting teacher had told him years before that there were only two kinds of actors: "hurlers and non-hurlers." And the only kind of actors he was interested in were the hurlers.

You can imagine what that means. People who throw themselves whole-heartedly into a role. People who are fearless. People who take unbelievable chances in rehearsal and on stage. People who love it so much they don't care if they make big mistakes. People who may not know exactly how it's going to turn out, but they are sure as hell going to put their whole being into it.

On that day, I quietly acknowledged to myself that I was indeed a hurler. I knew it was true. And I was very proud. And though I don't act or perform as often as I once did, I now hurl myself joyfully into writing. I hurl myself into playing make-believe with my little ones. I hurl myself into LIFE with a lot of enthusiasm and optimism.

And I think I just hurled myself right into the blogging world.

Thanks for listening!