Inspiring Giant Leaps in Children's Writing

For the last 23 years, a silent but significant revolution continues to wrap writers in the field of Children's writing. It happens in a magical place called Chautauqua and it is hosted by the generosity and kindness of Kent Brown and Highlights Foundation.

Every writer needs a break from routine. We need to stop wading with words and dive deep into it. We should grow out of beach combing and accept the immersion. We need a place where we can develop our art, craft, and talk the language of writing with other writers. Everything in the Highlights Foundation workshop naturally flowed into that theme. Experts spoke on every genre, from fantasy to historical fiction. They spoke of their successes and failures. They bared their souls, secrets, fears and inspired us continually to write.

For a person new to conferences, interacting with the galaxy of stars on a first name basis was like living a dream. The galaxy of faculty at Chautauqua included: Kathi Appelt, Larry Dane Brimner, Patricia Broderick, Andy Gutelle, Kelly Milner Halls, Peter Jacobi, Joy Neaves, Frances Plumpton, Larry Pringle, Eric Rohman, Christine Taylor-Butler, Bruce Coville, Joy Cowley, Bernice Cullinan, Candice Fleming, and Patty Lee Gauch. I should not miss to mention the friendly, knowledgeable Highlights staff: Judy Burke, Christine French-Clark, Kim Griswell, Carolyn Yoder, George Brown, Kent Brown, Clay Winters, Clara and Tiffany (Editorial interns).

I learned that Editors were not always critical and unfriendly folks. All the editors I met told me that they looked for writers, professionals, they could work with. Every interaction with them only strengthened that confidence that I could write. Writing with an editor was a partnership.

Not an opportunity was wasted in the workshop to provide learning experience. Every excellent breakfast, lunch, dinner, even a walk was time to learn and network. Nothing was in vain. We had round tables, lunch-n-learns, banquet speeches and friendly strolls where we talked of writing. Books, magazines, television shows, puzzles, illustrating, photography...the list is endless.

But let it not be thought that language was a barrier. We had a visitor from Mangolia, Dashdongdog Jamba, who spoke little English. He had a translator helping him. But, he demonstrated to the writers that words were not boundaries when he recited an exciting poem about galloping horses in Mangolian. Nobody needed a translation of the poem!

It was a privilege to be surrounded by many writers, veterans in their field, and those who worked with their heart. For children are children all over the world. To give the joy of a book to a child is to give them a dream for their future, open a window of joy, or unite them with the heritage of their ancestors. After the workshop, I knew, I simply quietly confidently knew, that there were stories in me that only I could write. And I will.

Editor's Note : Thanks to Rani Iyer (SCBWI, WA). Rani is a freelance author. She has more than seven years of experience writing for children, and has authored fiction and non-fiction articles. Her articles for children's magazines can be found at http://raniyer.com/childmagazines.php