Speaking to Kids

One of the funnest things I get to do from time to time is talk to school aged children in the demographic for my book.  This started with the wonderful John Kersten at the Elementary School where I work.  He expressed an interest in reading my book to his class, and the book was such a hit that I have done so once a year for the past four years.  Eventually as other teachers come and go next door to him, he introduces the fact that I am an author to these teachers.  Two have expressed similar interest to read the book to their class and in turn, then later ask me to talk to the kids.

Its so exciting to stand in front of a group of children and talk about the process of writing.  I explain the origins of the story, of my writing in general.  I speak about the importance of journaling, of reading other books.  The kids always seem to have a very keen interest.  I try to tailor things to them.  I ask who enjoys writing and reading and specifically talk about the challenges of these things.  I try to draw in all interests. 

Doing these talks is a great motivator.  It makes me feel like I have accomplished what I set out to do.  And it is in times like recently that I have felt down when I try to harken back to those good moments as short and infrequent as they are.

Getting Established

I apologize for a long departure.  Considering work and some things regarding it, I decided to take a haitus from blog writing.  This was also partly due to feeling very out of sorts with my own writing.  I felt like blogging had become a chore, something that I did and never amounted to much.  Everything I read said that continous blogging brought more interest in ones writing, yet I saw no such numbers. 

Which brings me to my next point.  I write my blog in order to encourage discourse, to inspire ideas.  Part of the problem are hours, difficulty finding a way to segment my writing into an actual critique group.  Our local group, the SLO Nightwriters is the best around, yet I find it difficult to find a group that fits my kind of writing.  Furthermore, I wonder about approaching an established group as a new person.  I worry that I cannot get equal time as those who have been around longer than I have. 

So my question to my fellow writers is this. How do you overcome these fears?   Do you face them head on?  Seek the possible, and hope for the best?  How do you become established so that your own dreams can take wing?