TIME AND CONFIDENCE

I started this blog with a goal of writing at least every three weeks. As you can see, it has been months since my last post. Confidence was going to be my topic of choice but I'm still getting used to an invisible audience, so I lost some of the confidence to blog, and with that every time I went to write, I thought I should set aside enough time to say things clearly. However, I have re-learned an important lesson this year. Most good things happen when we don't give ourselves too long to worry about the result.

This summer I spent 6 weeks teaching at Hollins University outside of Roanoke, Virginia. The class I taught was CREATING PICTURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN. In 6 weeks, my students had to write and learn the basic guidelines for illustration. I am amazed at what they produced. The wrote fables, poetry, paginated books, and illustrated action and story sequences using Uri Shulevitz's, WRITING WITH PICTURES. They also found that they could used color and shape and size to show mood, time of day and setting as well as action, thanks to Molly Bang's PICTURE THIS. By the end of the 6 weeks, along with a few migraines, we had 9 well presented picture books, paginated correctly and well-written. Watching them create their first picture books from beginning to end made me realize it was a good thing they didn't have too much time to worry. They all had a good first start for a picture book. Many had full color dummies to boot.

So what does this have to do with confidence? This year I took two classes at our local JC and worked on homework assignments. I did not expect them to be perfect because they were done in a rush. My students were under the same pressure, and were forced to drop their unacceptance of imperfection. They had to stop comparing their work to others around them and, hopefully, they left knowing that, given more time for revision, their work will get better.

I realized as I looked at their work that others don't notice as many of the imperfections in our work as we do. We should count on that, and have the confidence to put our work and our dreams out there for others to react to, and hopefully enjoy.



Here is some of what I shared this summer while teaching:

My first drawings reflect nothing more than a use of space and planning.

A basic version of almost anything can be drawn with basic shapes.

A story is like music. It can't be the same beat all the way through.

The writer needs to write well enough that the reader can see himself in the story. That means the writer has to know what part of himself is in the story.

When you forget why you wanted to write the story, go back and remember what it was that was exciting to you about it.

A class in writing does not mimic a writer's life. It takes time to realize why we are writing the story and time to remember the reason when we are stuck in the middle. Just as we can't be cheap with the art materials needed to create a wonderful piece of book art, we cannot be cheap with the time needed for writing. It is our most valuable ally until too much of it allows us too much time to worry.

Here's what I learned this summer from my students:

A teacher can be a robin in a tree.
Kisses can be made of macaroni.
A bald grandfather's head can be the moon.
A whole day of a little girls visit to her grandmother's can be told in 156 words.
The magic of an ocean swim among fish can be placed in a backyard pool.
Animals can go on strike.
Lightning makes tomatoes grow fat and juicy.
A butterfly's journey is a showcase for magical realism.
Ghosts need friends and haunted houses can be inviting.

Thank you to Carter, Jamie, Mary-Liz, Tracey, Beth, Angela, Jenette, Cindy and Hillari for a great 6 weeks. I learned a lot from all of you.