I am not a morning person! But yesterday, getting up a little earlier than usual was worth it for sure! It was Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Day at ESU and I volunteered to help out! Not just help out with little things either... I got to be the reader! That would be combining my two favorite things! Children and reading! Let me tell you it was a great way to start my Wednesday morning!
I had the opportunity to work with 3 different age groups; each of which had their own little personalities and different energy levels! The first group (maybe 2 or 3 year olds) was hyper! The second group was a little better, able to sit and listen to the story! Then the third group came (maybe 5 year olds) and they were great! They were quiet, all ears, and listening so well up to the third page when Corduroy came through the door! Then it was all screams and giggles! It was cute!
Overall the morning was a great success. It was a great reminder of how much I love working with kids, and why it is that I love writing for kids. Books play such an important role in a child's life at all ages. I hope one day a book that I write can become a part of child's life. But in the mean time, I had a great time kickin' it with corduroy!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
You KNOW Your a Writer When....
In the last 20 years, I have done a lot of writing. As I have gotten older, the love for it has grown more and more with every passing day. I guess you could say writing is to me as water is to a fish (or chocolate to my best friend Heather)! I realized the other day that it has become such a norm in my life that I don't always notice just how addicted I am! To the point that there are nights I simply cannot sleep because I have to get a story out on paper. It was one of these such nights that I had the epiphany... a moment when I chuckled to myself and said, "wow, self... I guess you really know your a writer when..."
I found this humorous, most likely because I know that writer's everywhere have had the same moment. They write books dedicated to these funny realizations! But I thought it would be fun to share my list! So here it goes:
I know I'm a writer because:
- The first thing you say after something big happens is "I can use this!"
- You narrate your life (and occasionally others) constantly (not even kidding....)
- You observe the world around you as a possible setting for your next story.
- You observe people as possible characters for your next story.
- You attempt to take notes in class, but often let your mind wander and soon the notes for class have changed into notes of possible story ideas.
- You hear someone's name in the grocery story, or library, or other public place and stop them and ask them how they spell it because the first thought that came to your mind was "That's the perfect name for my character!"
- You should take stock in the notebook/journal market.
- Your characters come to you in dreams and point-blank tell you where their story will go next, or, demand something be changed because you "wrote it down wrong."
- When your laptop breaks you feel as though you have lost an arm or leg you are so attached.
- You have to build a book-shelf just to hold all of the how-to-get published, character development, and how to write right books.
- Your idea of a vacation is to be able to stay home for a week from school/work/outside world, in your comfy pajamas, order food in, and do nothing but write.
- You often use a book or other novel related item to compare life too (ex. Life is like a novel with the end ripped out.... Each day is a new chapter... there are so many characters in my life, etc)!
- When sleep comes second to "just a few more pages!"
I found this humorous, most likely because I know that writer's everywhere have had the same moment. They write books dedicated to these funny realizations! But I thought it would be fun to share my list! So here it goes:
I know I'm a writer because:
- The first thing you say after something big happens is "I can use this!"
- You narrate your life (and occasionally others) constantly (not even kidding....)
- You observe the world around you as a possible setting for your next story.
- You observe people as possible characters for your next story.
- You attempt to take notes in class, but often let your mind wander and soon the notes for class have changed into notes of possible story ideas.
- You hear someone's name in the grocery story, or library, or other public place and stop them and ask them how they spell it because the first thought that came to your mind was "That's the perfect name for my character!"
- You should take stock in the notebook/journal market.
- Your characters come to you in dreams and point-blank tell you where their story will go next, or, demand something be changed because you "wrote it down wrong."
- When your laptop breaks you feel as though you have lost an arm or leg you are so attached.
- You have to build a book-shelf just to hold all of the how-to-get published, character development, and how to write right books.
- Your idea of a vacation is to be able to stay home for a week from school/work/outside world, in your comfy pajamas, order food in, and do nothing but write.
- You often use a book or other novel related item to compare life too (ex. Life is like a novel with the end ripped out.... Each day is a new chapter... there are so many characters in my life, etc)!
- When sleep comes second to "just a few more pages!"
Sunday, November 16, 2008
6 Months and a Miracle Later!!!!
I finished setting up my writing studio!!!! Sure, the bookcase I built is... a little unique; and a few of the pieces of artwork may be crooked; but everything is set up! I really like it too! I didn't add a ton, but what I did made the apartment feel not so empty! Also, I got a lot of things organized that really needed to be. What does this mean? More than likely just a new area to procrastinate in! Ha! Not really!
No actually, along with completing the writing area, I also FINALLY got the book of agent addresses in the mail. I ordered in 2 and a half months ago, and got kicked off the waiting list 2 times! I guess they are serious why they say the third time is the charm!
So, my nights are now going to be spent working, (in my area and not in my bed) and trying to get portfolios to send out to various agents. I made the announcement that I was taking a different route by getting an agent instead of jumping into the publishing pool quite a few months ago. Now the process begin! I will keep you updated!
Creatively yours,
Kat Callaway
No actually, along with completing the writing area, I also FINALLY got the book of agent addresses in the mail. I ordered in 2 and a half months ago, and got kicked off the waiting list 2 times! I guess they are serious why they say the third time is the charm!
So, my nights are now going to be spent working, (in my area and not in my bed) and trying to get portfolios to send out to various agents. I made the announcement that I was taking a different route by getting an agent instead of jumping into the publishing pool quite a few months ago. Now the process begin! I will keep you updated!
Creatively yours,
Kat Callaway
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