The Soaring ‘20s Celebrate (More) Teachers!

It’s Teacher Appreciation week, and all week long we’re celebrating the wonderful teachers in our lives! Scroll down for more stories about special teachers from Soaring ‘20s creators.

We’re also running two book-bundle giveaways just for teachers this week @soaring20spb on Twitter!

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Click here to go to the Upper Elementary bundle contest.

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Click here to go to the Lower Elementary bundle contest.

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Celebrating Our Favorite Teachers

MARY WAGLEY COPP

I had so many wonderful teachers. The ones that I remember the most, probably the ones that I also learned the most from, were those who were FUN! Making learning fun is a key to keeping most kids engaged in your topic. Monsieur Matson, my ninth-grade French teacher, was funny, likable and cheerful. We all loved going to his class and we all loved learning French! Merci Monsieur Matson!

— Mary Wagley Copp, author of WHEREVER I GO, illustrated by Munir D. Mohammed (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)

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KELLY CAREY

Brenda Webster’s fifth-grade classroom bubbles with creative learning. She celebrates Taco ‘bout Books, Poetry Pizza, and Starbooks Café days. Her classroom is lush with comfy reading spots and every student is allowed to discover a love for reading and their own gifts for storytelling. I am grateful for the chance to be a part of her classroom as a #KidsNeedMentors author. 

— Kelly Carey, author of HOW LONG IS FOREVER?, illustrated by Qing Zhuang (Charlesbridge)

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CARRIE FINISON

I had many dedicated teachers through the years, but one who stands out is Paul Esposito, my high school Latin teacher. He went far beyond helping us sort out Latin declensions — he oozed enthusiasm for the language and all things Roman. Even though it was hard work, the class never felt like a chore, or a bore. And it turns out that learning to scan the meter in lines of Latin poetry was great preparation for writing in rhyme!

— Carrie Finison, author of DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS, illustrated by Brianne Farley (Putnam)

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KJERSTEN HAYES

Every year, my second- through fourth-grade teacher, Marcy Vancil, took her classes on pretend, but real-to-us, traveling adventures. We wrote journals, read about places we “visited,” and even figured out exchange rates for money. One year we made our classroom a time machine and “traveled” back in time! Marcy made the world and my imagination come alive. 

— Kjersten Hayes, author of THE ELEPHANTS’ GUIDE TO HIDE-AND-SEEK, illustrated by Gladys Jose (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky)

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ELISA BOXER

As a painfully shy child, I was always getting comments on my report cards like, “too quiet,” and “She just needs to come out of her shell,” and “If she would just get her nose out of books and talk to the other kids . . .” And then there was Susan Young, my first- and second-grade teacher who nurtured my love of reading and embraced my shyness and sensitivity. We followed similar paths, both teaching yoga/meditation and writing books. Here’s to those teachers who reflect back our true selves!

— Elisa Boxer, author of THE VOICE THAT WON THE VOTE, illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger (Sleeping Bear Press)

Craving more Teacher Appreciation stories? Check out Monday’s post, and swing by the blog Friday for round three. We also want to hear your stories. Please share in the comments!

20 Questions: 'Dear Younger Me...'

By Elisa Boxer and Kjersten Hayes

Welcome back to our series, 20 QUESTIONS!

This is the place where we here at the Soaring ’20s answer questions about our debut picture book process.

We’re one month into 2020 (gasp!), looking ahead to all that awaits us during our debut year.

But we’re also looking back, taking stock of what we wish we’d known before this whole journey began.

Today’s question:

“What’s your best piece of advice for your younger author/illustrator self? “

Rajani LaRocca

Rajani LaRocca, author of the picture book SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS and the middle-grade book MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM: “Lean into the stuff that makes you weird. It’s also what makes you and your writing interesting! Also, just when you’re thinking of giving up on something is when the breakthrough comes.”

Kjersten Hayes

Kjersten Hayes, author of THE ELEPHANTS’ GUIDE TO HIDE-AND-SEEK: “Please, younger self, stop sabotaging by rarely submitting. It can be just as painful to hide as it is to share. Also, make a fool of yourself more often — boldly saying YES to your adventurous, risky, beautiful efforts, even when they fall horribly short. Those failures are likely the exact opportunities you need to build on to make your work better. Stop being scared of your mistakes.”

Mary Wagley Copp

Mary Wagley Copp, author of WHEREVER I GO: “Keep at it! It is a roller coaster of a ride, and while the lows ARE low, the highs ARE high — and worth working toward. It is okay to feel discouraged, but don’t stay in that place. Get up, dust off, and write!”

Lindsay H. Metcalf

Lindsay H. Metcalf, author of BEATRIX POTTER, SCIENTIST and FARMERS UNITE!, and co-editor of NO VOICE TOO SMALL: “Patience, young Padawan. Don’t submit work that’s not the best thing you’ve ever written. Would you want to make a mediocre book? No. So don’t send mediocre submissions just because you’re tired of futzing with them.”

Kelly Baptist

Kelly Baptist, author of THE ELECTRIC SLIDE AND KAI: “Don’t wait! Don’t let life get in the way of your passion. No matter how busy or complicated life becomes, you MUST make space for writing. Dreams are great, but you have to wake up and work to achieve them. Time doesn’t wait, so you shouldn’t either!”

Hope Lim

Hope Lim, author of I AM A BIRD: “Your best story ideas come from personal experiences, described and retold from your own unique perspective.”

Kirsten W. Larson

Kirsten W. Larson, author of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: EMMA LILIAN TODD INVENTS AN AIRPLANE: “It’s OK to write what you love. For me, that’s true stories. There is tremendous creativity and craft in writing nonfiction, and lots of challenge too, because you have to stick to the facts.”

Anna Crowley Redding

Anna Crowley Redding, author of RESCUING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: “Keep going. Don’t give up! Go to as many workshops and classes as possible!”

Abi Cushman

Abi Cushman, author/illustrator of SOAKED!: “Put in the work and then put it (and yourself) out there. Doing the work is the only thing you can control in this industry, plus you’ll gradually improve as you build and build upon your skillset over time. Putting yourself and your work out there allows you to develop lots of long-lasting kidlit friendships, in addition to a nice thick skin.”

Qing Zhuang

Qing Zhuang, illustrator of HOW LONG IS FOREVER: “Invest in craft-based art classes and trust your instincts on which medium to focus on. Don’t give yourself so much pressure — You have the right to practice art in a joyful, carefree way as much as anyone else. Take care of your mental and physical health, and try not to take on too much in student loans!

Vicky Fang

Vicky Fang, author of INVENT-A-PET: “Write lots of stuff! Experiment, push, and find great partners.”

Melanie Ellsworth

Melanie Ellsworth, author of CLARINET AND TRUMPET: “Just go for it! And stick with it. Listen to the critiques and edit — a lot! But don’t change your story so much that it loses its heart.”

Susan Kusel

Susan Kusel, author of THE PASSOVER GUEST: “Somebody really is going to want to publish your story based on an obscure Yiddish folktale. It will take about a decade, but don’t give up. One day you’ll see it in print. No kidding.”

Kelly Carey

Kelly Carey, author of HOW LONG IS FOREVER?: “Be patient and trust that the hard work and tentative steps outside of your comfort zone are going to bring you rewards beyond that published book proudly clutched in your hands. You’ll enjoy the long road to publication and you’ll find like-minded friends who will enrich your journey more than you can know.”

Candy Wellins

Candy Wellins, author of SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA: “‘Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never…’ It comes from a speech Winston Churchill made during World War II, but it’s the best encouragement I’ve ever heard for doing anything that’s tough. You want to be a writer, but are scared of rejection. Ideas come easily, but you struggle plotting them. Your story has been on submission for months and you still haven’t heard anything. It’s so easy to give in. But if writing is your passion, you have to stick with it and weather all the storms.”

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Now . . . over to you! What’s your best piece of advice for your younger author/illustrator self? Let us know in the comments below.

20 Questions: Getting Unstuck

By Elisa Boxer and Kjersten Hayes

Welcome back to our series, 20 QUESTIONS!

This is the place where we here at the Soaring ’20s answer questions about our picture-book process.

While we hate to be Scrooges, there’s nothing like the holiday spirit to put a damper on productivity.

Of course, it’s not just holiday time that presents a challenge to creators. Feeling stuck is a year-long struggle. But between feasting, family, shopping and school vacations, December can really put the kibosh on creating.

We’ve got your back, along with some tips for manifesting more mojo to fill that blank page:

What’s one thing that helps you get unstuck, when you feel unmotivated to work?

Joana Pastro

Joana Pastro, author of LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS: “I don’t fight it. It’s like quicksand: the more you fight it, the worse it gets. I simply try to find something else to do that will nurture my creativity, and ease back into it when I feel ready.”

Lindsay H. Metcalf

Lindsay H. Metcalf, author of FARMERS UNITE! and BEATRIX POTTER, SCIENTIST, and co-editor of NO VOICE TOO SMALL: “I let myself play. I write a stream-of-consciousness story about a talking foot with my 9-year-old. I fumble on the ukulele or noodle on the piano. The creative process is supposed to be fun, so I shelve the ‘work’ and let my mind go loose and free.”

Julie Rowan-Zoch

Julie Rowan-Zoch, illustrator of LOUIS: “Reading poetry is like Goo Gone! Visually descriptive writing unbuckles my imagination and immediately takes my thoughts away from my own projects and worries.”

Kirsten W. Larson

Kirsten W. Larson, author of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: EMMA LILIAN TODD INVENTS AN AIRPLANE: “When I feel stuck or unmotivated, I read more books! For me, a good mentor text is always the way forward. I get new inspiration and ideas from fellow creators all the time.”

Carrie Finison

Carrie Finison, author of DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS: “I find that having deadlines really helps me. That’s why I sometimes take on work-for-hire jobs or I’ll sign up for a writing class. If I’m being paid to write, or if I’m paying to write (as with a class), it’s much easier to find motivation!”

Mary Wagley Copp

Mary Wagley Copp, author of WHEREVER I GO: “I try to be patient with myself and not have a sense of urgency (very difficult sometimes). I see my writing life as being full of ebbs and flows and I need to ride those waves. When I see the process as being partially beyond my control, I let go of expectations and I feel more space in my mind and my heart. There are times, though, when I do make myself sit at my computer or look at my blank sheet of paper until a few words come! Sometimes those words are just what I need to get the juices flowing.”

Angela Burke Kunkel

Angela Burke Kunkel, author of DIGGING FOR WORDS: JOSÉ ALBERTO GUTIÉRREZ AND THE LIBRARY HE BUILT: “I’ve become an evangelist for positive self-talk. Talk to yourself the way you would to someone you love! When I feel stuck or unmotivated, it helps to recall a time when I felt inspired or invigorated by a project. That feeling can only return if we work toward it.”

Darshana Khiani

Darshana Khiani, author of HOW TO WEAR A SARI: “I’m in a low-key picture book accountability group, where the goal is just to spend 15 minutes a day. The simple act of being able to type in the time done on the spreadsheet is oddly gratifying.”

Kjersten Hayes

Kjersten Hayes, author of THE ELEPHANTS’ GUIDE TO HIDE-AND-SEEK: “When I feel stuck, it’s usually because I’m getting ahead of myself and dwelling too much on the outcome I’d like form my work. A goal that has nothing to do with quality nearly always helps me. I don’t have to write something ‘good,’ whatever that is, and instead just need to write X amount in X amount of time, no matter how bad it is.”

Elisa Boxer

Elisa Boxer, author of THE VOICE THAT WON THE VOTE: HOW ONE WOMAN’S WORDS MADE HISTORY: “Early on in a manuscript, I tend to get stuck on how to get from point A to point B. So I will literally ask out loud, for example, ‘How does the protagonist transition from being down at the dock, to being in the parade?’ (This is from an actual work in progress.) Then I will sit down with a coloring book, freeing my subconscious mind to come up with an answer while I focus on the colors filling the page. It really works!”

Candy Wellins

Candy Wellins, author of SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA: “I look through my writer’s notebook. I see fragments of stories I want to revisit, ideas I still want to pursue and the rough workings of completed stories that motivate me to keep going.”

Hope Lim

Hope Lim, author of I AM A BIRD: “Reading a book of poetry always reminds me of the power of words and ignites my passion for becoming a better writer.”

Kelly Carey

Kelly Carey, author of HOW LONG IS FOREVER?: “It’s easy to get tangled up in the weeds of revising an overworked manuscript and lose that wonderful carefree creative joy that comes when words are really flowing. When that happens, open a fresh document and create with reckless abandon. Once you rekindle the creative flame, you can go back and look at the sticky manuscript with fresh energy.”

Now, over to you. What’s your go-to for getting unstuck? Leave a comment below and let us know!