THIS IS THE PILE OF #@*% THAT TURNED INTO A BOOK

 by Peggy Thomas

Most people think that books come out of an author’s head fully formed, perfect.

But we know the truth.

The messy truth.  

Writing can be agonizing, frustrating, time-sucking marathons that can leave a writer dithering and insecure.  At least that’s my process.

Here is the photographic evidence of my efforts to turn #*%@ into my newest picture book titled THE SOIL IN JACKIE’S GARDEN.

The idea came to me while preparing a conference workshop I led for Michigan Agriculture in the Classroom. I wanted novice writers to know that they didn’t have to reinvent the wheel.  They could use a traditional form like an alphabet book or The House That Jack Built to create their own stories. And I should probably give them a quick example. (Now, one thing you have to know about me is that I love soil and I wish kids knew more about how great soil is.)  So, I said, “For example, you could do something like The Soil in Jackie’s Garden, and lead kids from the soil to seed to roots etc, back to the soil.” That was it.

Like all good ideas, this one stuck with me, and I started to play around with it.

But I really didn’t know the traditional version of The House that Jack Built, so I did a little research.  It’s a lot wordier that I expected. Meter seems more important than rhyme, but the meter changes halfway through.

I created word lists to help with rhyming, and to keep words, especially verbs, fresh.

Then I had a vision. For the artwork. What if the book opened vertically like Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens or Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor? The soil horizon line would start out high, then move down as the plants grew taller. I felt so strongly about it that I added that to the manuscript (something I normally do not do).

I’m a nonfiction writer so I had to add informational sidebars explaining all the cool stuff like how worm poop is called a casting, and leaves have little “mouths” they open and close to breathe.

 

My fellow Ninjas gave valuable feedback during critique sessions and helped fix problems with meter and rhyme. Other things changed, too.  Worm castings in the main text had to go, but stayed in the sidebar. Watermelon replaced  the "3 sisters" of corn, squash and beans, and I added some sound effects to make it more fun to read aloud. 

Finally it was ready to submit.  My agent sent it to Feeding Minds Press because I had worked with them before. They picked it up. Unlike most of my other projects this one sold quickly. (Don’t hate me. I can share later how another story of mine took 10 years to find a home.)

After several rounds of editing, the manuscript was given to the brilliant Neely Daggett to illustrate. Like all great illustrators, Neely added another level to the story. She gave Jackie a personality, friends, and helpers in a community garden. 

Okay, so there wasn’t a lot of angst and hair-pulling with this one, but I wanted to assure you that what may look like a mess in front of you today can turn into a beautiful book you will be proud of tomorrow.

Keep Writing!

 

STEP BY STEP: THE JUNKO TABEI-INSPIRED RESEARCH JOURNEY

By Anita Yasuda   

 

On the morning of May 16, 1975, Junko Tabei became the first woman to summit Mount Everest. How did she do it? One step at a time: Up, Up, Ever Up! You, too, will succeed in your research journey one step at a time by setting a course, planning, using the proper gear, and with a supportive team.

 

1. Pick Your Target 

Junko and the other 14 members of the Japanese all-women team chose Everest after careful consideration and research. I decided on Junko as my subject using the same method. As an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast, I wanted to write a story about mountaineering and a female climber. I also have friends involved in mountain climbing and have always found their stories of high-altitude adventures thrilling. Likewise, write about a subject that makes your heart sing. If it has caught your interest, someone else will also be intrigued. Do not worry if someone else has written on the same subject. Just as there are a variety of wilderness trails, from short walks to adventures requiring ropes and ice axes, a unique story angle combined with your voice will help make your manuscript stand out.

 

2. Master The Ropes

Climbers only plunge into the wilderness after setting a course. You can avoid becoming tangled in research through planning, too. Decide on day one how you will collect and organize your research. Are you team pencil and paper? With this approach, your subject becomes clearer, sentence by sentence. Do you prefer journaling, which includes drawing and adding physical materials such as photographs or newspaper articles into a file? Using this method, visual thinkers will see their story taking shape. Are you team virtual? When I began researching Junko, I planned on travelling to Japan and Nepal. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these plans had to be put aside. So, using Word, I set up a research file that would include over 100 footnotes to keep track of every source, quote and statistic. The file had subheadings, including Junko’s childhood, first hike, and family. 

 

3. Get The Gear 

When climbing, you need to dress in layers; in writing, layers are also essential. To better understand Junko, I researched widely. Secondary sources, including journals and newspaper articles, gave me a sense of Junko, the team's difficulties, and the period. Through my local library, I took advantage of interlibrary loans. I was then able to access more extensive state and international libraries. I accessed journals, including JSTOR, and newspaper archives in Japan through my university’s alumni lending program. I watched online interviews and eventually created a list of experts I contacted, including Junko's best friend and fellow Everest climber, translator, colleagues, and friends worldwide. They helped me clarify my information and add details to my manuscript that hadn't appeared in print before. 

 

4. Prepare For The Avalanche 

Mountaineers learn as much as they can about avalanche risk before heading out. They study the forecast, take courses, and venture out prepared with gear such as crampons and helmets. When you feel overwhelmed by research, take a break. Be kind to yourself. A long walk or putting away your work for weeks or months will help you achieve clarity. Another tip is to write down your book's hook and keep it on your writing desk or your computer. My hook in presenting Junko's life combined her achievements with her humanitarian and environmental legacy.

 

5. Teamwork 

All successful mountaineering expeditions require a solid team. Writing does not have to be a solitary activity. Share your story with trusted critique partners. Even if you do not have a draft ready, share your enthusiasm for your project. When you explain your project aloud, it will remind you why you began the journey. These critique partners will be essential as you revise and rewrite. Rewriting is a beautiful way to hone your craft. Feedback that resonates with you can help you chip away at your manuscript until you have a clear story path from beginning to end.

 

See you at the summit!

Be kind to yourself. Researching and drafting a book is a process. There may be obstacles on the journey, but with each piece of information and revision, you will be closer to the summit. One day, a child will be happy you did.

 

About the Author 

Anita Yasuda is the author of UP, UP, EVER UP! JUNKO TABEI A LIFE IN THE MOUNTAINS , illustrated by Yuko Shimizu (Clarion, 2024); DIWALI: A FESTIVAL OF JOY , illustrated by Darshika Varma (Penguin Random House, 2024); and BOLLYWOOD BEAT, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan (Kids Can Press, 2025), as well as many other books for young readers. She has a background in Montessori and early childhood education. Anita lives in the rolling hills of Ontario with her family.

 

 

  

Organize Your Work With a Writing Journal

 By Susie Kralovansky

​You might think you’re organized, but are you really, really organized?

I thought that I had a great filing system. It's one that I had been using for years.
Then, I read my friend  Nancy I. Sander’s blog on writing journals. Previously, I always began each project with a new folder where I stuffed every slip of paper, note, magazine article, and photos on my current project. 

My materials were together, but they were a mess. I was continually looking for a line, phrase, page, etc. that I knew I’d written, but couldn’t get my hands on.

​I assumed that this was just part of the creative process. It never occurred to me, until reading Nancy's first post, that there was a much, much better way to keep track of your work. I’m embarrassed to say that I have actually spoken at conferences on organization and writing. Yikes!

​Nancy is truly the master of organization. Imagine this - a Table of Contents! And notes!  

More importantly, imagine being able to  know exactly where your images, quotes, resources, reference tools,  opening and closing lines, etc. are!
Nancy explains her system in a series of seven posts. After these first few, each one will include organizational skills that every writer needs to know, right down to putting a sticker on the upper right-hand corner of your journal’s Table of Content since you will be flipping back to it so often.

One of my favorite posts was an explanation of the topics Nancy puts in her journal. This gem will always be on the inside cover of my writing journals.

​ ​I love notebooks, markers, stickers, and glue sticks. As a former librarian, I love cataloging information. This writing journal stuff was made for me. And now I can say (thanks to Nancy) that yes, I am really, really organized. 

Learn more about Susie Kralovansky and her writing process at https://www.susankralovansky.com/