While doing school visits in April I thought it would be helpful for kids to see all the hidden work that goes into writing books. Here are the pictures I shared with them — a peek at the “work behind the work” for BLUE BIRDS:
This is my research notebook along with a few of my books and a scattering of bookmark notes. Plus a hand-drawn map of the way I pictured Fort Raleigh.
Here’s the 1587 manifest (those we know as the Lost Colony), some maps, and a timeline of what happened July and August 1587 on the island of Roanoke.
Here’s some feedback from early readers.
These are first draft observations I made (adapted from Cheryl Klein’s SECOND SIGHT).
These are “quilts” I’d create after each draft — a way for me to see if the dual point of view narrative was working or not.
My three editorial letters. One thing I love to do is pass around my letters to students. There are usually two responses: they laugh (Whoa! These are intense!) or they want to know if the letters hurt my feelings (Whoa! These are intense!).
My response? Editors (and teachers) are like the friend who tells us we have spinach stuck in our teeth. It may feel a little embarrassing at first to see our flaws pointed out, but this is the stuff that makes us look infinitely better. It’s amazing to me how much hard work editors (and teachers) commit to writers (and students) while remaining largely behind-the-scenes. Editors and teachers, you are invaluable!
A page from the manuscript itself. Along with those detailed editorial letters, my editor also mails a printed copy of the manuscript with notes throughout.
The manuscript pile on my office floor. (I’ll reuse these for printing future rough drafts).
So there you have it, a glimpse into the inner workings of BLUE BIRDS. Any questions for me?
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