Mid January Tally

It's already the end of January.  I've worked on two books under contract- one an Aussie Nibbles, one a collection of poetry and now there's no hiding, I need to tackle a larger project.

For that I go back to fragments, abandoned starts in recent notebooks and on the lap top.

I also go back to the stories that still resonate with me and must seem like ancient documents.
In fact I found the book online without the wonderful illustrations that I enjoyed:

Now as I look back over the illustrations I wonder how a much loved childhood book affects the way I write now for children?

There is a central theme- three layers of characters and the gorgeous grandmother( I loved my grandmother to bits) and that 'otherworld' essence.  So maybe I need to keep digging away at a fantasy I've been trying to write for the past four years.

One book I just had to buy because it really resonates with me is The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh.   
The tingle factor is there.

I'm going to now find which manuscript to push through to the glorious end.

What childhood books still resonate with you?

Interviews and reasons

I've just completed a small interview on community radio.  And one of the questions perennially asked is why do you write for children?

  Hmmm.
Is it because you can think like them?( read: get down to their level)
What sort of language do you use? ( read no big words)

That made me really think.

Here are my reasons for writing for children:

I can really try different ideas, story lines, formats.  To me children's writing is more creative and experimental than writing for adults.

I am surrounded by children, my own( forgive me they are now adults with children of their own) and with grandchildren.  I love their inventiveness in terms of reasoning and in terms of language.

I am a trained primary school teacher with years of literacy training and encouraging both adults and children to write( and read)

And I love the wide audience of children's readers.

I love to put hope and joy in my writing and wonder.

And I love to read children's literature.

Anyone out there want to add their reasons?