How God Keeps an Author Humble
Delighted to be given a spot in the front of the classroom (like those glory days of teaching back when I was Mrs. B), I armed myself with all kinds of visuals that would help the kids understand the writing process.
I talked about the importance of “catching a good idea,” and told the eager listeners about how as a little girl I would collect ideas for stories and poems in a tattered notebook that I kept hidden under my bed. Then I showed them the small notebook that I still carry with me in my purse just in case a great idea for an article strikes me while I’m sitting at a soccer game or waiting in the carpool lane. 
The kids were wide-eyed as I told them how I’d written the story in my notebook and then revised it over and over until finally it was ready to be “published.”
Every night after school I had plopped in front of my mom’s electric typewriter (at that point I confirmed their hunch that I’d been living back when the dinosaurs had roamed the earth), and turned that story into a masterpiece on the page!
My incredibly artistic sister had added illustrations with colored pencils while we’d dreamed of becoming a famous author-illustrator duo when we were “all grown up.” 
I shared that perseverance is one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned in my journey as an author. Then I pulled out a large manilla folder filled with fifteen year’s worth of rejection letters from editors.
I said things like, “This story was written mostly for mommies,” and “This magazine is like an idea book for parents. I usually write about fun things a family could do together.”
I explained how each article had begun as an idea, often sparked by my children. Eventually that idea turned into the story that they were viewing on the shiny pages of the magazine. 
As I wrapped up my author talk, Hannah’s teacher projected a page from my blog up on the white board, and asked me to tell the kids why a writer might choose to blog. I told them that a writer needs to practice writing a little every day. “So blogging is a way I can practice listening for the stories God gives me and then work on telling those stories in a way that other people can understand and enjoy.” The kids all laughed at the photos plastered on my blog pages as their teacher scrolled through some of my recent posts.
In conclusion, I invited the kids to ask me anything they wondered about in the world of writing. To my great delight, the students responded with waving arms and strings of questions, as well as plenty of personal tales about their own writing endeavors and dreams. However, a few hours later, I received this email from my friend Kim whose daughter, Alexa, had been one of those smiling faces in the second grade crowd. Any puff of pride that may have followed me home quickly evaporated as I realized that what I thought I had said and what those sweet little learners had actually heard may have been two totally different things!
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| Alexa |
Alexa: Mrs. Brux-bort came and talked to us today and gave us a v-e-r-y special card!
Perhaps the title of my next book should be: 100 Ways to Grow Humility in a Hurry!
The Overflow: He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. -Psalm 25:9
I’m smiling!!!!!! 🙂
~Robin
Oh, I wish I could have been in that second grade class. I’ll bet I would have learned so much! Congratulations on your successes because that is awesome! And really, that is simply where I am at with my goals, with possibly a little less drive…therefore, I look up to you, my friend as a role-model. 😉
Adult magazines…hahaha. That is great. Yes, it is amazing at what we say and what they hear. I taught for 9 years (art and ESL) before staying home this year so I can relate. Sounds like it went well really. Great post!
When we had authors come visit our classroom when I was a little girl, I used to dream about being the author to do that some day. Just never dreamed just how much this author’s words could be misconstrued 🙂
So fun. What a great experience.
Your classroom is my FAVORITE place to be 🙂 I’ll come if you promise not to spread the rumor about my “adult magazine work” 🙂
Haaahaaaahaaa!
I have these moments everyday…while teaching my kids…and realizing what they are actually hearing!
This is such an adorable story!
Can you come give my kids a talk about how to be a writer?
They would love it! I would love it!
Oh, yes.. fun, indeed. And funny! We’re still laughing around here about my adult magazine hobby!
How fun! What a treat to share your gift with your daughter and her class. much love!