Thursday, January 14, 2010

“How long does it take to write a book?” Author's day in a fifth grade classroom

Elizabeth Zelvin

On a cloudy afternoon in November, editorial expert Chris Roerden, technical writer Pat Meller, and I pulled up to the Pilot Elementary School in Greensboro, NC. We had a date with a fifth grade class to talk about what it means to be a writer and editor. We found an eager audience whose hands started shooting up with questions before we’d finished introducing ourselves.

“How long does it take to write a book?” My “57 years to get the first one published” didn’t get as big a laugh as it does with grownups, but they were suitably impressed when Chris described the five and six year process a couple of her books required. When she said she’d ghostwritten some books and Pat mentioned her research on the biology of rhesus monkeys, they had more questions.
“What does a ghostwriter do?” “Do you write about things that you already know?” “How do you find out about things you don’t know?” “When you interview someone, do you do it on a computer or in person?”

These kids have computers in their classroom, but their grasp of how things work is still under construction. “What kind of pen do you write your books with?” “How do you make more copies of a book?” “How do you get the pictures on the covers of your books?” The child who asked that one meant “How do the pictures get onto the cover?” rather than “Where do the pictures come from?” But they all liked my story about how the cover designer of Death Will Get You Sober created the shattered whiskey glass by shooting it with a gun and shooting the event with high-speed film. They were less surprised than I was when I learned it hadn’t been done on a computer. In a child’s world, as the whole afternoon reminded me, anything is possible.

Of course, these 21st century children have the common cultural preoccupations of our era. “Are you famous?” they asked. I was relieved they didn’t lose interest when we all had to say no to that one. “Have any of your books been made into movies?” They were as ready to hear that Chris’s Don’t Murder Your Mystery and Pat’s scientific and technical works had made the big screen as my murder mysteries. We had to disappoint them there too, though they liked my story about how the producer of The Mummy, Public Enemies, and Erin Brockovich thought it was a terrific read and would make a great TV series. (Alas, he doesn't do TV.)

“Have you met anybody famous?” We all had to think about that one. Oprah is famous. Kobe Bryant is famous. So is Tiger Woods. And President Obama. Writers? JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer are famous. We hadn't met any of them. Chris Grabenstein registered, but not by name. Several of them lit up when I mentioned his Agatha- and Anthony-winning and Edgar-nominated middle-grade paranormal mystery, The Crossroads. The awards meant nothing to them--but they'd read the book. They were even more excited to hear it’s been optioned for the movies. But what really impressed them most was when I told them that before becoming a mystery writer (and also before he worked in advertising with James Patterson, who is not famous by kid standards), Chris used to do stand-up comedy with...are you ready for it? Bruce Willis.

The best moment of a memorable afternoon? It was pretty special when the kids came crowding around us clamoring for our autographs. We wrote them with a green Sharpie on bookmarks for Don't Sabotage Your Submission, scraps of paper, and notebook covers. But even better were the hugs we got from one little girl--the one who understood it when I said my book was about recovery from alcoholism, because her uncle is in a "mission" getting help.

18 comments:

Chris Roerden said...

Well-done, Elizabeth! You captured both the enthusiasm and the detail of that memorable day (memorable to us, at least, and possibly to those who will some day re-discover their Sharpie-autographed bookmarks).

Visiting a fifth-grade class - indeed any grade class - is a down-to-earth experience for any author. I highly recommend it.

Thank you for writing this piece.

Chris

Anonymous said...

I am glad to see you all
[URL=http://diabeticdiet.warp0.com/albuterol/map.html]Beast online albuterol nebulizer treatments[/URL] [URL=http://alphagan.s5.com/flavoured/map.html]Beast online viagra soft flavoured[/URL] [URL=http://alfacip.8m.com/chromonexin]chromonexin[/URL] [URL=http://alkeran.8m.net/cree/map.html]Beast online cree 1200 creatine ethyl[/URL] [URL=http://alphagan.s5.com/enalapril]enalapril maleate tablet[/URL]
Total good

Anonymous said...

I love poesdeadlydaughters.blogspot.com! Here I always find a lot of helpful information for myself. Thanks you for your work.
Webmaster of http://loveepicentre.com and http://movieszone.eu
Best regards

viagra online said...

It doesn't take long time, we only have to use our originality and the book we creating will be so enjoyable, that's my passion I live writing and reading a lot.m10m

Anonymous said...

how long for clomid to work in men | can you buy clomid over the counter - how to get clomid without a prescription, clomid stories 2012

Anonymous said...

clomid interactions | buy cheap clomid online - buy clomid online australia, clomid signs of ovulation

Anonymous said...

pcos and clomid success | http://cheapclomidonline.jimdo.com/#77291 - buy clomid no prescription uk, clomid delay period

Anonymous said...

what time of day should i take clomid | [url=http://buycheapclomid.webs.com/#57255]cheap clomid without prescriptions[/url] - clomid where to buy, kjus on clomid when will i ovulate

Anonymous said...

fruit soaked alcohol http://alcoholboutique.com/crown-royal-special-reserve-whisky.html density t-butyl alcohol [url=http://alcoholboutique.com/macallan.html]sunday alcohol sales in ky[/url] make alcohol grass

Anonymous said...

dating places http://loveepicentre.com/ dating south shore massachusetts

Anonymous said...

talking advertsing software http://buysoftwareonline.co.uk/product-11308/McAfee-SpamKiller-6-0 panasonic kx-ta1232 software [url=http://buysoftwareonline.co.uk/product-12223/ID-Browser-Backup-v1-2]bowling team managment software[/url] gpib emi software
[url=http://buysoftwareonline.co.uk/fr/product-37384/Desktop-Lunar-Calendar-1-6]Desktop Lunar Calendar 1.6 - Cheap Legal OEM Software, Software Sale, Download OEM[/url] writing software learning disabilities
[url=http://buysoftwareonline.co.uk/de/product-15260/MacGPS-Pro-7-Mac][img]http://buyoem.co.uk/image/2.gif[/img][/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/elavil.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/6.jpg[/img][/url]
preparation h with biodyne canadian pharmacy http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/trental.htm super value pharmacy tx [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/antabuse.htm]botsford hospital outpatient pharmacy[/url]
powerpack pharmacy ce http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/cefadroxil.htm pharmacy endocrine disruptors [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/aceon.htm]aceon[/url]
radius pharmacy http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/minocin.htm pharmacy in oslo [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/prevacid.htm]pharmacy technician recertification[/url]
healthway pharmacy inc http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/plendil.htm wayne state pharmacy program [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/rave--energy-and-mind-stimulator-.htm]rave energy and mind stimulator [/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/categories/arthritis.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/10.jpg[/img][/url]
walgreens 24 hour pharmacy in mesa arizona http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/viagra-super-active-plus.htm nc board of pharmacy [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/cipro.htm]walmart pays pharmacy techs[/url]
arizona pharmacy association http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/luvox.htm veterans affair pharmacy formulary [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/aricept.htm]aricept[/url]
pharmacy shirt http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/betnovate.htm pharmacy technician prep [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/catalogue/q.htm]ce for pharmacy in arizona[/url]
uk pharmacy online http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/rhinocort.htm pharmacy technician training programs cvs [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/vermox.htm]vermox[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/flovent.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/12.jpg[/img][/url]
dallas veterinary pharmacy http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/himplasia.htm meridia online pharmacy phentermine umaxppc xenica [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/categories/female-enhancement.htm]rite aid and brooks pharmacy[/url]
pharmacy list http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/arimidex.htm pa laws for duries of pharmacy techs [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/metoclopramide.htm]metoclopramide[/url]
sure pharmacy http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/cialis-soft-tabs.htm fluconazole online pharmacy [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/]jennifers pharmacy[/url]
pharmacy technician home study program http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/tenormin.htm national pharmacy [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/rogaine-5-.htm]rogaine 5 [/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/zovirax.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/1.jpg[/img][/url]
internet pharmacy wellbitrin http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/ed-discount-pack-1.htm online prescription pharmacy [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/testimonials.htm]pharmacy technician openings in albuquerque[/url]
green pharmacy herbal handbook http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/categories/cardiovascular.htm foreign pharmacy degrees recognized by fpgee [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/benicar.htm]benicar[/url]
pharmacy and northern ireland http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/lotensin.htm cvs pharmacy bath seats [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/karela.htm]pharmacy automation[/url]
missouri scholarship pharmacy http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/femara.htm commission for certification in geriatric pharmacy [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/acticin.htm]acticin[/url]

Anonymous said...

diect dating [url=http://freeinternetdating.info/friendship/friendship-unlimited-northport-baptist-church-ny]friendship unlimited northport baptist church ny[/url] uk free internet dating
radioactive dating temperature http://freeinternetdating.info/love/sumer-love-mp3 dating a dentist
dating remington derringer [url=http://freeinternetdating.info/socialnetwork/brown-boy-superman-myspace-layouts]dating an old bed frame[/url] dating illinois watches

Anonymous said...

memebership list software http://downloadoemsoftware.co.uk/de/category-100-106/Server-Software?page=4 table arrangement seating software [url=http://downloadoemsoftware.co.uk/it/manufacturer-12/Cakewalk]workforce organisation software[/url] meditech software skills
[url=http://downloadoemsoftware.co.uk/product-16128/Adobe-Acrobat-8-Professional-Mac]Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional [Mac] - Software Store[/url] accounting software 20
[url=http://downloadoemsoftware.co.uk/category-100-115/Special-Offer][img]http://buyoem.co.uk/image/5.gif[/img][/url]

Anonymous said...

carbon dating half life formula http://loveepicentre.com/ ill parentnow moved cat dating
horny matches dating site [url=http://loveepicentre.com/map/]link exchange single dating[/url] men's guide to dating
miltary online dating [url=http://loveepicentre.com/faq/]plenty of fish and dating service[/url] 100 online free dating [url=http://loveepicentre.com/user/weat4long/]weat4long[/url] femdom dating ideas