I had the honor of speaking to Marge Pellegrino’s Writing for Children class over at Pima Community College today about Three Paths to a Story–basically, my struggle to figure out the right way to write. (The very short version: Every story is different, and I just need to live with that. :-)) (More importantly, every writer is different, too, and what works for one might well not work for another.)
If you’re in Tucson, want to write for kids or teens, and ever have a chance to take Marge’s class, go for it. She does a wonderful job of creating a supportive workshopping environment–one that strongly encourages constructive feedback, yet makes sure it’s given in positive ways.
To her students and the other class visitors: thanks for listening, and thanks for all your great questions!