Last May I attended a Young Author Conference in northern Minnesota, where I was one of the presenters. Our keynote speaker, children’s writer/poet Brod Bagert of New Orleans, offered some of the best writing advice I’ve heard in a long time. Though I did a post on it back then, his golden suggestion may have been a bit hidden within the myriad photos and other news from that outing. I decided Brod needed another shot in the Peace Garden Writer limelight.
The gist of his message? Aim low. Aim very low. Set out with the goal of writing your very worst. Only then will you achieve success.
Sounds like a recipe for disaster, you say? Hogwash, says Brod. Forget about what your English teachers have been telling you, kids. Set the bar at the ankles, people. Because when you do, there will be only one place to go, and that’s up. And up and up and up!
Look, I can’t tell it like Brod does. This guy’s somewhat akin to one of my personal favorites, Shel Silverstein. He’s not only a writer but an ac-tor as well. Yes, a true thespian, as well as a former lawyer. And, he sings an amazing rendition of “Amazing Grace,” as some friends and I discovered during our time together.
So, without further adieu…Mr. Brod Bagert (drum roll please…)
Pretty cool huh? I mean, have you ever thought about it quite like that before? I hadn’t, in all my 42 years of life leading up to meeting Brod. It’s a gem of a concept.
I’m in a bit of a playful mood today, if you hadn’t noticed. Perhaps it’s because I’m going to be presenting to three groups of eighth-graders this afternoon. I’m in a youthful state of mind. I’m hanging with my inner writing child, remembering what it was like when I was 14 and my writing stunk like an old bottle of Channel 7.
Here’s some of the proof:
Meet Kareena, my diary from 1982. Yep, I named my journals back then. They were my friends, after all. They contained my deepest secrets. The boys who’d won my affection (but didn’t know), and all of my most embarrassing moments — like when our water pipes broke and we had to take showers at other people’s houses. (At 14, I thought I’d never recover…) Oh the stories I could tell (and have told!). So my diary of old is going to make a brief presentation at my presentation today.
I tell ya, it’s humbling to write your worst, but it’s also a necessary part of being a writer. Of being human, for that matter. Like Brod points out, sometimes it’s only when we offer our very worst that we can discover our very best.
Q4U: Writing can be a very emotional experience. Describe how you feel after reading your old journals and first drafts.
P.S. There’s still a week left to get your comment/name in for the drawing for the saints book. If you haven’t entered yet, here’s your chance! (Details here…)
Good luck today! You are a brave soul. If I read my diaries to anyone, I would be mortified. 🙂
Yes, it is a true act of courage, Marie, truly. Thanks for the encouragement. I need all I can get!
Enjoy your time. I have destroyed those old journals from my youth. Still, the innocence of the words lingers. It didn’t matter how emotional or dramatic I got. I’d like to channel that girl again. Hope you enjoy your day in the 8th grade!
Re-reading my old journals makes me laugh long and loud. You forget how dramatic teenagers are–unless you have one yourself, or you have your old journals!
Roxane, as you know, I have a blog based on my diary entries starting in January 1960 when I was 17, 50 years to the night after I wrote them. I will continue posting my nightly diary entries until I reach my April 25, 1965 entry, the day I graduated from Park College in Missouri.
I don’t read ahead in my diary. That way I can experience each new entry as my readers do – one night at a time. My diary writing style was to record my perceptions of each day and evening as my thoughts came to me – sometimes showing innocence or vulnurability, sometimes annoyance or disbelief – but always the girl and then young adult that I was.
Great post, Roxane! Very interesting concept indeed. I hope your day with the 8th graders went well. I have an 8th grader and wish she could have heard you speak today:-)
Karin
Roxane,
What a great idea to share your true writing when you were young. I love that vulnerability and to aim at your ankles! I am putting that one into action!
Love your profile pic!
I have one left from when I was in 4th grade and it is so revealing. I laugh so much, but I also see all the things that shaped me and made me who I am. I even “graded” my days like Margaret in Judy Blume’s book (I think, its been awhile since I revisited that book).
I wish I had kept more! You’ll have to come back and share with us how it went!
Once again…you have an encouraged my “inner child”. How cool that you still have your journals from your childhood. I love the video from Brod. This past weekend, I shared with a friend that I was going to spend the week praying about writing and if the time and energy I need to devote to the “craft of writing” is where God wants me to spend my time and energy. It is so humbling to realize the work that I need to do, but has been amazing to see how the answers have transpired this week. Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait to hear how your day went with the 8th graders.
Gals, I love my Wednesday crew. You never fail to make my week. Thanks for all of your encouragement and I am thrilled to know I’ve encouraged you as well. Remember, aim low! 🙂