Author of over 400 Books for Children and Adults
Q: What is B.I.C.? J: Haha–a joke and yet not a joke. It stands for (another joke) Butt In Chair. It means that if you want to be a writer, you have to have a lot of butt in chair time, hands on the keys time, close and quiet, long hours doing the work. A book …
Hello Readers! Heidi here! Every Wednesday, I’ll be asking JY a question (two if they are short). The questions might involve advice for writers, fun facts for students, or just reminiscing about a career that has spanned more than 60 years in the publishing world. Every time we teach together, I hear people whisper about …
Jane Yolen wins the Sydney Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award AND the award for poetry!
Some of Jane Yolen’s earliest publications were in Smith College’s (she graduated in 1960) Greencourt Review.
Read about Jane’s 400th book
And it’s for a good cause, too!
I have talked about “showing up” before. But here are some further–though rather scrambled–thoughts about it. Being a writer–or any kind of artist–is essential a selfish activity. Note I don’t, as far too many people do, call it a “lonely” job. Maybe an alone job, but lonely? Not when I am surrounded by my invisible …
A teacher’s guide to Crow Not Crow by Cornell Labs with nine activities.
I had one grandchild with Covid (she’s doing fine, now, thanks). One in full bubble because her best friend had Covid. One son because someone at work had Covid. All fine. But the fear never leaves. And I will be 82 in February, Peter will be 84 in June.
So what do I do? I write.
I tell my writing students that the magic word is BIC: Butt in Chair, or for those who faint at the thought of using the B word, try: bottom, backside, behind, or buhunkus. Then get off your fainting couch and get to work. Of course, just staring at the piece of paper or the …