Several years ago I wrote a series of short stories for young children in the 4-6 year age group (at least that's what I thought at the time). I put them aside in a safe little folder on my computer. And once in awhile I opened the folder and looked at them and closed the folder again. But recently I felt a nudge in my ribs, took another look at the stories, and decided that I could put them all together in one story book for young children. But, instead of one book, I've separated them into two: one (My Story Time) for 4-6 year olds and another (Magical Tales) for 6-8 year olds.

I've heard from different sources that writers should never delete what they've written because they may regret it - they may find a use for it sometime. In my case, I didn't want to get rid of the stories, but I couldn't wrap my brain around how to best use them. One of the stories, "The Night The Winds Came and Mama Sang Her Magic Song", won an award from the Writer's Digest magazine, so I knew I had to do something with that one.

What a great feeling it is to gather together what you've written, present it to children, and watch the smiles on their faces.

In between those two books I'm writing more poems. One is a tribute to the late Seamus Heaney. What does one write about genius? I can only try. But it's always been my belief that I have to be my own writer; I have to be happy with what I write no matter what someone else thinks of it. And I am.

I've been working on finishing up a story I started a couple of years ago, writing it in different formats (free verse and prose) to see which one works best for the subject matter. I think free verse works best for this story. It's about a girl in her mid teens whose mother has died of cancer. On the night her mother died the girl could not make herself go to the hospital to watch her die. They had been very close and she couldn't bear to watch her mother slip away. But since then she has regretted that she was not with her mother when she died. She now wants to die too so she can go to her mother and apologize and tell her why she was not there. The girl takes her kayak out on a river intending to kill herself, but while there she is caught in a storm, hits her head, and then dreams of seeing her dead grandmother and Celtic characters of fiction (about whom her mother always read stories to her), and they convince her that dying is her choice, but will not solve anything. She also learns exactly how her mother died, and this changes her life.

The thing is, every time I go into the story to edit I find it so emotionally draining that I can only do a small amount before I have to quit. But, this is also how I know it is a good story. The very fact that it causes such strong emotions to well up in me is evidence that the story will probably do the same for readers. It is one test I have that hasn't failed yet. If my story evokes strong emotions in me, then it usually evokes the same from readers.

Now, on to the story that needs more work in that area.

I'm currently working on a book of poems about children in war. It is not a book for children, although certainly it's appropriate for high school age readers. When it's published (which will be soon, I hope) it will be titled "Caught in the Crossfire, poems of children in war". Here's a poem from the book to give readers a taste.

When

When, one day,
the wreck that is life
has turned,
and war
made small,
soundless,
a bell that won't ring,
when a child's toys are lifted
from the dust
and repaired,
when anger and pride
have been stuffed
down into a bottomless ditch
covered with mud,
forgotten,
then, can she live.

There is no greater gift, I believe, than creating something positive in children's lives. Whether that be books or anything else that helps enhance a child's life, it is worth doing. I encourage everyone to find ways to help make the lives of children better.  Books can create positive role models for children that may influence their whole lives. If this is your calling don't stop writing. There will never be enough good books for children to read. Celebrate the written word. Write for children.

It's spring (well, almost) and time to get writing again. Winter seems to stunt my creativity, although I did write some, it seems to be harder when the weather is gray and cold. I've been working on a new book of poems about children and war. I went through a period where the words seemed to just explode from me because of the emotion I felt about children's vulnerability. I felt every word.

Like Ray Bradbury said, "Be certain of this: when honest love speaks, when admiration begins, when excitement rises, when hate curls like smoke, you need never doubt that creativity will stay with you for a lifetime."

I hope the same is true for each and every one of you who want/need to write...whatever the subject.
Here is one of my poems from my book:

My time and attention has been taken up by the expectation and then birth of a new grandchild in the family. This makes for fertile material for poetry and stories. My mind wanders to the elementary emotions of my youth, my life. Here's a poem for one of those elementary but strong emotions connected to birth and life in general.

Surf By Night
(Kathleen E. Fearing 2013,
all rights reserved.)

I've been fortunate to have written in more than one genre...children's books in both verse and traditional prose...poetry for adults and children...young children's stories for on-line magazines...

Lately, I've been leaning more and more toward writing poetry. But what's most interesting to me is that writing poetry is not exclusive of writing stories for children. For I fully believe that the language used in stories for children can and should be poetic. The use of language that most stirs a reader's imagination and reaction to a story is, by nature, poetic. Consider Gary Paulsen's "Dogsong". Or any book by Karen Hesse.

Bottom line is, don't be afraid of changing. Change usually means growth of some kind. Changing a story's plot, changing a character's point of view...it all means growth. At the very least it means experimentation, and without experimentation we stagnate. It may be a little uncomfortable at times, but, as my mom used to say, "Change is good."

As an avid reader and writer, what I write is genuinely affected by what I read. Recently I've been reading a woman journalist's account of the war in Syria. Below is a poem I've written in response to an amazing woman's first-hand accounts of that war.

I'm afraid that, as a doctor of education and a teacher, I come to these subjects at not only an educated level, but also a very emotional one. Recently I read a Facebook post about the destruction of book kiosks in Alexandria, Egypt by the "new Islamist governor".  In my opinion terrible acts like this are done completely out of ignorance and fear. The uneducated fear new or different ideas from the ones they hold as true. For, in their minds, nothing can be true except what they believe. This also applies to those who would ban books from schools (supposedly, places of education) because they believe the ideas or situations expressed within these books will somehow harm the ones reading them.  People can only be harmed by ignorance and fear, not by education, not by the expression of ideas. When books are destroyed we are all diminished by the act. When books are banned, for whatever reason, from our schools, our children's education and their view of life becomes limited. How can we do this? Education is the sharing of ideas. If the subject of a book is questioned by parents or teachers, the only way children are going to be able to make up "their own minds" is to talk with them about the subject. Open, honest discussion leads to understanding, awareness, and an educated child. Truly, this must be our objective in the 21st century. Must we slide back to the narrow, fear-driven ways of the Dark Ages and destroy something simply because we happen to disagree?

I'm offering a workshop for writers in October at a local craft center. While putting together elements I wanted to look at in the workshop, I got back to basics. Many people write, but why? What are their motivations to take up the most lonely occupation I know of - writing? It hit me that that is one question I would ask workshop attendees. Why do you write? The answer, for me, is that I have something to say. And I think most writers do so for that very reason. In my case I have something to say to children, and that is, basically, that they are okay, they are capable, they can do anything they set their minds to; also I want to help children discover that we are all human, all flawed, and all capable of change. If I can help children who read my books (or adults who might find them interesting) to recognize that the differences between people are just that: differences, and nothing more. For, at the end of the day, we are all human, we all have our pock marks. But most important, we all have a gift to share with the world. This is the message I care about deeply. We all have a gift. Whatever our gift, it is our responsibility to give it away, to share it with others. I hope the words I use, the characters I shape and present to the reader, will let them see this in themselves. Why do you write?

My jittery self has been putting off sending out another story, "Kari No-Name", until, finally, I had to let it go or go nuts. I re-wrote the first chapter probably 20 times, and still I thought I could do better. And perhaps I could have, but there comes a time when you just have to let it go. Why that happens to many writers I can only guess, and probably procrastination happens to each writer for different reasons. So, I either come to grips with it or I stop writing. I've decided on the former, for I can't do the latter. I grit my teeth, cross my fingers, and send it out. After all, what else is there except to write and hope a young person will read my story and take something from it that gives her what she needs?

I've been working on a story for what seems like years to me now. The idea of a young girl searching for her identity as a Hopi Indian was, and still is, I think, a good idea for a story. But after I finished writing it, I was not excited, not moved the way I had been by other stories I'd written. So I knew there was something wrong. I considered this for awhile. What to do? How could it be better? The hesitation I felt about changing the story was fear. As a writer, you really have to get over that feeling - that resistance to changing what you've written for fear it will be lost, or that your original idea will be compromised or spoiled. But, actually, every writer must be able to change, to write their story from a different angle. It's not new to me. And, as I've found out, it works! There have been times when I've changed my story to be for a different age level, changed the dynamic and the focus of the story...just by leaving myself open to change. Don't be afraid of change. It's what life's about.

There's nothing quite so exciting for an author as their first book signing event. I've had two now and more are coming up...all in Tennessee for now. Maybe some time in the future I'll have one or two in other states. But what is really exciting is when people get in touch with you after they've read your book and tell you they loved it, or it made them cry, or they couldn't put it down. That's when you say to yourself, I guess I'm doing what I need to be doing. I guess I'm dong something right. And smile. Thanks to everyone who read my book and  enjoyed it

I'm thrilled to post two wonderful reviews of my new book Voyage of Dreams, An Irish Memory.

"Voyage of Dreams"...the story of Tess Doherty, is an odyssey of love, pain, fear, sadness and hope. Young teens will identify with Tess's struggle to find, recognize and live her dream. In addition, "Voyage of Dreams" is an excellent resource for high level English language learners, both teenaged and adult. Poetically written with the lyric dialect of the Irish, "Voyage of Dreams" should be required reading for all teenagers and all those who have ever dreamed of more."
Linda M. Rhinehart Neas, M.Ed., author and poet.

"The harsh but sometimes joyful realities of life in Ireland in the early 1900s are vividly portrayed in Kathleen Fearing's "Voyage of Dreams", a poignant coming-of-age story is sure to inspire young readers and adults alike."
Liz McGeachy, Center Director, Appalachian Arts Craft Center

New projects!! Well, I'm actually going through some stories that I'd written some time ago and that were sitting there looking at me each time I opened up my "Works in Progress" file. I've been trying to finish one of them, but I'm up against a brick wall as to how it should end (I have several potentials). So I'm putting that one aside and have taken up another story, one that I dedicated to my cousin Janeen who died of cancer years ago. I've fictionalized her story but have woven her spirit throughout. I hope she would approve. The story is done, I just need to edit it and put in some details that ultimately make a story come alive. I like it and will probably be ready to release it soon. The other story - the one with several endings - will have its day, I know. It's just percolating on the back burner for now. Here's to 'new/old' projects finally coming to life!

Everyone has a tremendous amount of personal energy. Mine, like everyone else I'm sure, waxes and wanes. God only knows why or what causes these swings in energy. And what applies to everyday energy also applies to my writing energy. There are some who will say 'write every day - every day'. But if what comes out of my brain on some days is garbage, I think it's best that I put writing off until I feel the creative energy again. Usually it comes right along in a day or so. And my energy is especially peaked when I read someone else's book...someone I admire. It's amazing how energized I become after reading something like "The English Patient" or something from Alice Walker. The trick is to keep books you love nearby when you need some inspiration. It works for me. Good luck.

I'm sure I've said this before, but it's worth repeating - it's worth reminding myself every now and then. You may look at others who write/have written and say to yourself 'I will never be as good as they are. I'll never be able to write like they do.' My response to that is bull! We as individuals are not alike - we don't think alike, we don't visualize the world in the same way...we're all different. Consequently, we will all write differently. And thank goodness. How boring books would be if they were all written the same way. I love going back and forth between writers who visualize things differently. And I look at my own writing and think 'I am not like them. I do not write the way they do. I am me! I am different! I write like no one else writes! I am special...unique!' And so are you. Write the way you want to write. Be yourself. Celebrate your individuality.

Looking back at what I've written, it's funny how little things I never noticed come to the forefront. At one point I had my protagonist sitting in her bed, and in the next instant she was in a chair.  Editing is a necessary thing. What I have trouble with...what I've always had trouble with, is focusing. So when I'm editing I'm forced to focus. It's a skill some people are born with. And I envy them their ability to naturally concentrate on what they're doing. Some might call what I have ADD. But I'm not sure just what it is that causes me to skip over details. I've finished my second edit of my manuscript "Voyage of Dreams". I'll go over it again before I send it off to the publisher. He may want more changes. That's okay with me. I'm just happy to have someone besides me say that I've written a good story. Most of this accomplishment is not talent or luck, most of it is determination. Keep at it. If you love to write, keep at it. Something good will happen.

I've often heard this said by people whose most desired wish had come true. And then it turned out to be more than they had bargained for. I'm about to see just what getting my wish will mean to me. My manuscript "Voyage of Dreams" has been accepted by Celtic Cat Publishing in Knoxville for publication some time next year. Now I'm thinking 'Just what is this going to mean for me?' Am I going to have to do a lot of speaking to groups and maybe schools? The thought sometimes terrifies me. I'm not always that comfortable in front of a crowd of people who I don't know. But, I'm also thinking, 'Do you want to change your mind? Do you want to tell the publisher forget it?' The answer is No. But it still makes me nervous and thrilled at the same time. My husband tells me I'll be great - not to worry. Okay. But I think I'll do a lot of practicing between now and then. I love this problem.

Proceeds from my book "My Friend The Werewolf" go to the Art Department at the Norris Middle School in Norris, Tennessee. Help Support art in the schools. Go to https://www.createspace.com/3568830

Changing a story I've already written from prose to verse is a fantastic exercise in essential word usage. Time and time again, as I pause at each paragraph, I consider word usage: what words do I really need to convey what I want the reader to "see"? And this exercise is not done just once, but many times, until I've discovered the right meter, flow, sound - the right words that do justice to what I'm trying to say. I find that doing this has made me a better prose writer as well. I believe that really good prose should flow the same as well thought out poetry. And I find that I am asking myself, "What word can you substitute for that ordinary word you just used - one that will say what you want to say much more precisely?" It keeps the brain working. Just what I need at my age. Try it yourself. Change a story you've written in prose to verse. It doesn't have to rhyme. In fact, it's better if it doesn't. Read poet Mary Oliver for inspiration.