I love kids who love to write and earnestly seek advice from authors.
I was at a school recently and did a basic author presentation, followed by a writing workshop.
A 4th grade boy came to the presentation with a spiral notebook to take notes. He was the only one out of 100 students that did so.
When I went to his classroom to do the workshop, he called me over during one of the writing exercises. In his notebook he had written:
The Steps to Writing a Book
Step 1: Idea [Which he added based on the information he had learned from my presentation]
Step 2:
Step 3:
Step 4:
etc
"So, what are the steps to writing a book after the idea?" he asked me.
Ummmm, well, ummm....gee.
*thinks quickly*
"Character," I said. For me, a book starts with character.
He scribbled that down and looked up, eyebrows lifted, waiting for Step 3.
So I gave the old formula of: problem, then obstacle, then solution.
He jotted those down.
And then I remembered setting. Setting is an integral part of the story.
He jotted that down.
But then setting isn't Step 6. Setting belongs up there toward the top.
This was getting all muddied up.
It felt so unsatisfying.
And then I realized that How to Steal a Dog (the book he had read) 
didn't really fit that classic problem/obstacle/solution formula as clearly as other problem novels.
That boy and I needed to talk, discuss, brainstorm.
But, alas, I had a whole classroom of kids needing my attention. So I left him with his Steps to Writing a Book, wishing I had more time.
BUT, he did give me food for thought. After I left, I thought a lot about The Steps to Writing a Book.
There are times when they are clear: Step 1, Step 2, Step 3.
And times when they aren't.
I hope some day that boy has a chance to figure it out. (And me, too. Ha!)
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: How to Steal a Dog, Most Recent at Top [Help]
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By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 2/14/2013
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By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 12/7/2012
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Letters, Kids, How to Steal a Dog, Add a tag
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 8/21/2012
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 8/22/2012
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By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 9/5/2012
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Award, How to Steal a Dog, Add a tag
 |
| Go, Dog, go! |
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 9/11/2012
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Letters, Kids, How to Steal a Dog, Add a tag
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 9/7/2011
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I wrote How to Steal a Dog in 2003.
There were homeless families in 2003.
There were little girls in schools who lived in their cars.
But I never would have imagined that 8 years later, the situation would be so much worse. (Sorry about the darned ad at start of video.)
And I definitely never could have imagined this.
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 10/19/2011
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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How to Steal a Dog was featured on NBC Nightly News last night in a piece about helping kids cope with this tough economy.
This is the preview.
And this is the piece that aired.
I'm happy to have this wonderful exposure, but, sigh....it is bittersweet. I wish the economy weren't such that such bibliotherapy is needed.
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 2/7/2012
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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....sometimes makes a difference.
Received this from a 4th grade teacher:
This story touches the true lives of many of our migrant students who live the life of being transient and impoverished.
What a wonderful story to teach them about their moral compass and challenges they face every day.
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 2/15/2012
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: how to steal a dog, movie, Add a tag
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 3/7/2012
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By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 3/31/2012
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JacketFlap tags: Anita Silvey, How to Steal a Dog, Add a tag
I'm thrilled that Anita Silvey chose How to Steal a Dog for today's Book-a-Day Almanac!
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 4/6/2012
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Letters, Kids, How to Steal a Dog, Add a tag
From a fan of How to Steal a Dog:
Dear Barbara O'Connor:
I like Mookie because of his three fingered hand when he waved with his three fingered hand.
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 8/15/2012
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 9/30/2010
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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I'm headed to Kansas to proudly accept the William Allen White Award for How to Steal a Dog.
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 10/5/2010
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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My trip to Emporia, Kansas to accept the William Allen White Book Award for How to Steal a Dog was fantastic.
The day started with a tour of the beautiful campus of Emporia State University - decorated for the occasion.
A lovely dinner the first night, when I met Cynthia Kadohata, whose book, Cracker: The Best Dog in Vietnam, won the award in the Grade 6-8 division.
Cynthia Kadohata (left) and meAfter dinner, Cindy and I went to chat with students who were attending a sleepover the night before the award ceremony. I got to meet the student who would be presenting me with my award, the lovely, adorable, funny, smart fifth grader Gracie Schmidt. Gracie presented me with a basket of HOMEMADE boiled peanuts. (She had read that one of my fond childhood memories was when my grandfather grew peanuts and my grandmother boiled them.)
Gracie Schmidt (left) and me
0 Comments on Kansas Part 1 as of 1/1/1900
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 10/12/2010
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By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 10/14/2010
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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I recently heard from a librarian in San Diego who helps run a children's book club.
After reading How to Steal a Dog, the club was inspired to brainstorm ways to help The Monarch School, a school that provides an accredited education to homeless and at-risk kids.
I'm really proud to know my work has inspired such thoughtfulness and helped focus on this dire need.
She will be blogging about it soon on her terrific blog, Libraries Matter.
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 10/18/2010
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: reviews, how to steal a dog, Add a tag
From a young reader:
If you have not read this book than you are CRAZY! If you are in 3 or 4 grade then read this book NOW!
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 1/25/2011
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: kids, how to steal a dog, letters, Add a tag
Letter from a fan of How to Steal a Dog:
I very much like your mottos also. I have mottos too. The mottos are acoonnomatata and sleep and eat. It's harder than you think. Sometimes you sleep too much you miss dinner. Sometimes you eat so much you cannot sleep. Then theres homework. Great doing business with you.
I love kids.
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 1/31/2011
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 2/1/2011
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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What better way to spend these snowy days than reading?
This 4th grader's mom sent me this fabulous photo of her daughter reading How to Steal a Dog in her snow nook:
This photo was so popular, lots of others have posted it: Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, SLJ's Bowlian Blog, School Library Journal's Photo of the Week and Robin's Roundup.
Thanks to Katarina Krek for the photo.
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 2/1/2011
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 2/8/2011
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: kids, how to steal a dog, Add a tag
I'm not sure how to answer this letter:
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 3/28/2011
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Book clubs, how to steal a dog, Add a tag
Yesterday I was invited to attend the monthly meeting of a fantastic book club (5th grade girls and one brother). They had read How to Steal a Dog.
So much fun!
They played a trivia game based on the book (and they knew more about it than I did).
They made (and gave me) terrific bookmarks.
They asked great questions.
We had such interesting discussions. (Like, if you were suddenly homeless, what few items would you take from your bedroom to keep in your car?)
Thanks, y'all!!
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Thanks Barbara!! I think we have a few budding authors in our school! You have inspired a few!