|
|
|
In honor of National Poetry Month, The Edge of the Forest talks with
children's writer and poet, Heidi Roemer, about her writer’s life.
The Edge of the Forest: Heidi, thanks for agreeing to talk with The Edge of the Forest for our new A Day in the Life
series. To begin with, please tell us about the type of writing you do and how long you’ve been doing it.
Heidi: I enjoy writing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children. I began writing seriously in 1991 when my two
boys were little tykes.
The Edge of the Forest: What drew you to children's writing, particularly poetry?
Heidi: It was while reading aloud to my boys that I rediscovered my love for children’s stories. I found myself
reading kid’s materials whether my boys were snuggled in my lap or not. Babybug and Ladybug magazines
featured engaging poems for the littlest ones. Delighted by their simplicity and charm, I began writing poetry with this
market in mind. I write because there is a part of me that never quite grew up!
The Edge of the Forest: Tell us about a typical writing day. When do you write? How often? And how does this
schedule inform your creative process?
Heidi: It may be more helpful to tell you about my “ideal” writing day, because a “typical” writing day is fraught
with interruptions, errands, housework, etc. (Grin.) An ideal writing day begins with an hour or so at the gym to work out
my wiggles. This allows me to be a guilt-free, nose-to-the-grindstone, office-chair-potato for the next several hours. I’m
in my office by 9 a.m. Lunch is a quick salad or can of soup and I work until dinner. It’s amazing how the hours fly when
you’re in the “zombie writing zone.” I used to be in this routine four days a week or more. It’s such a joy! However, I’ve
slipped considerably since I began to teach workshops and do frequent school visits.
The Edge of the Forest: A number of writers I know work in a study. A few prefer curling up with a notepad on the
sofa. Others prefer penning their stories in a busy café with a bottomless cup of coffee. Describe your workspace. What
craft books are the most dog-eared. Where do you write and why?
Heidi: In many ways, I’m like an average 3th grader—antsy and easily distracted. I find it nearly impossible to write
in public. Instead, I prefer writing at my desk in my quiet, windowless office surrounded by my reference books. Even then,
I’m distracted by dirty dishes, unfolded laundry and, zip—look! A dragonfly landed on my computer screen! What was your
question?
The Edge of the Forest: Some writers work in long hand. Others work exclusively on a personal computer. How do you
work? How does this technique inform your creative process?
Heidi: Because my muse often ignites when I’m grocery shopping, waiting at a red light, in the shower, or just about
to fall asleep, my initial writings are usually hastily jotted on the backs of envelopes or grocery lists. I take these
scribbles to my office, try to decode them, and transfer them into a spiral notebook. (Or, if rushed, I’ll toss the scrap of
paper into a box to review later.) I’ll write by hand until I hit a geyser. When the ideas start gushing and my handwriting
becomes ridiculous, I switch to the keyboard because I can type almost as fast as I think.
The Edge of the Forest: Some writers write for very personal reasons. Some write to make sense of the world. Others
feel the need to share their joy of language with young readers. Why do you write?
Heidi: I had a loving and happy childhood, but many children these days don’t have a safe, secure, supportive home
life. Others face loss or sickness. When I write, I try to express a simple joy that will make my young readers smile and
give them hope. I love to incorporate delightful language, word play, and humor in my writing.
The Edge of the Forest: Writers find inspiration in many places. Who or what inspires you?
Heidi: Any oddball thing can become an inspiration: an encounter with a child, adult, or animal, an illustration, a
nonfiction book, a sentence from a news article, an old postcard, a personal experience, a T.V. commercial, an ordinary
object, a song, an observation, a memory… When my inspiration runs dry, I know how to jumpstart it! I head for the library
and gather a stack of children’s books and magazines. Immersing myself in the child’s world often gooses my muse and
triggers ideas for fresh new stories and poems.
The Edge of the Forest: Let’s talk about books. How often do you read, and what types of books do you prefer?
Heidi: When I’m not busy doing school visits or offering classes, I get new reading materials from the library every
week or every other week. I try to read the award winning books first. Poetry books are my strongest draw, as I’ve become
familiar with many talented children’s poets. I also like to sample a wide variety of genres: mystery, historical fiction,
nonfiction, etc. Actually, it’s easier to tell you what I don’t like: I’m not a big fan of horror or medieval fantasy.
The Edge of the Forest: Do you have a favorite growing up book?
Heidi: How can I pick just one? I loved so many: Black, The Pony, Pippi Longstocking, The
Enormous Egg, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, and anything by Beverly Cleary. As an adult, I’ve come to love
Patricia MacLaughlan’s Sarah Plain and Tall. Just read the first page! I’d love to write like that. Sara’s gripping
opening chapter contains both heartache and humor. It’s an easy read and one of those books you just can’t put down.
The Edge of the Forest: What’s your current read?
Heidi: I’m rereading a book I enjoy very much but would never have the nerve to write myself—Esme Codell’s
Sing a Song of Tuna Fish: Hard to Swallow Stories from the Fifth Grade. It’s wacky, sassy, and funny.
The Edge of the Forest: Time to role play. You’re sent to a remote retreat in the mountains for a year, and allowed
to take one book with you. What book would you take and why?
Heidi: I’d love to take any collection by Billy Collins, perhaps The Trouble with Poetry: And Other Poems,
as I haven’t yet read it.
The Edge of the Forest: In honor of National Poetry Month, do you have a favorite poem to share with us?
Short, simple, profound…
Taste It
By Mark Strand
Ink runs from the corners of my mouth.
There is no happiness like mine.
I have been eating poetry.
The Edge of the Forest: What advice would you like to give to aspiring writers?
Heidi: Read. Make it your goal to read a certain number of books in your genre every week. Also, read books on the
craft of writing and/or poetry. Immerse yourself in the works of great writers. Newbery Award-winning author Linda Sue Park
wrote that she once heard an editor say, "‘Read a thousand books of the genre you're interested in. THEN write yours.’"
Study. Take college writing courses. There are many on-line and long-distance writing courses available. Attend writers’
meetings and conferences and learn how to hone your writing skills. You can be self-taught and succeed!
Join a Critique group. Find a group of dedicated writers who give firm but gentle feedback. Ask your local librarian if she
knows of a group or contact. Identify your writing nitch and find a corresponding group or organization. For example, if
you’re a children’s writer, check out the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators; mystery writers can meet other
mystery writers by attending programs hosted by Mystery Writers of America, and so on.
Revise. Don’t believe for a minute that your first or second or even third draft is “good enough” to get published!
Revision is a huge part of writing professionally. Learn to embrace it! William J. Kennedy, author of Ironweed,
said it often takes him "thirty pages or more of false starts, dead-ends, and revisions" before he writes one page that
meets his literary standards. He also said, "a dozen drafts are not uncommon." I write that as encouragement, but now that
I've shared it with you, I'm not sure if that sounds as positive as I first thought! (Grin.)
Submit. Submit only your best work and keep it in circulation. Once you mail your submission, forget about it for three
months (the minimum time needed to get a response), and move on! Focus on a new story, article, or poem—and send it out, too.
The more submissions you have in circulation, the better your chances of getting published.
The Edge of the Forest: Any words of wisdom about rejections?
Rejections. Understand that it’s rare for a writer to sell his story the first time he submits it. Rejection letters are as
common to a writer as fleas to a dog—and about as annoying. But it’s part of the business. Some writers get discouraged and
give up. Don’t take a rejection letter personally! Just keep learning the craft and plugging away. If the first publisher
rejects your story, send it to your second choice publisher.
The Edge of the Forest: Anything else you want to add?
Heidi: Don’t decide to become a writer because you want to a) become famous or b) get rich. Few attain those goals.
Being a writer is not “easy.” It’s hard work interspersed with rejection and long periods of waiting-waiting-waiting for
replies. Reality check: The average author still must find ways other than writing to supplement his income and pay his
bills.
But if writing is your passion, don’t hesitate to plunge in. If you’re willing to learn the craft, study the market, and can
tolerate the slow, creaky inner workings of the publishing world, eventually you’ll become a better writer. And if your
brilliant manuscript lands on the right editor’s desk at the right time, you may also get published!
About Heidi:
Heidi was first published in 1996 with a modest sale to a children's Sunday school paper. Today she is the author of
three books: All Aboard for Zippity Zoo (Weiser, 1999), Come to My Party (Holt, 2004), and What Kinds
of Seeds are These? (NorthWord, 2006). Her poetry appears in many anthologies, including several compiled by Lee
Bennett Hopkins. Heidi has sold over three hundred stories, poems, and articles to a variety of children's magazines.
Heidi joined The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in 1992 and became an Assistant Regional Advisor for
Illinois in 2001. Offering local workshops and a correspondence poetry course for adult writers, Heidi is also an
instructor for the Institute of Children's Literature, a college credited course for adults who want to write for children.
A frequent writer-in-residence for Chicago Public Schools, Heidi enjoys school visits and library talks. She lives in
Chicago's suburbs with her husband Ric, and college-age sons, Brandon and Colin.
Heidi’s work can also be found in:
America at War (forthcoming 2008) anthology
A Day in School (forthcoming 2008)anthology
Sky Magic (forthcoming 2008) anthology
Behind the Museum Door (forthcoming 2007) anthology
Scott Foresman's Read Aloud, Grade 1 (2005) anthology
Valentine Hearts (2005) anthology
Wonderful Words (2004) anthology
A Pet for Me (2003) anthology
Holiday & Seasonal Celebrations: PK-8 (2002) anthology
Holiday & Seasonal Celebrations: Gr. 1-3(2002) anthology
Phonics Through Poetry (1998) anthology
|
| |
|
|