tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post5327618261699022499..comments2024-01-28T05:49:46.861-05:00Comments on Janet Sumner Johnson: Writing for Middle GradersJanet Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12688012956157161889noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-23574241395798506952014-01-26T14:41:29.584-05:002014-01-26T14:41:29.584-05:00How cool that your son got a Kindle and how awesom...How cool that your son got a Kindle and how awesome that he loves to read! I was always so happy that my son loved to read as well. :) <br /><br />My goal is to always write the very best story I can and to never stop learning about the craft. :)Kimberlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17323788304469008867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-16859176066079231622014-01-23T18:56:45.800-05:002014-01-23T18:56:45.800-05:00Middle graders want to know what happens in the st...Middle graders want to know what happens in the story. If you give them a plot they love, many will not be discerning enough to look beyond that. Still, they're experiencing the writing itself even before they realize it, and they'll gradually awaken to the importance of better writing, I believe, especially if they're such enthusiastic readers. I, as a writer, want to be there with "my best prose on" when that happens, so that means I need to be there "with my best prose on" from the start.Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-55189276149157636432014-01-23T14:09:53.002-05:002014-01-23T14:09:53.002-05:00I have to conclude that it's not. When I consi...I have to conclude that it's not. When I consider the power of a book--a well-written book--how can I settle for anything less than my best? And it's not just about getting it right for the reader. I have never seen another write capture this feeling quite so perfectly as you have here: "The writing/revising of a book is a transcendent experience that I believe makes me better as a person. I learn to find empathy for the vilest of villains. I learn to consider ideas from all different points of view. I learn what's important to me, and I solidify my beliefs as I spend hours and hours with my characters and their views."<br /><br />And yet, your son's experience with this less-than-polished book is kind of an eye-opener too. But I definitely agree, I want to write a story that keeps people thinking after they have closed the pages. Margo Berendsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476308235642890474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-28745730800498834262014-01-23T12:43:27.357-05:002014-01-23T12:43:27.357-05:00So glad to hear that your son is enjoying his Kind...So glad to hear that your son is enjoying his Kindle. I hope he continues to find lots of wonderful books to read. Reading a good book can take the reader on so many wonderful adventures. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-35035885278477952612014-01-22T17:09:23.291-05:002014-01-22T17:09:23.291-05:00I'm glad that I had all those years of rejecti...I'm glad that I had all those years of rejections. It made my writing better because of it. If I wanted agents to notice me (in a good way), I had to learn to become a stronger writer. That's still my goal, because we should never stop wanting that, but my new goal is to write stories that touch people's hearts and make them think. Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-36737922937319785812014-01-21T21:35:29.347-05:002014-01-21T21:35:29.347-05:00I bet this is fun for your son and mom both. I &qu...I bet this is fun for your son and mom both. I "borrow" the kids' kindles when they are asleep or at school--they are great for a convenient quick read. Slamdunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13087161268629251860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-24092712103982026342014-01-21T18:42:03.708-05:002014-01-21T18:42:03.708-05:00"The writing/revising of a book is a transcen..."The writing/revising of a book is a transcendent experience that I believe makes me better as a person." <br /><br />I love this! I honestly believe that I'm a better person for having learned to accept that my work needs revision, that my first idea did not work, that sometimes I have to let go of words I'm really, really fond of - for the good of the story.<br /><br />I'm glad your son is loving his Kindle. Hopefully he knows how to get a free sample of the book to try out before he commits his gift card money to it!Dianne K. Salernihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16459839567235304842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-58003000094107437562014-01-21T17:17:59.778-05:002014-01-21T17:17:59.778-05:00Hear! Hear! Janet! You said it perfectly!Hear! Hear! Janet! You said it perfectly!Susanna Leonard Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17655630528649780363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-87976090425756147172014-01-21T12:38:47.738-05:002014-01-21T12:38:47.738-05:00Hahaha, power to the kid!! YEAH! Just goes to show...Hahaha, power to the kid!! YEAH! Just goes to show, doesn't it Janet?<br /><br />I want to make kids laugh. I want them to giggle and for the older ones, I want to instill a love of reading. You can go anywhere, be anyone, through the books we read. Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-70756344059300264382014-01-21T11:30:04.302-05:002014-01-21T11:30:04.302-05:00You're right about kids not being so discernin...You're right about kids not being so discerning. After all it's mostly adults who write the reviews (which is wonderful)but if we're writing for kids, isn't really their input we'd like to have?<br /><br />I'm glad your son is liking his Kindle! May he have many pleasant hours of reading.Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3902531908845941139.post-55655486059344815502014-01-21T08:45:30.966-05:002014-01-21T08:45:30.966-05:00We writers(for the most part) definitely expect th...We writers(for the most part) definitely expect the best from ourselves. Though some days it would be a lot easier to slap some words on the page and be like- That's fantastic, all done! =)Lol! Glad your son is enjoying his Kindle. I own a Nook, but they have a feature where you can sign up for daily emails that let you know what their specials are. I got Maggie Steifvater's The Scorpio Races for a 1.99 one time! Does Kindle have any sort of emails like that? Leandra Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00381034024025750992noreply@blogger.com