Reader.Writer.Reader.Writer.Reader.Writer

“I could write 100 essays! Which one is right for your book?”

An author responded to our Call for Submissions with this (paraphrased) question: Here is some information about me and my two kids with ADHD. Given this overview, what topic or angle should I focus an essay on in order to make it a good fit for your anthology?

Here’s my answer:

1) Choose a fairly narrow topic. Even though we didn’t state a word-count limit, by the time you set the stage, tell your story, and bring your point home with a great concluding paragraph or sentence, you’ll have yourself an essay.

2) Choose a topic that conveys something unique about your family/situation, but with an element that other parents are sure to relate to. For example, the individual who posed this question stated that both of her children are brilliant. The way their ADHD impacts their ability to apply/take advantage of that brilliance might be a great focus for an essay. The children’s unusually high levels of intelligence is the unique aspect of the author’s situation, but many parents of kids with ADHD will relate to wondering what if…? How might our children’s lives (choices, successes, failures, opportunities) be different (better? worse?) without ADHD?

3) Read the Call for Submissions several times, looking for key words, and let those key words guide you.

4) We plan to group essays into sections based upon as yet unknown similarities of theme. Those groupings will reveal themselves as essays trickle (or flood!) in. It’s too early to know the various topics we’ll receive essays about, and where the holes will be. As our submission deadline draws nearer we’ll have a better idea of niches that need filling.

5) Still having trouble chosing a focus? Remember, you may chose to submit more than one essay!

Good luck in finding the perfect angle for your essay, and above all, enjoy the writing process!

Kay

Powerful new must-read book: The Boy from Baby House 10, by Alan Philps and John Lahutsky

Although my review of this book for Adoptive Families magazine will appear in the January/February issue, I couldn’t wait that long to recommend this powerful book. Anyone with an interest in international adoption will be intrigued by this, the true story of Vanya, a boy living in an orphanage in Russia. Because he was born “imperfect”, he’s judged unworthy of any care beyond what it takes to keep his body alive. No one cares about his mind, his emotions, his soul–until he catches the attention of a foreign visitor. That chance meeting is the beginning of a tenous support system, and a chain of events leading to his eventual adoption.

We were only allowed to see a couple of rooms in the orphanage where our daughter, Natalie, spent two of her formative years. But, the routines and caretaker attitudes described in this book took me right back to that cold, old, building. The details of Vanya’s orphanage life go a long way toward explaining the delays Natalie experienced. It’s heartbreaking to think about.

So why dwell in the past? Why put myself through reading this book? Why recommend it to others, especially those with no ties to international adoption? Because thousands of kids still live in orphanages in Russia, and in other countries, and the world should understand what that’s like.

Not all of us can adopt a child from an orphange. But all of us can help. I’m working with some local moms to start an Iowa Chapter of Gift of Adoption Fund, a non-profit group that helps families afford the cost of adopting. Visit http://www.firstgiving.com/krispeters to see just how easy it is to help.

I’ll add a link to my official review of this book as soon as it’s available online. In the meantime, read this book–this call to action. Then act. Everyone can help.

Read with me!

Act with me!

Kay

A book contract! I like the sound of that!

When I quit working outside the home back in March, I had no idea that before 6 months had passed, I’d be signing a contract with a publisher to compile and edit a book of essays. (Warning: Trite expletives ahead: It was meant to be! It’s a dream come true!)

Besides being one more fact I can point to when trying to convince myself, and when telling others, that, yes, I am a “real” writer (I still need convincing!) it’s fun to have a new project to work on. I thrive on creative projects, especially those that demand organization skills. Kind of weird, since no one would accuse me of being organized at home. I guess organizing bills and throwing away junk mail isn’t as much fun, and doesn’t produce a satisfying end product, like my favorite kinds of projects do.

This book project, an anthology of essays written by parents of kids with ADHD or kids who, for whatever reason, behave in ways that present challenges to their parents, is definitely my kind of project. I didn’t even wait to sign the contract before I got started–I already did a throrough market comparison, wrote the Call for Submissions, and started a long list of venues for placing the Call.

I ran into my former boss, Lynne Carey, the other day, and she’d heard my good news through the workplace grapevine. She congratulated me. “You know how I love having a project!” I said. If anyone on the planet understands my affinity for creative projects, it’s Lynne. I drove her nuts for 9 years with a steady stream of ideas for things I wanted to do, but that ultimately created work for her too.

Well, now it’s Adrienne Ehlert Bashista of DRT Press that has to put up with me! Luckily, I get the feeling Adrienne works a lot like I do. I think we’ll get along just fine.

Watch for more info, and that Call for Submissions, soon!

Read with me; write with me!

Kay