For the next ten days, I'm going to share the experience I am about to have with Highlights Foundation to bring awareness of this great organization that serves writers.
In 2002 I was introduced to wonderful Highlights Foundation when I was given a scholarship to attend their Chautauqua Writing workshops for a week in nostalgic Chautauqua NY. Our family had fallen on serious hard times with my husband's company closing their doors, claiming bankruptcy, and throwing us in to immense debt after sending him on a trip to work in Europe. Then I had to have a rather hard surgery, and experienced hard complications so after being taken by ambulance late one night, had a second surgery to redo stitches. Third (they say they come in threes) when my doctor gave me the green light to be up and moving, he told David to take me to a movie and that night our car was stolen from the parking lot. Little did I know all three things were blessings.
Not able to move much, with my fast paced Mom life slowed, I grew weary of television, movies, books, and turned to my childhood love of writing for entertainment. I wrote two stories, and realized they were actually pretty good, got bold, and prepared them, and asked my children to mail them for me to the Friend. Both were accepted in a quick turn around. Just days later I was holding two contracts. I was astonished and astonished by the feelings I was having. Something just happened here.
Highlights Foundation (Not the magazine, but the part of Highlights that builds writers) sent me something called "The Chautauqua Report." This was a copy of all the talks that were given by the renowned authors, editors, publishers that had come to their workshops the year before. The more I read, the more my, sponge like, desire to write soaked it up. I felt that I should Highlights to learn more. I was told to apply for the scholarship, even if I didn't think I'd qualify. I drew a breath afraid of failing and did, sending as my writing sample, a little story I called, "Rocking Chair Time."
I had no idea then what was involved. Since then, I've been privileged to serve Highlights in reading the pile of manuscripts sent in for scholarship/ grant consideration, and I am still so amazed that I was one of a number chosen, having seen for myself the level of writing I see when I get to share in that process.
While I had Highlights on the phone, I also asked about The Institute of Children's Literature. I'd taken their test years before, and somehow, even when I'd move they'd find me. We'd been scammed by a vacation company once, so I am not going to be scammed again. I learned that the Institute of Children's Literature, was not a phishing game, but is truly, not only reputable, but highly respectable, and many of Highlights Writers come from that Program--me now included.
Long Story Shortened my husband knew my passion and told me we would replace the car with something used and that the teens could drive, get himself a motorcycle, and with the rest of the ins. money he wanted to send me to the Institute to improve my writing and teach me to create. He added he'd give me Chautauqua if he could, but we just couldn't afford that.--Then, surprisingly, I did get a scholarship, bu was short $800. What was interesting is that is the amount that was left after the car, after the motorcycle, and after enrolling at the Institute of Children's Literature. David gave me the money and said I needed to go. I found myself in Chautauqua, a scared newbie, well cared for by Highlight's Foundation. That week I wrote my first book, Super Sam. My reader that week was darling Emily Mitchell, then assistant editor at Charlesbridge Publishing, and Charlesbridge published it in 2004. It was Emily's first acquisition and my first ever picture book. The experience in Chautauqua learning from the best changed my life and my direction in life, at that point I knew I was reborn, a writer, and my life could never be that same.
Today, The Foundation no longer holds their workshops in Chautauqua, but in Boyds Mills, on the Meyers Family Homestead here in Pennsylvania, where the Highlight's dream, that has served generations of children, was created. For years the Meyers (now passed) legacy has lived on in the very home where writers have gathered for workshops and learning with their esteemed mentors. The Meyers dining table has hosted hundreds of greats like Jane Yolen, Joy Cowley, Jerry and Eileen Spinelli, and many more. I, myself, have been privileged to lead workshops here, and it been beautiful to envision the Meyers children at play in the fields or Mrs. Meyers at the stove being a guest in their family home. Kent Brown, Grandson of Gary Meyers, along with the family, has kept this good going and growing.
Today the Founders Home sits quietly in sight while a newly built edifice buzzes. The barn is a large conference center, which now takes the place for Chautauqua, making these workshops, conferences, and retreats more affordable and accessible to more. Workshops for children's writers and illustrators are spread over the year, meeting all genre and interest needs. Professional faculty create workshops and opportunities to hone writer skills and learn what the industry currently wants.
Writers are cocooned in their cabins of serenity, and the writing energy is magic here.
So, What I am I doing here this round? I've been invited to a short workshop just before mine to sit in and learn about writing for religious and inspirational markets. My friend Kristi Holl is teaching "Sharing Our Hope." I met Kristi at that first Chautauqua I went to. She is gifted, a writing giantess, a retired teacher at the Institute of Children's Literature, and a beautiful person. In a world where edgy is in, I'm very much looking forward to her light, in wisdom about writing around the challenging popular edgy market.
Then, my friend and editor Kim Griswell and I have been teamed up to assist at a non workshop- pure writer retreat to be go-to girls when the writers here need help with the projects they are working on. We'll have professional visitors and after dinner discussions/ writing exercises to get the group charged and united getting to know each other. One on ones is something I really love, and I hope to be busy giving back what I've learned from the Foundation to Foundation writers that are here seeking wisdom. I'm excited for the stories I'll read and the time I'll get to spend helping with writing humps. There's nothing greater than to see a writer's eyes widen and a smile burst forth after a trouble spot disappears. Sometimes that's even followed by a hug because there's so much happy energy that has to go somewhere--then they're off writing again and share the finished product which can and has had me in awe. I've even set up meetings with my editor at Boyds Mills- and gotten a surprise in the mail when the book we worked on years later was published. That's the best!
It doesn't always work that way, and honestly, it's not what I hope for. My goal here is to give my all to writers so they can have a life changing experience. Whether it's giving them something new in truths that improve their creative process. Whether it's building confidence and helping them beyond the fear of failure or of visibility in the spotlight, whether it's turning the manuscript into something ready for submission. At Highlights Foundation we work with the individual trying to get them to that next level of wherever they are and beyond. All needs are different, and all writers are at different places in the journey.
For me, I'm just grateful to be able to continue to grow in the workshop that starts tonight and to have the opportunity to give back tomorrow.
My writing life is beyond sweet, especially here, where I was reborn, a writer.
