When I
visit schools, kids (and their teachers) often seem stunned by how much time it
takes to create a book and how many people are involved in the process. So when
No Monkeys, No Chocolate was released in August 2013, I
decided to create a Revision Timeline
on my website.
The timeline documents
the book’s 10-year journey from inspiration to publication and includes twelve
videos (including one from my editor), four downloadable manuscripts (three of
which were rejected), and sample sketches from illustrator Nicole Wong. Here’s a picture of how I set up my office while filming the videos. I set the camera on top of all those books.
the book’s 10-year journey from inspiration to publication and includes twelve
videos (including one from my editor), four downloadable manuscripts (three of
which were rejected), and sample sketches from illustrator Nicole Wong. Here’s a picture of how I set up my office while filming the videos. I set the camera on top of all those books.
Students can view all
the videos on the timeline in about 15 minutes and get the message “Professional
writers revise—a lot.” loud and clear. In other words, kids shouldn’t balk at
the idea of revising their writing assignments a few times. They should
understand that it’s a natural part of the writing process. Just like practicing
a musical instrument or going to soccer practice.
For a
more powerful lesson, they can print out the four manuscripts and do
text-to-text comparisons. This will show them that very little of the initial
draft remains in the final manuscript, but the core idea—that living things are
dependent on one another—is present in every single draft. It didn’t change
because wanting to share that concept with young readers was my purpose for
writing the book, and my determination to do so kept me motivated for 10 long
years.
more powerful lesson, they can print out the four manuscripts and do
text-to-text comparisons. This will show them that very little of the initial
draft remains in the final manuscript, but the core idea—that living things are
dependent on one another—is present in every single draft. It didn’t change
because wanting to share that concept with young readers was my purpose for
writing the book, and my determination to do so kept me motivated for 10 long
years.
I’m so
delighted with the response the timeline has received from classroom teachers,
teacher-librarians, literacy coaches, and curriculum coordinators. All kinds of
educators love it.
delighted with the response the timeline has received from classroom teachers,
teacher-librarians, literacy coaches, and curriculum coordinators. All kinds of
educators love it.
We’ve all heard the expression: show don’t tell.
That’s exactly what this timeline does.
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