Views From the Highlights Foundation Lodge : Kathryn Erskine

 

Today, I heard Kathryn Erskine speak about authentic voice as a writer at Highlights Foundation 2016 Summer Camp.

Not a bad way to start a morning as an inspiring children’s book writer.

My takeaways from the morning: always have a talisman when writing.

Mine will be the Word and my Cross.

Next, she spoke about how our characters need to be real people that stick with you after you read a story: memorable and authentic.

Then she spoke about voice. Your writing resides in your heart and gut.

She also spoke about the importance of remembering your childhood. Your shoes, your bedroom. What it was like.

I think another important point she shared involved: reading your writing out loud to make sure it has a natural flow.

When dreaming up your setting, draw it out. Create a map. If it is a real place and you can physically take the journey to the place and walk around. She also spoke on using all five senses and really taking your reader to the place.

The most important part of writing it to bare one’s soul.

Then focus: write the summary of your story in one sentence and make sure all of it aligns with it so that your story does not meander into areas that do not make sense.

The final take away:  Be Yourself.

 

KATHRYN ERSKINE

Kathy spent fifteen years as a lawyer before turning to her first love: writing. She was lucky to work with Patricia Gauch and her debut novel, Quaking, was one of YALSA’s Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. Her novel Mockingbird won the 2010 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, and her other novels includeThe Absolute Value of Mike, a Crystal Kite winner, Seeing Red, a Jane Addams Award honor book, and The Badger Knight which published in fall 2014. Kathy has lived all over the world, from The Netherlands—where she was born—to Israel, South Africa, Scotland, Canada, and the United States. Her life has been filled with rich experiences, from a Hogwarts-like boarding school (minus the magic) to the African bush (complete with lions) to an ice-filled harbor.

Read more about Kathy at www.kathrynerskine.com.

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