A TeachingAuthor's StudentTeachers Thanku

I conclude each of my Writing Workshops with my sincere thanks.
“Thank you,” I say, “for the privilege of sharing my love of writing and All Things Children’s Book so I could help you tell your good stories well.”

And because my Newberry Library and University of Chicago Writer’s Studio students teach me as much (if not more!) than I teach them –

about writing for children and the writing process,
about our Children’s Book Community,
our literature,
ourselves,
“Thank you too,” I add, “for all you’ve taught me.”

This time around, though, my ten lovely and talented Fall Newberry Library Picture Book Workshop students did more than teach me.

They re-connected me to the long-ago Beginning Writer I once was -
the Wannabe who voraciously read through library and bookstore shelves,
who hungrily soaked up how-to advice,
who greedily gobbled up anyone’s words to help realize her long-held Dream.

                       Morgue Files/Imelenchon/ IMS00268

For the past six weeks, while doing my best to seed and feed my Newberry picture book writers so they would grow and bear fruit, so to speak, I inhaled their Newness –

their wonder,
their drive,
their earnestness,
their fears and doubts,
their hesitation,  
and once again I was “new” too.

My Newberry “New Berries” not only fed me.

They juiced my batteries.
I remain ever grateful.

So,

Thanku to My Ten Fall 2013 Chicago Newberry Library Students*

     My delicious class -   

                 a bounty of new berries,
                 each ripe with story!

*Beth Carey, Dee Conomy, Anne Dutro, Debby Edwards, Maureen Kanefield, Carol Kerman, Barbara McClure, Patricia Mided, Laura Mills and Hana Yoo

Happy Thanks-giving to my newest crop of writers and our TeachingAuthors readers!

Hip! Hip! Hooray! for Gratitude.

 

Esther Hershenhorn

P.S.
Please join my fellow bloggers for the next two weeks as we write Thanku’s – and – celebrate American Education Week.
Poetically honoring someone who made a difference in your Life, mind-expanding or otherwise, is good for the heart.
It’s also easy-peasy.  :)