The Accidental Author

[osprey_archer]

So you may remember that I started writing a story for one of my first graders, about the adventures of Princess Rose.

And then I ran out of passages to read with my third grader, so I decided to adapt Princess Rose for her reading level. After all, what's not to love? Trolls! Dragons! Seven-league boots! Princess-eating snakes!

(“You’ll be the first princess I’ve eaten," said the snake. "I hope princesses taste as ssscrumptious as knights.”

“Oh no,” Princess Rose told him. “Princesses taste terrible. We taste like green beans and peas and other awful things.”)

And...it's morphed into a children's chapter book, the very slender kind intended for second and third graders. About 5,500 words now; I'm thinking it will be around 6,000 when I'm done.

I've written a book! A children's book! My ten-year-old self would be so proud.

Comments

[bogwitch64.livejournal.com]

(http://www.tilazone.com/clipart/glitter.asp)

That's really fantastic! Many children are going to enjoy your work.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I hope so! I really think that once I put the finishing touches on this one, it will be worth sending out to try to find an agent/publisher.

[ladyherenya]

This is awesome! I hope your students are enjoying the story.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

They seem to be! My third grader has started reading with expression, especially the dialogue, which I think is a sign that she's getting into it.

My best "reading with expression" story, however, has to be this one first grader who I work with. I've been writing a cowboy story for him, and though he's the lowest level reader I work with, you wouldn't know it from the enthusiasm with which he reads the words he knows. He can make the word big sound really, really BIG.

[anait.livejournal.com]

That's so fantastic!!!

Way to go! YOU ROCK!!

I think your students would be really proud of you too, if they knew what they'd inspired. :)

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

If I get it published, I'll dedicate it to them. If they're still at the same school I'll send them copies, too. :)

[anait.livejournal.com]

:D :D :D