School – Almost An Author

Middle Grade Goes Back to School

Ready or not, September means it is time for heading back to school. As an adult, the phrase “back to school” triggers a spectrum of feelings and behaviors. For teachers, it signals classroom preparation season and team meetings. Parents take “back to school” time as their cue to ready school supplies, new shoes and school clothes, and meal prep.

But for the kids who read middle grade books, going back to school means far more than to-do lists and shopping. School life is a monumental part of kids’ life experience. It’s no surprise, then, that school plays a substantial part in a large number of middle grade works.

Does your work in progress involves scenes at school, about school, or reflecting about school? You may want to read a few of these middle grade titles. Each of these authors incorporate school life in different ways.

There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom! by Louis Sachar

A poignant tale of a “troubled” boy and the counselor who sees him for who he is. Sachar has a knack for revealing the inner life of a character.

Fish in a Tree by Linda Mullaly Hunt

Heart-rending depiction of struggles with dyslexia aside, Hunt builds a delightfully relatable ragtag crew of sixth grade girls.

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

The first book of this series introduces readers to seven fifth grade students in Mr. Terupt’s class who must learn how to get along despite their differences. Buyea develops authentic characters, relatable problems, and maintains an engaging pace.

As a new school year begins, I cannot help but wonder whether the effects of a certain virus might linger in how kids experience school. Will we read stories whose main characters wear matching face shields? Will plexiglass dividers be incorporated into epic cafeteria food fight scenes? Time will tell.

Kell McKinney earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in documentary studies from the University of North Texas. She’s a part-time copywriter, double-time mom and wife, and spends every free minute writing and/or hunting for her car keys. Connect with her on Twitter @Kell_McK or kellmckinney.com.

Five Ways to Balance School and Writing-Caroline Hadley

Being a teenager is hard. Especially a teenager striving to be a published author. It’s stressful finding time to write. When I’m stressed, I talk myself through the anxiety – aloud. After these steps to balancing school and writing, I sound much less crazy. I hope they help you keep your sanity, too.

I use the following steps to balance school and writing, I sound less crazy. I hope they help you keep your sanity, too.

Pray. Every morning I pray. I ask God for time to write and if I should write for a career. I ask Him to infuse my words with His power and sneak ideas into the work. Matthew 7:7-8 says when we ask we will receive. God will give you time to write if you ask and if it’s in His will.
Prioritize. God comes first and school comes before your work-in-progress. However, decide what writing means to you. Is it something to do for fun? To make a career out of? Is it worth the time and effort you put in? I make writing a priority by reassessing what it means to me or by turning it into an extra credit opportunity with my teacher’s permission. [bctt tweet=”Turn writing into an extra credit opportunity” username=””]
Schedule Wisely. We don’t have all day to write, so we must manage our time carefully. Throughout the day, I create a list of tasks I must complete and use it to plan my free time during and after school. Next, I carve writing sessions from that schedule. I place sessions within study halls and lunches or at home if I use those times to do homework. Your sessions can be short, maybe ten to fifteen minutes, but they help. Word sprints are a great way to utilize time. Write as fast as you can without stopping. Brainstorm on the bus, between classes, in bed at night, or during class when you’re bored out of your mind. When life gets hard, think about your story instead.
Sacrifice. Students must choose between hanging with friends and writing. I feel like a recluse because I often choose to be with my work-in-progress rather than my friends at the movie theater. But when I’m too stressed or need family time, I enjoy being with the people I love. Decide when to cancel or cut plans short. If you feel social but need to write, find some book-loving buddies and go to a library or a cafe with them to write.
Give Yourself Grace. Being a student is hard. People expect perfection of us and we expect it of ourselves. Perfection is impossible. If you have too much homework or need downtime, don’t beat yourself up for missing a writing session. Writing is important, but not as important as your well-being. If it overwhelms you, take a break.

After praying, prioritizing, scheduling, deciding when to sacrifice, and giving myself grace, I make time to write during the school year. With the help of God and these steps, you can, too.

How do you balance school and writing? If you don’t know if God wants you to write for a career, send me a prayer request!

Caroline Hadley writes young adult Christian speculative fiction to help other teens feel God’s love in a meaningful way. She has won a Silver Key and a national Gold Key for her short stories in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Currently, she is adapting one of those stories into a novel. She is involved in a teen writing group at her local library and is working for her high school literary magazine. She enjoys maintaining a healthy lifestyle, reading, and being with her family. If you want to connect with her and chat, visit her blog, jarsofwords.blogspot.com.