Returning to School
J. Kelley Carlson April 28, 2008
I remember English Composition 101 well. It was there that I discovered I could write material worth reading. That might not have been so strange if I hadn’t been 41 years old at the time and had not been inside a classroom for twenty years. I owe many thanks to the school superintendent for forcing my return to school.
In 1988 the superintendent decided that the nurses working for the school system should have a four-year degree. I had graduated from a three-year diploma nursing program in 1968. So balancing a full-time job and a semi-full college schedule, I returned to school. Although I felt like quitting many times, the six years between starting and finishing allowed me to see the world through the eyes of my much younger classmates and proved to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
I took as many writing classes as possible including journalism, but after graduation, I went back to housework, nursing, and spending time with my family. Writing took a back seat to everything else. Then my youngest son decided he wanted to write for children and sent for information about the Institute for Children’s Literature. In the few days it took for the material to arrive, he had changed his mind. I studied the material and decided to take the test.
Not long after being accepted, I started the program and discovered how complicated writing for children could be. The course and my instructor gave me encouragement and the skills to write successfully. I will be forever grateful to my indecisive son.
In January 2004, I took a deep breath, steadied my shaking hand and addressed an envelope to HIGHLIGHTS for Children. They say that the first time is the hardest. That’s definitely true for submitting your work. It’s like putting your soul out there for all to see and criticize. The editor rejected the story, but offered encouragement. Even though the rejection hurt, the pain was softened by the kind words. Over the next two years, I found that not all editors were so kind. Most often the rejection arrived as a form letter. By the time I received my first acceptance, disappointment had become a frequent visitor. In spite of this, I began to expand a story I had written for one of the ICL lessons. I thought it would make an interesting book. Before I had gotten very far with the project, I became discouraged and stopped working on it.
“Playing Possum”, a factual, short story, appeared in a Sunday School lesson leaflet in 2005. I was a published writer! With this new confidence boost, I decided to finish the book. New ideas exploded in my mind, careening off one another, constantly multiplying and building. It would be a snap to turn this story into a novel. But, alas, the process was not to be easy or fast.
I joined an on-line critique group, attended the 2005 Highlights Foundation Writer’s Conference, and presented my story to a small group of writers during a workshop. The criticisms often wounded my sensitive writer’s ego, but looking back, I realize that I had to go through that pain to produce a viable story. The on-line critique group helped me more than anything else did. The members critiqued honestly, but for every negative statement, there was a positive statement. Their suggestions were thoughtful and pointed out errors in story flow, factual information, and grammatical errors.
The title, Freeing Golden Eagle, appeared as if out of nowhere. The opening proved to be more difficult. I loved the first chapter I wrote, but, after much consideration, decided it was not the best starting point. I saved that scene and used it later in the book. The first chapter ended up being the last one written. The basic situations, a family in quiet turmoil, a teen in trouble, and the importance of mentors in a young person’s life, touch me deeply. So deeply that at times writing the story proved difficult. After three years of writing and revising, I finished the book. After breathing a huge sigh of relief, I started looking for a publisher.
I researched various publishers and found several that looked like a good fit. While checking out traditional publishers, I also investigated the possibility of self-publishing. In the end, I decided to go with self-publishing and have never regretted this decision. I have learned so much through the process. The finished product really belongs to the writer. After writing the book, you have the fun of choosing the font, the layout, the cover, the price, and the seller’s discount. You also discover various ways of promoting your book.
Freeing Golden Eagle entered the market in mid-October 2007. I have visited public libraries, schools, independent bookstores, and gift shops, have been interviewed by local papers, set up speaking engagements with teachers and with students, will be doing a book signing, and will present the book at the Virginia Festival of the Book. Outskirts Press will be taking Freeing Golden Eagle on a tour of international book fairs in Germany, Great Britain, China, and the United States.
Publishing has been a great adventure. I can’t wait to finish my new book, Jessi’s Story, and begin the process all over again. Although I want to rush through the writing, I know that patience and determination are the keys to becoming a successful writer.
About J. Kelley Carlson
J. Kelley Carlson was born in Roanoke, Virginia many years ago. For the past thirty years she has served as a school nurse in Bedford County, Virginia. A return to college in 1990 led to an interest in writing. She is currently promoting her middle-grade mystery, FREEING GOLDEN EAGLE. Two new works are in progress at this time.
J. Kelley Carlson Profile at OnceWritten.com
