Please give a warm welcome to Theresa Milstein whose short story "Allured" is included in the YA Anthology called Fangtales. You can find Theresa at her blog located here. I for one am so thankful that I met Theresa through blogging. She is an accomplished, intelligent, and spiritual woman. I would encourage you to get to know her as well through correspondence and through her writing. In reading her guest post on my blog today, I was reminded of his holiness, the Dalai Lama and a very spiritual story.
On October 1st, I attended a program for writers, illustrators, and
educators. It was called Overcoming Challenges. Authors Jacqueline Davies, Kathryn Lasky, and
Lois Lowry were in attendance. Illustrator Bill Thompson was also on the panel. All four of them have received awards. Jacqueline Davies won a Massachusetts Book
Award Honor. Kathryn Lasky won a Newbery
Honor. Lois Lowry won two Newbery
Medals. Bill Thompson won awards and was
up for a Caldecott.
When they were asked, “How do you define success?” I
listened.
Not too long ago, I wondered how I’d define success. I wrote a post about it called “Making It”.
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| Author Theresa Milstein on the left and author Jacqueline Davies on the right. |
Jacqueline Davies answered this in three bullet points:
1) Write
what she wanted to write
2) Have
a lot of readers
3) Earn
a living as a writer
She’s recently accomplished her three goals.
Kathryn Lasky said she feels successful because, “Everyday I
get up and re-invent the world.”
Lois Lowry said she feels the word is subjective, like
trying to obtain perfection.
“Satisfaction is more important.”
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| Theresa Milstein and Lois Lowry |
Bill Thompson had the most poignant answer. He thought winning a Caldecott Medal would be
his measure of success. When his book
was being considered, he thought he’d reach his goal.
He’s also a teacher.
A student stood up in his classroom. She collapsed. Face-forward onto concrete. He checked her. She was breathing, so he didn’t start
CPR. He didn’t want to move her in case
she’d injured her spine. He had someone
call for help. Then she stopped
breathing. He performed CPR until the
ambulance arrived.
Bill visited her in the hospital. She was in a coma. She had a husband of six months. He prayed that he didn’t care about the
award. He’d rather have her live.
Eventually she woke up.
He didn’t receive the award.
He’s learned not to focus on worldly praise. He loves that he can do what he loves to do.
He’s still a teacher.
If someone called him in the middle of the night and asked him what he
is, he’d say, “Illustrator.”
All of the writers who haven’t been published, what would
they say if they received that call in the middle of the night?
I’ve had two short stories published. I clearly don’t make my living as a
writer. My time is divided between so
many different jobs: mother, instructional aide, wannabe teacher, student, and
writer. What would I say? Would I feel like a fraud to respond, “I’m a
writer,” because I don’t make my living from it?
I think about my stories almost all the time.
I will still write when my children grow up.
I’ll still be typing tales when I retire from teaching.
Am I defined by a paycheck or a role or a passion?
When that call comes, I hope I’m brave enough to answer,
“Writer.”
FANGTALES:
