Wounded Knee - A Story of Two Proud Cultures

Wounded Knee
Author Neil Waldman
Reading level: Young Adult 8 – 12 years
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Atheneum; 1st edition (April 3, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0689825595
ISBN-13: 978-0689825590

Neil Waldman writes the account of Wounded Knee for the young reader in a way they can understand historical chronological detail without being bored. Waldman expertly weaves a story of historical facts that reads like an action filled fiction novel. In addition, Waldman's distinctive illustrations add texture to this factual account. Many of the paintings are based on well-known early photographs from the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress collections.

The story of Wounded Knee sheds light on why two cultures and two warring nations battle to preserve their own way of life. Author, Neil Waldman handles the violent and heart wrenching events between the American government, white settlers and Indian tribes who lived around the Black Hills of South Dakota in a factual and balanced way. Waldman’s account cannot change the facts on either side but he does bring to light the cultural misunderstandings, journalistic rampages of the press and unintentional as well as intentional betrayals.

Waldman puts the reader in the shoes of Black Elk as he races to the top of a high ridge overlooking Wounded Knee Creek with a vivid description of the massacre on the morning of December 29, 1890.

Then suddenly, a volley of gunfire erupted in the distant hills to the east, and Black Elk froze.
“The sounds went right through my body,” he would say later, “and I felt that something terrible would happen.”

Waldman points out that potential for conflict had been brewing for centuries. For more than 400 years white settlers had been filling the east coast with cities, villages and farms. About a thousand miles away the seven warrior tribes of the Lakota had also been living for many generations in an area that stretched from Missouri to Wyoming. Both sides had a sense of possession for the land and both disagreed on what that meant.

Writing historical non-fiction is not easy just because “plot” and characters are already formed. In fact it is more difficult because with fiction you can make up anything (almost) to move the story along. It has been said that “truth is stranger than fiction” but maybe we should say that “truth is more difficult to write than fiction”.

There is also historical fiction. This means that the story has truthful facts but may have fictional characters. For more information on the difference between the two and advice on how to write historical fiction or non-fiction, visit the sites below.

Visit Lila Guzman who writes non-fiction and historical fiction
Suzanne Lieurance. A writing coach for fiction and non-fiction
Eleven tips for writing non-fiction for kids by Fiona Bayrock
Creative non fiction by Susan Taylor Brown
On Writing Non fiction for Children by Lindsay Mannell


Write it down,
Carma

Frida Kahlo: Portrait of a Mexican Painter

I was intrigued with Frida Kahlo. The early 20th century was a time of unrest and major social and political change throughout the world. Much like today. So you see there is not much new that is happening today that has not happened before. It does look as if history is repeating itself. Our hope for children of the future is in books with accurate stories. Let’s teach our children to learn from mistakes. This is why writing for educational publishers is so important. It is not filled with glitz and glamor but it is a teaching tool. A writer for children is a teacher who does not enter the classroom but has opportunity to enter a child’s mind nonetheless.

I am interested in writing for educational publishers as many writers are. A good way to find out how to enter this world is to study the market. Writing biographies and historical books for mid grade and young adults is a challenge. A writer must be able to communicate with appropriate age related words. Sentences don’t need to be choppy but they should be short and concise which is a real challenge for a writer who likes to talk without taking a breath. When I was writing college papers, it was not unusual for me to write an entire paragraph with only two sentences.

Is the Educational Market for You?

Are you interested in writing books for the educational market? Evelyn Christensen has wonderful resources. Click Educational Markets for Children’s Writers to go to her list. Feel free to peruse it but do not publish it anywhere else. Her email address is available if you wish to be on her mailing list.

Search out educational publishers on line. Enslow Publishers and Capstone Press are two that are well known. Spend some time there and get a feel for what they need.

Frida Kahlo – Portrait of a Mexican Painter was written by Barbara C. Cruz for Enslow Publishers. Dr. Cruz has published and presented extensively, focusing her research on multicultural and global education and equity issues. Enslow publishes high-quality educational non-fiction books for children from K through 12 grades.

Write it down,
Carma

The Drum Major Instinct

A Drum Major is the leader of the Parade. Everyone has their eyes on the grand and splendor. Dr. King’s speech, The Drum Major Instinct, February 4, 1968, discusses where the desires for recognition and praise originate. It is this instinct that the foundation of the ego's need for validation is born.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. understood the Drum Major instinct or impulse.

“We are born with this instinct. And there is deep down within all of us an instinct. It's a kind of drum major instinct-a desire to be out front, a desire to lead the parade, a desire to be first. And it is something that runs the whole gamut of life.”

We all want to be important. When we do good things we like to get praise. We get this warm glow to our ego when we see our name in print. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. says, it is like Vitamin A to our egos. Nobody is unhappy when they are praised, even if they know they don't deserve it and even if they don't believe it. There is nothing wrong with this instinct or impulse. It is good if you use it right and don’t pervert it. Greatness must be earned.

Writers have a great responsibility to their readers. Don’t let the drum major impulse overshadow the purpose of your words.

I invite you to read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message from February 4, 1968 just two months before his death. Click here then click on the lower right hand side “The Drum Major Instinct” with Dr. King’s picture.

Write it down,
Carma

Create the Writing Career of Your Dreams - Learn to Write for Children!

Do you love to write but don’t know how to put your thoughts into the right words?

Have you already written a story but don’t know how to go about getting published?

Are you an established writer that wants to learn more ways to market and promote your craft?

If you answer yes to any of these questions then the Children’s Writer’s Coaching Club is for you.

As a member of the CWCC you will work with both published children’s writers and illustrators and those who want to become children’s writers or illustrators without ever leaving home. How is that for convenience?

The good news is that membership is only $27 a month. The best bargain around. Here is what you will receive as a member:

* LIVE teleclasses EVERY month. Each teleclass is taught by a successful children’s book author and/or illustrator who knows the “tricks of the trade” of children’s writing, illustrating, and publishing.

* A monthly writing assignment, designed to become a finished project ready for submission to a publisher, usually be the end of the month, although some projects take longer. Each month we focus on some area of publishing. For example, one month we study how to write short fiction for children’s magazines. Another month we focus on writing nonfiction for children’s magazines. Another month we target writing picture books, etc.

* The opportunity to have your monthly assignment professionally critiqued, so you know if further revisions are needed before it is ready for submission to a publisher.

* The opportunity to network daily via an online discussion list with other members of the CWCC, as well as the instructors.

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today and you’ll be on your way to creating your own part time or full time career as a published children’s book author and/or illustrator. You will be glad you did.

">Click Logo to Join

Who Has Time to Worry About Correct Spelling? 5 Things Children's Writers Must Do.

Are you a writer who corrects spelling as you go along? Turn off spell check and grammar check when you are creating. Correct spelling is the least of your worries in a draft or two or three or…well you get it. This article explains how to break that habit and why. Enjoy this article by Jan McVeity, National Literacy Champion.

Should I correct my child's spelling? That's one of the most common questions I get asked.
My answer: No.
Well this is going to be the shortest column in the world!
Perhaps I should explain. When a story is created, there are a huge number of things a writer has to do. Here are just a few:

The Plot
Create the main character - you have to make them brave, strong and clever, but they need a couple of faults too.
Create the villain - they have to be just as strong as the hero or heroine. Otherwise the good guys win too easily.
Create the secondary characters - the faithful sidekick, the weird best friend, the teacher who cracks great jokes...
Decide on the Main Problem - this is not something simple like failing a test. It has to be major. Failing a final exam which means you didn't get into the sports team which means your chance of being a star footballer is utterly ruined.
Brainstorm an interesting setting - where should it all happen? A beach, a boat, a beaten up old house?

Still with me? But wait, that's only the plotting done. Now the writer has to start selecting...

The Writing Techniques
How can I make the fight between the two kids convincing? I know - I'll use dialogue and have them shouting at each other across the playground.
How can I make that scene of the ski race really tense? Hmmm, maybe if I have the clock counting down the seconds of the time he has to beat.
The start seems a bit boring, should I start that morning? No, maybe I should begin right when the kids start screaming for help.

Exhausted yet? Now what about the style the author selects to write in?

Click Here to keep reading more.

Write it down,
Carma

Are Newbery-Winning Books Too Challenging?

The buzz that the Newbery Medal Award for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children makes these books inaccessible to children is all over the blogosphere according to this article in the Washington Post. For instance from the past twenty-five winners and runners-up chosen from 2000 to 2005, four of the books deal with death, six with the absence of one or both parents and four with such mental challenges as autism. Most of the rest deal with tough social issues.

There are many pros and cons. “The criterion has never been popularity,” says Pat Scales, president of the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. “It is about literacy quality. We don’t expect every child to like every book. How many adults have read all the Pulitzer Prize winning books and the National Book Award winners and liked every one?”

Winning books become instant bestsellers and almost a guarantee of future success for the author. Also some Newbery winners have become classics, such as Louis Sachar’s “Holes” in 1999 and even some runners-up like “Charlottes Web” by E. B. White in 1953.

To get a more in-depth view and other opinions go to this Washington Post article “Plot Twists: The Newbery may Dampen Kids’ Reading” by Valerie Strauss here.

The Newbery is very prestigious and books that are awarded this high honor are expected to stretch children’s minds and thought processes not to mention introduce them to a variety of real-life issues. Does this criticism of the award hint of jealousy by other organizations or just another point of view?

Of course a child wants to read stories that reflect their lives and that is why some critics of the Newbery believe it to turn kids off to reading. Some critics may think Newbery Medal winning books are far too mature for young readers under twelve.

What do you think?

Write it down,
Carma

A Beginning, A Muddle, and an End

Avi’s middle grade book, A Beginning, A Muddle and an End juxtaposes a perspective on the writing profession through wit and humor of a snail named Avon and an ant named Edward. I have posted a sampling of dialogue from chapter four where Avon ponders about continuing as a writer. At this point Avon has managed to write one word-- “Something”—

This is a funny and philosophical story full of wisdom and humor. My eight year old granddaughter even “got it” in most places.

Here is an exchange between Avon and Edward as Avon ponders writing as a profession.

“Edward,” he finally said, “do you remember when you told me about the need for writers to be punctual?”
“That was a short time ago.”
“All the same, I’ve been thinking about it. Since writing is so hard, perhaps instead of becoming a writer, I should become an author.”
“Avon, you can’t become an author until you first become a writer.”
“Why is that?”
"A writer is someone who tries to get the words right. That’s why they are called writers. But an author is someone who has written the words wrong. Any critic will tell you that.”
“Is it hard to write right?”
“If a writer isn’t right, he’s bound to be left behind.”
“I’d still like to try.”
“What will you write?”
“That’s my biggest worry. I’m afraid I’ve not had an exciting life.”
“Then write about what you haven’t done.”
“Is that allowed?” asked Avon.
“You should know that the number one rule about writing is: Write what you know. So if you know what you haven’t done, write about that.”
“What if you don’t know what you’ve not done?”
“Then you go on to rule number two.”
“Which is?”
“Write about what you don’t know.”
“Is there a third rule?”
"Yes, stories do usually have three rules. Rule number three is: Write about what you don’t know as if you did know about it.”
“Any fourth rule?”
“Absolutely: Make sure that when you’re writing about what you don’t know as if you did know, conceal the fact that you don’t know what you’re doing.”
“Is there a fifth rule?”
“A crucial one. It’s: Always leave your readers guessing."


I am enjoying this book and learning from it as well. When Avon is asked by Edward, what kind of writer he intends to be, Avon said

“A writer who attracts readers.”
“Then for heaven’s sake, don’t write writing. Write reading.”

Great advice, don’t you think?
Write it down,
Carma