Writing and Teaching

There’s an interesting contest brewing for authors of middle grade and young adult novels. Click here for all the details. Kidlit Contest

My three new graphic novels are out! Go to the main page, www.timclifford.com, if you’d like to see them. There’s a new Graphic Novels page where you can see some of the illustrations.

I’ve started using Facebook, which is kind of cool, even if it is an enormous time sink. If you’re a teacher or writer and want to add me, feel free. Graphic novel enthusiasts can add me as well. Just click here.

If you’re one of my students, I’m afraid I’m going to have to say no. I’ve had a number of requests from students and I don’t think it’s appropriate that we ’socialize’ outside of school. Once you’re out of high school you can add me, assuming you still remember me by then!

If anyone has interesting experiences in doing author studies, I’d love to hear. I’m working on my next book, which will look at a new type of author study.

I’ve written three graphic novels that will be published this August. In a strange way, this led to a Graphic Novel unit on Heroes at my school. It’s been a truly worthwhile venture so far. My students are learning a lot about the editing and revision processes.

There’s nothing–and I mean nothing–like modeling your own writing for students. I’m fortunate to have these books coming out, but I frequently model whatever type of writing we are doing for my students. As they watch me struggle with word choice, sentence variety, leads, closings, and everything in between, they come to realize that writing is a process for everyone, including teachers and professional writers.

Sometimes I use exemplary student writing that I’ve saved from previous years as a model, but I still try to do my own spur-of-the-moment modeling at each stage of the process.

Generally, I like to write my own writing rubrics to reflect the work recently done in class. However, this can be quite time consuming. That’s why I included rubrics for each of the five major writing pieces in my book The Middle School Writing Toolkit, and for opinion and persuasive papers in Crafting Opinion and Persuasive Papers.

If you need a rubric in a hurry, a great resource is Rubistar. The site automates the process of writing rubrics. While it doesn’t replace the personal touch, the site does allow you to edit the rubric yourself before you print it. Give it a try and save yourself some time.

It seems as if there is always a new project on the horizon, which is something no writer should ever complain about. I have three graphic novels coming out this year which I am very excited about. I’m also working on a rewrite of a YA novel I wrote, which came close to getting agented but in the end still needed work. I’m engaged in that rewrite now.

I’m also still plugging away at my education books. I am currently working on a book on author studies, which is coming along well but slowly. The problem is that I have to “field test” each lesson to make sure it works, then tweak it afterwards to reflect what I have learned. I think it will be a great and useful resource when it is finished. If any teachers out there have any good ideas for author studies, please comment. I’d love to hear.

Both writing and teaching have some great moments. Most people, even those who aren’t teachers, can fathom great moments in teaching: getting through to a student after much difficulty, turning a student on to reading, and getting a visit from a successful former student all spring to mind.

Writing is a lonelier task. Whereas teaching is often an activity undertaken with 35 people in the room, writing is best done in solitutude, or as close as I can come to solitude with 2 children and 2 dogs. Still, there are great moments in writing, as well. Finding the perfect phrase, getting a contract (or a check!) in the mail, and one that non-writers might not think of: having your book appear on Amazon.com.

I remember when my first book, The Middle School Writing Toolkit, first apppeared on Amazon. Right next to the title, plain as day, it said Author: Tim Clifford. I was no longer a writer wanna-be–I was an honest-to-God writer. I think I’ll always remember that moment of revelation.

I was reminded of that moment today as I checked on my sales on Amazon (an activity that can become addictive quite quickly). I clicked on my name, and several titles came up that I hadn’t seen before. They were for the graphic novels I have written for Rourke Publishing, due to make their appearance in August 2009. I haven’t even seen the covers yet, or even anything approaching the final illustrations, but the books are there, under my name.  The series is called Jobs that Rock Grapic Illustrated, and I wrote the books on Mountaineer, Forensic Scientist, and Safari Guide. They are available for pre-order, if you can’t stand the thought of waiting on the inevitable long lines that will snake around your local bookstore (in my dreams, at least).

Another great moment was when I first heard from Julie Graddy, publisher of Maupin House after sending in my first book proposal, and my subsquent phone call from her that turned a maybe into a yes.

This is my first post–I only recently set up this blog. I don’t know what direction it will take, but feel free to leave comments and suggestions if you wish.