Before I was pregnant with Dot (yes, that’s quite a while ago!), I signed on with the Institute of Children’s Literature. But then I did get pregnant. And then I became a single mom. And I got a day job. And I took college courses. So the whole correspondence-study thing fell to the side.

Flash forward 17 years, give or take a month, and I contacted them again. Yes, I can renew my studies. Yes, they’ll send me new course materials.

So, yes, as Dot prepares for her high school graduation, I’m going back to school.

I’m going to learn how to write specifically for children. I’m going to study sentence structure, and intrigue, and action, and characters…

And I’m really excited about it.

I already have my first two assignments done. They were off-the-cuff rapid writings just to get my foot in the door, but they were still greeted with enthusiasm and fantastic feedback.

That’s what attracted me to ICL: the personal attention that I receive. If I have a problem, or a question, or need a due-date extension, one phone call is all it takes. They take care of everything so efficiently, so effortlessly.

And they inspire me. They ask the right questions. I didn’t realize my resume was already being formed until I started listing all the writings I’ve been successful at. I’ve been published in Highlights for Children, Cricket, Wee Wisdom. I won awards in college. A scholarship was created for me in college. I run a blog. I now run a writing/editing/publishing company. I’m writing.

So I guess I’m not as “new” to the writing thing as I think I am. It’s always been around me. It’s always been in me.

Thanks to ICL, I’m just recognizing it.

And that’s pretty exciting!

Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s something about a cow and a cup of coffee that I must go ponder…

And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!

Mojo Book Review and a GIVEAWAY: "Carmen of the Golden Coast" by Madeline Brandeis
"Give Us This Day..."
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