Instititute of Children's Literature

Rx for Writers

Transcripts

"Ideas Are Everywhere!" with Jane Landreth

Thursday, August 30, 2001

Moderator is Kristi Holl, author of 24 juvenile books and 150+ stories and articles, as well as the web editor for this site.

Jane is Jane Landreth, author of over 1400 published stories, articles, games and puzzles. Jane writes for children and curriculum for teachers.

Interviews are held on Thursday nights: 9-11 p.m. Atlantic/Canada, 8-10 p.m. Eastern, 7-9 Central, 6-8 Mountain, and 5-7 Pacific

Moderator: Good evening, everyone! Welcome to tonight's interview with Jane Landreth. Jane's here tonight to share with us some of her "tricks of the trade" in finding so many salable ideas. She has more publishing credits than anyone I've met before. I'm Kristi Holl, your moderator and the web editor for this site, and I'm happy to welcome my friend, Jane Landreth.

Jane: Hello! I'm glad to be here tonight.

Moderator: Jane, can you first give us an overview of your publishing credits?

Jane: Most of my writing has been and still is in the religious field. I enjoy writing for the take home papers from preschool to high school. I write training (how to) articles for teachers of children. I write for the various religious children's magazines. I love to think up games, puzzles, and activities for children (activities teachers can use in the classroom). I have written some devotionals and parenting articles. That's a little of my publishing credits. And of course, I have written Sunday school curriculums and programs.

poetbecky: What is your educational background?

Jane: I have a degree in elementary education and a minor in English with some counseling courses and special education background.

ShirleyAnne: Am I correct in assuming that "teacher magazines" only want articles from teachers? What about volunteers, or those of us with other degrees?

Jane: If you have a good idea, send it. I don't think it would make any difference.

Moderator: To publish so prolifically, you've had to have your senses sharpened and be alert for ideas all the time. You once said we need to use our senses to spot ideas. Can you give our visitors some examples of turning a sensory detail into a story or craft or article or puzzle? First how about something you saw?

Jane: Before I do that, Kristi, let me say this: The senses unlock the door to a great learning experience for children. They seem to have a built-in drive to taste, to see, to hear, to smell and to feel. This takes place from babies through (I would hope) adults. But I think we lose some of our adventure as we get older. I've done articles for teachers using the senses: "Learning About God's World Through the Senses" where they let their students explore the five senses in class with such things as going for a walk and seeing, tasting different foods, etc.

Now to your question about something I saw: My grandfather and I had many walks and he taught me about the world around me. So I do a take-off from that many times. I have stories called "Signs of Spring", "Special Spring Walk", "Let Me Take You on a Hike", that type of stories.

Moderator: How about something you heard?

Jane: Our son came home on day from school with a project. He had to sit and listen and then write down what he heard. So I thought it would make a good story: "The Noisy Quiet Time". Also, when traveling by plane, I thought of a story: "Traveler Tyler: People Watcher", a preschool who was hearing different languages in the airport.

Moderator: How about something you tasted?

Jane: "No Junk Food Please" was a story of a girl who decided to eat nutritious food for a week to see if she felt more healthy (her Sunday school lesson was about Daniel who ate good food). She was tempted by a friend but stood firm. Also, I used that theme for an article for changing snacks in Vacation Bible School from traditional cookies and Kool-Aid to nutritious food.

Moderator: Something you felt or touched?

Jane: "Mystery of the Wind" was a story of a boy who wanted to know where the wind came from. You can feel it but you can't see it; how do you know it is real? Also, you can write stories such as "The New Kittens".

Moderator: Something you smelled at some time?

Jane: "The Night the House Burned Down" also turned into a neighborly helping theme.

Mom of 3: We did an exercise in writing from the senses in a college classroom: everyone was blindfolded and given something to taste. Then they had 5 minutes to write about it without speaking to anyone else.

Jane: That sounds good. I have done that with children in a classroom, but they told their experience instead of writing it.

Tiggie: what do you recommend that writers who don't have children or who aren't teachers do?

Jane: Volunteer to help in a classroom, or go to the park or library or a place where you can observe children.

Beatrice B: As an elementary school paraprofessional (instructional aide) with 18 years experience, I urge children's writers to spend time in classrooms at different age levels. If the principal allows you to do so, check out the playground during noon recess. Listen to conversation and watch kids in action. You will never lack for ideas!

Jane: Good idea, Beatrice B.

dear: You said senses give you ideas, but how? What thought process brings you those ideas?

Jane: I just like nature and that is part of nature. I've read that children learn by their senses so I thought that would be "great writing material--themes".

Tiggie: Can you recommend any writing exercises to help us get more in tune with writing through and about our senses?

Jane: Take one of the senses such as seeing. Go for a walk, write down all the things you see. What type of story, article, puzzle, activity, or craft could you come up with? Take each one of the senses and experiment with them. Do things concerning them and then take note of what you could write about. Ask yourself what a child would experience doing the things through the senses. Look through the child's eyes. You might write down all the things you see, hear, taste, feel, smell about a subject. That might help.

Moderator: How much do you rely on personal experiences for your ideas?

Jane: Very much. Most all of my teacher training articles are from my experiences in teaching children. Teacher magazines are always looking for activities you have tried and have found successful. When I experience a new activity, I write about it. When I have a problem arise with a child or in the classroom, I know someone else probably had the same problem. I research and find an answer for the problem and write an article for a magazine.

Moderator: Do you use incidents from your childhood for ideas?

Jane: Not very many because I didn't have a good childhood, but I did use my family and son's experiences. The first articles I had published were about things we did together as a family. "Off to a Good Start" was about how a good breakfast makes a difference in your child at school. "Traditions Build Happiness" was about family traditions. That type of thing.

SaraJ: If we wrote stories set when we were kids, at what point are they historical? What period in the past becomes history?

Jane: I'm not sure I have a good answer. But just the other day I heard that 1950s stories were historical now!

Moderator: Many of us who write for children rely on our personal "growing up" experiences for ideas. What are the dangers of doing this, if any?

Jane: Well, if you want to write a historical story, go for it. Many of the things that wore as children--mini skirts, bell bottom pants, etc., date the story. Things we said date the story. The story itself may be good, but be sure to update it by finding out what is the modern dress now and the expressions used. Also, remember your story or article may not come out for a year or more. Will those things be popular then?

Moderator: Ideas ARE all around us, but how do you recognize a salable idea?

Jane: I think trial and error is a good description. Also by keeping up with children's magazines--read them, find out what they want. Get the theme list, which many magazines are going to now. That will help you know what the editor is looking for. Has the magazine published anything like the idea you have? Perhaps it would be something new they would want to try--but perhaps not. Also, I think by starting to write the story or article from the idea, may give you recognition into whether it will be salable. Is it something you enjoy writing or does it get too involved? It might be too involved for the reader also.

Moderator: How can you put a new twist on an old worn-out idea?

Jane: I think you just need to be watching for new ideas to put with those old worn-out ideas. I know one activity that is fun for children is feeding the birds. But how many times have you heard or read the same old thing. Make a bird feeder--and I think there are a "hundred" ways to make one! One year I was sitting looking at our Christmas tree and the idea came to me: "A Christmas Tree for the Birds." After Christmas is over use the tree to put food on it for the birds. You just have to be "on your toes" to search out new ideas. Be creative!

Moderator: How can you make research yield multiple stories and articles?

Jane: Example: Take the idea of snow. Learn all you can about snow. I wrote a children's devotional, "Snow is a Treasure"; "Snowman for the Birds" was how to put carrots, raisins, etc. for the snowman's nose and eyes--things birds eat; "Shake a Snowflake" was about how to put words of a Bible verse in a can, shake, dump and put together; a preschool story, "Extra Special" was about how there are never two snowflakes alike, neither does God make a child exactly like another, but each is specially made. Then I went to the older children and wrote "The Snow Cave", using a St. Bernard dog, Mollie, to rescue a boy whose snow cave had collapsed.

Another example: Spiders. After research I wrote a nonfiction piece called "Spying on Spiders" about watching them and then telling about them; another nonfiction, "Weaver Fever" had a little different twist; "Watching a Spider" was about a preschooler watching a spider build a nest with his grandfather (thinking of me again learning from my grandfather); I also wrote an activity called "Collecting a Spider Web".

dear: Does your research open new ideas for article slants/angles?

Jane: The more research you do with an theme or word, the more ideas you can come up with, I think. You can slant the material in different ways.

scorch: I find when I do research I get more ideas for more stories. When is it too much for one similar subject?

Jane: I would say when you run out of magazines to send it to! Or get tired of writing on that theme!

Moderator: To have so many publishing credits, did you sell pieces several times? Either reprint rights, or simultaneous rights to several publications at the same time?

Jane: Yes, and even some of the magazines picked up my articles/stories from other magazines and reprinted them. And also, some magazines used them second and third times because they fit their themes for years down the road.

ShirleyAnne: I've had an article accepted by Cricket, but they work "years" in advance. I'd like to take all that research material, write a new article, different slant, but same subject and submit elsewhere. Any problem with this? I've done it many times for adult writing, but not for children, and don't want to upset the Cricket editor.

Jane: Congratulations! I've never hit it with them! I would see nothing wrong with that as long as it was not the same material you were sending them. You would have a different slant and a different age grouping which would make you write it differently. Go for it!

dear: Do you have a set goal of how many articles, etc. to submit in a month?

Jane: I used to do this and it kept me in line. And I have a goal that I am going to get back doing this. I think it helps to have that goal. When you set a goal, make it realistic to what you can do. You will become discouraged if you can never make those goals.

Nell: Do you find that you tend to submit to the same magazines over and over, and thus develop a rapport with the editors, even have a sense of the ideas they'll accept? If so, is this good or does it get one too much into a rut?

Jane: That's how I make a lot of sales--or did anyway. I know one editor would even ask me to do some work for her because she knew what I could do. Unfortunately, that magazine just went out of print this month. I think it is good to keep sending to the same ones if you can.

renemsn: How many hours a day do you spend researching and/or writing?

Jane: Like I said before, I was in a slump, but I am working on a schedule (since I have another job) of working about three or four hours a day. I really don't time myself. Maybe I should.

Oma: Do you have regular magazines that request your articles, or do you have to search and send queries all the time?

Jane: Some years I have had regular magazines but many of those magazines have now gone out of print, and I struggle like everyone else at times, trying to find a new magazine. I do have a few that I do regularly. Some of the ones (religious ones) that I do have now gone to a two year cycle. They are not taking any new material. They are reusing some of the old material--sometimes that is good IF they want my old material, but that limits sending them anything for two years. I waited four years with one magazine that wanted me to do some Bible customs, etc. I wrote 25 for them. I am just now hearing from them that they are taking a few at a time--maybe three or four a quarter. I was a little disgusted but at least they are selling.

ShirleyAnne: I have several stories being held by Christian publications for "future consideration." How long do I wait? It's been over six months.

Jane: Keep waiting! I had a few I sent a year and half ago and heard from them about two of my stories recently. And I was surprised . They sent me $2.00!!! I wait quite a long time, but you can write and ask them about the stories. It's okay. Jingle their bell!

Moderator: EEK!! Did you mean twenty dollars instead of two?

Jane: No, I was disgusted!!! And I have about six others with them. The magazine was new and there was no amount written into the information I received. So I thought I would try them. Not again!

Moderator: Are there some ideas that are more "universal" and would be good candidates for submitting to several publications?

Jane: I think the holiday stories, articles, puzzles, and games would be. Also I think ideas teaching values such as honesty, faithfulness, obedience, being friendly, etc.

Moderator: How can you think more creatively and spot those ideas that are all around us?

Jane: I think it takes practice. You can't sit still and wait for ideas to come to you. Always have a pencil and paper handy. YOU WILL FORGET! Jot down ideas as they come to you. Find ways to spot those ideas. Examples: Read newspapers and magazines. Look at the articles, games, puzzles, titles. Can you use something from them? Look at the lost and found ads, personal ads, help wanted ads. Do they give you an idea? Strike up a conversation with someone, perhaps in the line at the store. Go to the park and watch and listen to children. Attend school and church functions where there are children. Go to the mall and watch people. Write down descriptions, names, conversation. You might make a date with yourself to spend an hour a week observing children somewhere. Or spend some time each week reading and collecting ideas. Go to the library; read children's books and/or watch children. Those are just a few ideas. Write what you know or what you want to find out. I go to the library and get a stack of books, perhaps animal books or fish, and look through them to see if I can find a unique animal or fish, etc. that is interesting, perhaps something I think a magazine has never used.

Moderator: How can you tell if your idea has been overdone? The ideas seem so original when we think of them!

Jane: I think by reading and knowing magazines will help. Go to the library and talk to the librarian. He/She might have an idea if an idea has been used many times. I look at books; read magazines. That keeps me knowledgeable on what has been done. A new writer doesn't have that background. It takes research and years of finding out what's been done. But sometimes an old idea can be done in a new way and editors will pick that up.

Moderator: How can you think of new angles or twists for things such as holiday stories and articles? Can you train your mind to look at things from new angles somehow?

Jane: It seems every year when I start writing about Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. I wonder what I can do new. I have been looking back at other articles, stories, puzzles, games, etc. (Not that holiday I am working on) and thinking if I could use those ideas and revise them to the present holiday I am working on. Sometimes it works. I am always looking into magazines for ideas that I could change into that holiday. Also, this is where my idea files come in handy. Can I find a good idea, say a puzzle, that's been done for another holiday or just from another type puzzle and develop into the holiday activity.

Moderator: Can you copyright ideas?

Jane: Ideas are free. You cannot copyright them, only the material that is written from them.

Moderator: Do you keep an idea file or box or drawer or notebook? If so, how is it organized? What types of things do you collect for your idea file?

Jane: Yes, I have several, and am still learning new ways to develop my files. I have card files with descriptions of scenes that I have found interesting (reading over them sometimes gives me an idea for a scene I need). I separate them with divisions such as: the seasons, wind, water, clouds, flowers, etc. I have files cabinets full of files with folders. Since I do a lot of religious writing, I have folders with the books of the Bible, well-known Bible characters, moral values such as honesty, faith, etc. In these folders I have stories, articles, quotes, puzzles, crafts, etc. that I have collected. I have notebooks that have titles, names of children, descriptions of book themes I have read. I have notebooks of Bible stories and activities that I have read about, tried, or just ideas. Then I have files of adult folders of various themes. Some of my notes are on little pieces of paper and some are outlined. AND remember I have 25 years of collecting. This cannot be done overnight, but you can START. When you put ideas or information into a file, note what you want to remember from it. I go through my files from time to time and wonder why I have kept certain works.

shanniebee: Would you consider your filing system to be quite organized? How do you do this? I've got an organized mess!!

Jane: I'm working through about three boxes of mess right now, trying to get it filed and organized. I get busy and just pile sometimes--not a good idea. So I have determined to reorganize my mess! Since we moved I have been a bit disorganized. I did know where everything was but I am getting back to there again!

Tigger: I find that I get lots of IDEAS about things to write about. I write them down and think about them and file them, but often don't get around to actually DOING the research, often because I don't know where to start. Is it better to start on the Internet by doing a search, or at the library in a reference book? Or doesn't it matter, in your experience?

Jane: I'm not an Internet person and it seems to me there are too many things to see on the Internet. I have a lot of reference books I have collected over the years so I don't always have to go anywhere for information, but at times I go to the library and search. Or I bring a stack of books home.

shanniebee: Do you have your own room in your home for writing or just a space? Sometimes I think it would be so awesome to be able to just shut a door to the world.

Jane: One of the reasons we moved to where we are, is because there was a cabin on the place along with the house. And guess where I have my writing? I have two rooms in our three room cabin. One is set up like an office and one is more for working with a table and bookcases. So I am lucky. AND my house is a 100+ year old schoolhouse we are remodeling. So my cabin is old too, but workable. And I love it!

Moderator: How can you use hobbies for different stories, articles, games, puzzles and crafts?

Jane: I like acrostics, puzzles. So I make up these--according to themes of magazines. I enjoy nature so many of my articles and stories are centered around the natural world.

Moderator: Do you ever get ideas from pictures and photos, perhaps photos you've taken?

Jane: Not really, but it's a personal thing. I had a class write an article or story by looking at a photo of themselves as a child. It was interesting what they wrote.

Moderator: Do you include the photos with your manuscript submission? Or a photocopy?

Jane: I have in the past, but I'm not into photography so that's not an interest for me. But in many magazines, the photo can sell the article! If I have an idea of art work for a puzzle or activity I am sending, I suggest it.

Moderator: Do you worry about people rejecting your manuscript, but stealing your idea?

Jane: No.

Moderator: Should we copyright our stories ourselves so no one steals our ideas?

Jane: Ideas are free. If you would copyright your story, you would then have to sell the copyright to the magazine if they wanted your article. They don't want to hassle with the paperwork. So it's easier to just let them do the copyright. You could write the story, date it, slip it in an envelope and mail it to yourself--but don't open it, if you are really afraid!

Moderator: How can you use people you know (like your kids) as source material for ideas?

Jane: Get their permission to write about them first. When my son was in school, he asked me to stop using his name in my stories; it embarrassed him! I did use the activities, events, and experiences he had as springboards for my stories. Especially some of my first stories. Examples include "Chicken Day"--every year I let my son stay home from school to help me set up the chickens and give them their first drink when they came in the mail. Eventually, the school had us bring in a few for "Show and Tell". "Eric is a Helper" was written because we went grocery shopping for an elderly friend and Eric would push a cart for her groceries. Use those experiences of your kids! They are great ideas! Change the name to protect the innocent!

sissyg: Do you ever have problems with writer's block?

Jane: Yes, I have just had one, sort of. I don't know if you would call it a block or just got too busy with other things that I could not listen for ideas. So I talked to another writer and we discovered we needed to stop taking on so many things and begin setting aside some serious time for writing. So now I am spending some quiet time each morning thinking about ideas and what I need to write.

sissyg: Are you a voracious reader?

Jane: Yes, I read all the time, even when they say don't eat and read! That's me. I go to bed with a book.

ingie: Do you write all nonfiction or do you do fiction too?

Jane: There are times when I am into nonfiction and then I decide to do fiction. I like nonfiction better. I'm into puzzles now. They don't make a lot of money for me, but I like them.

Moderator: I'm sorry to interrupt here, but we're out of time. I don't know about the rest of you, but I've come away tonight with a few new ideas of my own! Thank you so much, Jane, for coming tonight and sharing with us. We really appreciate it!

Jane: I enjoyed it. It was great!

Moderator: Do come back in two weeks for our next Scheduled Event. Check in upcoming newsletters for more about the guest and topic for that night. And now, go out and write up those new ideas! Good night, everyone!

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