Author Archives: kristasurprenant
First Dawn
His first sunrise
on a snowy morning.
Yawning turns
into a cry for warmth.
Nestled with his mother,
he is still.
The Bee
A small bee buzzing by on a lazy October day.
The autumn air whistling by where a jack o lantern lay.
He straightened his wings and and gave his tail a twitch,
making sure the candle was lighted in the night’s black pitch.
Titles
Why are titles so hard to figure out. I know what I teach to my students. I teach them to look for titles in their already written words. Look for characters I tell them, or important objects or even the setting. There are a million meaningful titles available to you if you only look. The title is the first impression to the reader. Are you going to capture their attention with your title, you had better, or they will not even read the rest of your radiant words. There are so many perfect titles:
The Outsiders
Of Mice and Men
Romeo and Juliet
The Hunger Games
The Secret Life of Bees
These titles all say something important. They tell us some secret about what is contained in the pages and words. There is nothing more satisfying for me then finding that perfect title to go with something that I have written. Titles are not something to be overlooked in the writing process. They are a bit like the icing on the cake of a delicious read!
Illustrative Qualities
I added some artwork to my header. I am still trying to figure out exactly how to work with a webpage, but I knew that something needed to be done! After talking with a gracious editor, Liz, she said that I most certainly needed to add illustrations to my page that would show a focus to my work. My focus I decided, was to be a children’s author primarily. I wanted to show a bit of whimsy. There is a song out there that I absolutely love and used it as my inspiration. The lyrics go as follows, “use your heart as a rudder, faith as a compass, and a blanket for a sail.” I have always loved these lyrics and decided to use it as my sketch inspiration.
I have these lyrics to be a theme to begin to base my career as an author around. These lyrics help to keep my grounded when my plate seems full.
I find that music is truly a universal language that everyone can connect to. What does it take to really treat everyone as a human? The fundamental human traits are present in all of us. We are humans, a complex species that divides itself into arbitrary categories either by force or by choice. We can illustrate our basic love of life each day in the way that we talk to, interact with and react to our world.
A bit of a rambling here I admit, but I guess that is a bit what a blog is for. To keep a global journal and leave our mark of how we felt and what we encountered.
Words Are My Home
“The words you speak become your house.”
This is a quote I recently saw posted on facebook. I began to think about just how true that is. With every word that we speak, or even write, we are building a house of cards if you will. The words reflect just how sturdy the house will become. The more positive energy and kindness that is put in your words can build a stable house of relationships with the people in your life. This in turn really does create your home.
I often ask of my students the difference between a house and a home. They always get around to the point that a house is a physical structure while a home contains the emotions of love and safety. This quote certainly encompasses both ideas.
I like to think of this as I am figuring out ways to deal with my own children and life. There are plenty of not so pleasant moments that contain the typical whining, tantrums and crying (and not just from me)! I try though to use every moment as a teachable one. I am in no way perfect, and I have been told that I do not have to be perfect, or that I am perfect for everyone around me. I struggle like any other working mom on how to balance the different aspects of my life. However, when it comes down to it, if I really want to simplify and focus, then I think the quote above is the rule to go by.
Watch your words. They can be as swift and sharp of weapons as anything. Use them wisely and with care and build house, and your home with love and safety.
Finding Inspiration Everywhere
I am most blessed to have my beautiful boys in my life. It gets hectic and crazy, but their hugs are my day changing events. They say the most amazing things that give me my inspiration to write. My three old especially will say a random line such as “the trees are crying red leaves.” My current manuscript and my others that are in progress have all been inspired by my children. The ideas came out of something that they said from their imagination or from an interaction.
This then becomes the base line of a poem or a story idea. I have been learning not to take anything for granted and that every word and detail in my life is inspiration for my writing. Too often in life we speed through our day just surviving. However, there are small things that we must find, these tricksters of opportunity that are in every corner just waiting to be found. Pay attention to what happens to you today and you might find a new story to add to your work.
“Writing is both mask and unveiling.”
E.B. White
debut post
Today I was finally able to start revisions on my first book manuscript. Most of the poetry you find being posted here will not quite be representative of the books being written. I am hoping that my poetry background will come in handy when creating children’s books!
kristasurprenant.com 