Yes, You Can Teach a Writing Class: Follow My Lead by Kathy Halsey

Utilize Your Background

First an educator, then a school librarian, now a children's writer. In my career path, I am now on job 3.5. The .5 job is my new iteration, Kathy, the writing teacher! After our move back to Ohio, I surveyed my new environment. In my small suburb, Gahanna, they have a strong parks and recreation program. When I picked up my recycle bins at city hall, I also picked up the summer program guide which had 14 pages of youth programming and tons of classes for active adults, but only one class related to writing. 

Lesson #1: I could fulfill a niche and a need.

Well-versed in researching, querying, and pitching as a writer, I repurposed these skills to craft my own class. I read the blurbs in the program guide, then created my own blurb and title. (Picture Books 101: Hard Work but Lots of Fun.) Similar to a writer's pitch, I gave a brief, enticing view of the class and what the participant would gain. I created a bio that focused on my years as a teacher, librarian, writer, and Gahanna resident.  

My cover letter (query) to the director of parks and rec explained how a well-educated suburb like Gahanna needed to provide residents with literary options along with the robust senior, camp, and children's offerings.  A month later, the assistant director contacted me, and I replied w/links to my blog and some posts from the GROG. Before my face-to-face interview, I created a possible 6-10 week syllabus for his perusal, too.

Lesson #2:  Use your writing chops to your advantage.

At our interview, I referenced my book talking "job" at indie bookstore Changing Hands. (I volunteered but could take home any book I wanted to read and return; I received 20% off all inventory.) I offered to add a program for seniors if the writing class did not suit Gahanna's needs. Just as we authors need an inventory of polished stories to offer agents/editors, I needed a few class options for the assistant director to consider.

Lesson #3: The Comparisons Continue

Gahanna City is "my agent," they take a percentage of the revenue generated by the class, and they help w/publicity, BUT, I have to do my part, also, to make the class viable. I advertise via Facebook, here with this post, through library friends, and my school library professional organization. 

Yes, just like publishing your first book, the work is all up front before the payoff. However, once I create the class content, I can teach this class for other organizations or offer a winter class for those ready to move beyond an introductory class. 

Lesson #4: I took a risk and made a bold move.

I am a pre-published writer. I could think I don't have enough to offer, but I do. I am a successful educator; I know books from my library days; I know beginning writers' needs from my English teaching years; I have an agent, Jodell Sadler. Also, I understand those newbie fears and problems since I faced them and still do at this juncture in my career.  

Last Lesson in this "Kat Chat"

Believe in yourself. Make opportunities happen. Seize your day, NOW.

Shameless promotion: The new program guide is not yet up for fall, but if you live in the Columbus area, check out registration for my class and contact the Gahanna Parks and Recreation Department.

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Meet GROGer Todd Burleson! ~ by Patricia Toht

Todd Burleson is the GROG's fearless leader, tech trouble-shooter, and all-around great guy. Just look at that smiling face!

To know Todd is to love him, so I'm delighted to introduce him to you. 


What drew you to writing for children, Todd?

Five years ago when I started working as a library media specialist, my relationship with words changed forever. Now, I read hundreds of picture books aloud to students each year. I feel and hear the rhythm of words and see the interplay that they have with illustrations. In short, I started ‘seeing’ the world through books.  Pretty quickly I realized, as Orson Scott Card said: “Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don’t see any.” I’m doing pretty well if I get one new idea a day, but that doesn’t stop me from looking! 

Todd hosts Jon Muth at Hubbard Woods Elementary School

Another visitor, Arun Ghandi

How do you come up with ideas to write about?

Curiosity inspires me to write; I’m never bored. I am always exploring new media, books and ideas. I have a long commute, but I look at that commuting time as idea gathering time. I find that NPR and Podcasts spark tiny ideas that frequently lead to some of my best writing projects. I keep a pad of paper in my car at all times and post it notes are omnipresent! I also love to experience new things and travel. There are amazing stories everywhere.

Todd is quite the adventurous man!

How long have you been writing?

I was an early reader, but writing didn’t come easily for me as a kid. In fact, I don’t remember a single writing project I did in school. What I do remember, felt formulaic and forced. ‘Writing’ then for me, took the form of lists and outlines. Eventually, those lists evolved and spilled into journal entries, which gave me a way to ‘think.’ Soon, poetry and song lyrics crept into my journals.  Next came sketches, photographs and ticket stubs. Mix in lots of new experiences and places and you have pretty fertile ground for ideas!

What authors have mentored you?

Whether they realize it or not, I’ve learned from the best!  I make studying my favorite authors a big part of my writing ‘workout.’  I’m constantly typing out the text of my favorite authors to feel and see their rhythm and phrasing.  I’m one of 16 authors here on the

Ann Bausum's latest book,
Stubby the War Dog

GROG and have learned so, so much from reading and working alongside them.  I am thrilled to have been selected by SCBWI WI to be mentored by award winning author Ann Bausum.  I’ll be working with her this year on a non-fiction picture book project and soaking up every ounce of knowledge I can!

(Not only are you working with mentor Ann Bausum this year, Todd, you've also recently been awarded a Highlights scholarship for nonfiction and you're working with agent, Jodell Sadler. I think 2015 is going to be a very good year for you!)

What is your current WIP?

Right now, I’ve got two that have bubbled to the top. One is a story about the first magician in America, and the other is about the last ice merchant on Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador.  Both of these topics intrigued me enough to research them and when I did I found that there were stories there that I thought needed to be told.

Todd busy at research.

If you could invite any author or illustrator to dinner, who would it be?

This was a tough question. Lately I’ve been enamored with Snowflake Bentley written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and illustrated by Mary Azarian. It won the Caldeott in 1999. I like that Jacqueline is such a diverse writer; I have to imagine she’s a fascinating person. I would love to have both of them over for dinner. 

Do you have a favorite picture book?

That should be hard, but I actually really do have one:  Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. Of course this Caldecott winner’s images are phenomenal, but it’s the way the words and images work together that make it my favorite. Just the first line shouts to me that it is going to be amazing: “It was late one winter night, long past my bedtime, when Pa and I went owling.” I have never been owling, but I sure feel like I would know what to do after reading this book. 

What are your hobbies?

Making stuff. I like to explore with different media: photography, painting, sketching, wood, etc. Someday I hope to have a barn that is my ‘creation space.’ I want to be able to sling paint on giant canvases, weld huge chunks of steel and turn all sorts of things on a lathe! Basically I want to have a place where I can make a HUGE mess! I recently restored a 1947 Tourette Teardrop Trailer and took it on an epic road trip with my son. I love fly-fishing and visiting national parks around the country.

Todd and his daughter Grace after completing a high ropes course!

What’s one thing about yourself that very few people know?

I’m color blind in one eye; but I can’t remember which eye it is!

Where can readers find about more about you?

Visit my personal blog, ToddBurlesonWrites.
Read about my work as children's librarian, A Zen Librarian, here.
Follow my restoration and travels in my 1947 Teardrop Trailer.
And, of course, follow along on the GROG!

Thanks for giving a peek into your life, Todd, and best wishes for your writing this year!