The Fishing Lesson

Title:  The Fishing Lesson                      


Author: Heinrich Boll

Illustrator: Emile Bravo
Adapted by: Bernard Friot (first published in German in 1963!)
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2018
Intended Ages: 5+
Themes: Ambition, Contentment, Humor

Opening Line(s):
"In a small harbor on the coast, a man in shabby clothes dozes in his tiny fishing boat."
 
Synopsis: This book explores what it means to be contented. What is "enough" in life. A bit deep for the youngest readers, but I believe they will see their busy schedules mirrored in the action.

What I like about this book:

This book works on many levels. What it means to look at another culture from the outside. Tourism etiquette. Even the existential question of what it means to be content. Told in a contemporary graphic format with multiple images per page, the text is still fairly sparse for easy comprehension. A friend who works at my local library shared this book with me. Thanks, Eric! I must admit that I didn't recognize the author's name as a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1972.

Resources:

•  Discuss what it means to be ambitious
• Write a list of goals, then discuss how you will know when you achieve them. For example, if you want to be a singing star--do you need to have a number one hit? If you do, would you continue singing after your song reached number one? What would you sacrifice to achieve your goals? Compare your answers with a family member or classmate.
• Enjoy your favorite seafood lunch!
• Read about another country. How would you act differently if you visited there?

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!

This review is part of PPBF (Perfect Picture Book Friday) where bloggers share great picture books. Organized and curated by author Susanna Leonard Hill, she keeps an ever-growing list of Perfect Picture Books. #PPBF

Writing Conference Preparations - Part 2

Last week, after I hit the publish button on Writing Conference Preparations – Part 1, I realized I had forgotten something important. I’m not sure if it classifies as preparation because it harkens back to the act of signing up itself. But is probably the most important thing I remind myself when I attend a conference. And that is—

Sign up for everything!

I didn’t do this for my first conference, and I regretted it. 

Conferences are expensive both in terms of time and money spent. I want to get the best return on my investment. I’m sure everyone who attends a writing conference wants an editor or agent to fall in love with their work. But other than working on craft and becoming the best writer I can, there’s no way to control this variable. But I can make sure I’m going to peer critiques and meeting the other interesting people around me. I don't plan to be in my room by myself unless I'm sleeping. When there’s a time slot where I can be active with my peers, I’m in. Pre-conference intensive. Check. Mix and mingle. Check. Writing conference success. Check.

(Wikimedia)

Another way I use my conference time? I volunteer.

At the upcoming NJ SCBWI conference I will be the “workshop facilitator” for one of the workshop sessions. Do I think this will fast track my words to stardom?

Nope. But I do think conferences are important, I appreciate the opportunity to attend and I want to help them run smoothly and keep costs down. If checking the volunteer box helps the organizers who make these opportunities possible, I’m all in.

So what else did I do this week in preparation for the upcoming conference?

I chose my wardrobe wisely. And I’m not talking style. Frankly, as long as it’s within the bounds of decency, I don’t think anyone cares how I dress. At other conferences I’ve attended, depending on the venue, folks wear anything from t-shirts and blue jeans to business casual. But the important consideration is—layers! I spent one entire workshop last year sitting on my hands because the room was so cold. The conference organizers sorted it out later in the day, but that first workshop was physically painful. The reverse can also be true. Air conditioners break or are overwhelmed. I want to be able to focus on the subject matter and not be at the mercy of the indoor elements. 

Yesterday I started practicing my pitch for a recently completed middle grade novel. I have a four minute pitch slot with a terrific agent and I don’t want to sit there like a blathering fool. I know there will be nerves, and I know when push comes to shove I may forget my own name and end up talking nonsense anyway, but at least I know I prepared the best I could. It’s easy to talk about my novel for twenty minutes, not so easy to condense my enthusiasm into one or two, leaving time to talk with the agent.

This morning, I printed off the three copies of my first page for my first pages workshop. Printers have a way of running out of ink/toner at the most inopportune moments (those of you with kids who wait until the last minute to write papers for school know what I’m talking about!). I put it in the folder along with my critiques, hotel confirmation and directions to the venue. While I have a GPS, it’s been wrong before and I’m a visual person who likes to see where I’m going in advance.

I think I’m ready! I'm reading my contributing author's copy of the newest Chicken Soup: Inspiration for Writers, jotting down motivational messages to myself, shadow-boxing writing demons, practicing the Ann Cuddy's TED talk body language.

Anyone have any other suggestions for me?