I’m a huge fan of reading aloud to children, from infancy until they tell you to stop (hint: this never happens).
But when the story I’m reading is my story, a special kind of magick happens.
Now that THE FAERY SWAP 1st draft is complete (*balloons* *streamers*), I’ve started to read it chapter-by-chapter at bedtime to my three boys (ages 8-12, perfect target audience). Each night, the requests to read start shortly after dinner, which makes Mom super happy. It doesn’t hurt that there’s pictures to go with it:
The AMAZING K. Marie Criddle made these for the first few chapters of THE FAERY SWAP. Can you imagine how much I squee each time I think of her drawing pictures FOR MY STORY?? *dies*
Back to the couch, where we are reading …
Once the chapter is read, the great, mad proliferation of imagination begins.
“You should add an evil sorcerer!”
“And jungle chickens!”
Never mind that there are no jungles nor chickens in the story. My boys don’t wait for the next chapter, they already have one cooking in their heads. And it’s undoubtedly better than the one I actually wrote.
My husband: “Maybe you should give her a chance to read the story, before you decide how it should go.”
No! I want to hear the wild excursions of imagination that my story is sparking in their heads. And then there are the times when their small bodies grow still, huddled together on the couch, eyes wide and ears listening intently to every word. They love it – you can see it in their bodies, hear it in their silence. That’s when I can barely keep reading, because I’m smiling so hard.
The best part is when my 12 yo, the writer, sees the future possibilities: “Oh!” he says. “The bullies! They’ve got to come back in a later scene and do this.”
Do you think? Perhaps. But you’ll have to read on to find out … *evil grin*
The husband actually requested a print out of the rest of the story to take with him on a business trip. And complained when I left him with a cliff-hanger (I hadn’t written the last four chapters at the time).
It seems the adults like to be read to, as well. #perksofbeingawriter
AND IN LATE BREAKING NEWS …
We haz Jungle Chicken:
the jungle parade and practicing his march like the elephants in Jungle Book.”
I love that your family enjoys this time, and uses their imaginations to continue the story in their minds. Love the illustrations, too.
That's so special!! The story sounds amazing and love the pics. Every so often, I'll bounce my stories off my kids. I'm always amazed how they listen.
I usually share my YA manuscripts with my daughters (aged 14 and 11) as I write them. I consider it HUGE compliments if:
a) I catch them sneaking peeks at my laptop when I'm not around
b) They run to the printer if they hear me printing something (and are disappointed if they discover it's just lesson plans for next week's teaching)
c) The younger daughter makes Wii characters to match my protagonist and her love interest
d) The older daughter brags about my manuscript to her friends
@Miranda If they didn't enjoy, then I know I'm doing something wrong! π And Marie is awesome – I'm so lucky she wants to collaborate with me!
@Sheri Isn't it great, having a built in audience? π
@Dianne I know, right? That's awesome. I wish I could share my YA stories with them, but there's too much kissy romance for the boys to tolerate. Yet. π
Huzzah! for finishing! And for brilliant readers!
This is so awesome. Nothing like some input from your target audience!
@Bryan I forgot to mention I bribe them with bedtime snacks. π p.s. thanks!
@Matthew They're not afraid to give it, either. The other day, the 8 yo was schooling me in plot development. LOL
Reading to kids is great, they are an honest audience. The high point of my writing career to date was a three-session reading of my chapter book RUDY TOOT-TOOT to my son's third-grade class. The fan fiction I received was priceless.
@Rick Fanfiction! You know you're loved when that happens!
Isn't it great having a live-in target audience? I bet your boys come up with great suggestions for you, even if you don't use them. Write them down. You never know.
@Kelly They have amazing imaginations! And I should be writing them down. Although it will be a long time before I forget the jungle chickens!
Sounds like an awesome support system.
I also believe into reading to kids starting at infancy, though I won't be reading them any of my adult paranormal books anytime soon. π
@Natasha What, no kissing werewolves for the wee ones? (joking!!) Sharing books, even when they're not yours, is awesome (and part of what got me headed down the path of being a children's author).
Reading aloud to kids is such a wonderful experience. And reading your own stuff has to be remarkable! Set those inquisitive minds loose and see what happens. I'd never have thought about jungle chickens, but now they're quite vivid in my mind.
Woohoo!! What fun! I can't wait until my daughter's old enough to listen and give me suggestions on my MS! Your boys sound so awesome, Susan. And one's already a writer! You can't ask for a better crit partner, I'm sure!
Can't wait to read the whole shebang!
This is fantastic! I love reading the kids' reactions to your book, and how their ever-so-fertile imaginations are at work all the time, wanting to add to the story (jungle chickens? Now *there's* an interesting concept!)
I've just written a 6-part blog series on reading aloud from infancy to the end of life, and I mentioned reading one's own books to kids — but not as eloquently and as delightfully as you have.
Thank you!
@CLee A curse upon those jungle chickens! I can't get them out of my mind either.
@Marie Your daughter is one lucky little lady to have such a talented mama. She's going to think that *of course* everyone thinks up grand stories and draws pictures to go with them. What a magickal childhood she's going to have!
@Elizabeth Thank you for those kind words! And I will have to hop over and check out your posts!
@Everyone I've updated the post. We haz Jungle Chicken. π
OMG! I LOVE JUNGLE CHICKENS!!!! That is so awesome. So is reading to your whole family and having that much excitement about it. Yay!! π
Susan,
I love that you have such a fantastic audience / critique group with your children. You're enriching their lives so much by sharing your writing – I just am in awe. Amazing!!
I read out loud to the whole family on our recent road trip. When we'd stop for potty breaks, each kid (and hubby!) would come whisper to me what they thought would happen next π Cracked me up!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the illustrations! Very cool that your boys are enjoying the story so much. And now that you have the Jungle Chicken illustration, I think he needs to make an appearance in the book, or maybe in his OWN story…!
@LisaGG The jungle chickens totally made my day. π
@Melissa Thanks for your sweet words! π
@Sherrie Isn't it just the best?? I'm sure your kids were going wild for your story! #benefitsofbeingachildrenswriter And Jungle Chicken is such an outsized personality, I'm sure he'll need his own book. π
… and Jungle Chicken has a soundtrack …
Yes, reading to your kids is such a great pleasure, esp. your own stuff! Love the top left drawing of that warty little monster.
@Catherine The monster's name is Pyx, and he threatens to steal the show sometimes. π Thanks for stopping by!
This made me smile so hugely! I LOVE it! I started reading a little of Dark Omen's story this week, too. You must have awesome in your genes.
How wonderful to be able to read to your kids and get such fabulous input and reactions to your writing! Love those illustrations!