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classroom visits

Pre-Published Author Classroom Visits?

May

11, 2011 |

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Yesterday I read an article on classroom visits and workshops in my SCBWI quarterly magazine. In the back of my mind, I started planning what I would do for mine . . . until my brain stopped me.

But you aren’t a published author yet. You’re just wasting your time.

I laughed at myself. I’ve already done a classroom visit, I told my brain. On getting published.

Yes, you read that right. Janet Sumner Johnson, an unpublished author, has done a classroom visit on getting published.

I can hear your questions clammoring through the blogosphere, so I will answer them:

We classify classroom visits as something only the published can do. But why? True, we can’t talk about what it’s like to be published. We won’t have a beautifully bound book to hold up and show the students. But we do have experience and knowledge.

I know many of you could write a query with one arm tied behind your back (as long as it’s not the one attached to your writing hand). Some of you can spew grammar rules like you study the Chicago every day. Some of you know the best way to pinpoint agents in your genre. It may sound basic, but it’s knowledge hard-earned. Knowledge that others would love to gain.

Okay, I’ve said my say. But what do you  think? Should pre-published authors look for opportunities to do classroom visits? Why or why not?

Speak up:

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