Artist Initiative
ACHF Arts Access
To complete a draft of my novel for children, Vincent's Lens, and develop skills as a novelist beyond what I've achieved as a short story writer. The outcome will have been achieved if I have completed a draft of the novel such that its dramatic arc and movement within multiple characters have been made complete. 2: To promote engagement in and discussion of the literary arts with children in the target age range of the book, approximately ages 9 to 13. The outcome will be achieved by my presenting my work and leading discussions and workshops at Seward Montessori K-8 public school in Minneapolis during the Seward Read-Around event held every February.
I added a great deal of new material to my novel Vincent's Lens (approx. 60 pages) and extensively revised much of the material I had completed before the grant period. In the process I improved my grasp of the arc/shape of the novel and reimagined some of the rules on which the fantasy world is based, allowing me to finally grasp what the ending will require in terms of both the surface plot-level arc and the underlying emotional arc. 2: I presented to two E-2 (grades 4 and 5) classrooms at Seward Montessori School, a public school in the Minneapolis district on February 28, 2014. I spoke with 31 children in each of two classes, Peggy Solensten's class in room 211 and Kelley Dean's class in Room 212. I read an excerpt of my novel and received enthusiastic advice on what was working and what was not from the book's target age group. I introduced students to literary journals, particularly journals that publish writing of children their age, and discussed the editing process.
Other, local or private