Choose Your Own Adventure, Like Writing a Book
Laurel Snyder said she has been “working on a book every day for the last 42 years.” The author, who attended school in Roland Park where her book-writing journey began at the age of 8, visited Gilman’s Lower School students over four presentations on Wednesday, November 20. During meetings with boys in pre-k through second grade, Snyder used her gift of storytelling to narrate her author journey. She delighted the audience with imaginary dragons, flying fairies, and cackling witches. “I really enjoyed listening to the author tell her life stories,” said Charlie, who is in second grade. “I liked the funny parts about when she was 8 years old, like me.” Second grade teacher Karen Cooper called it a “wonderful experience for the boys and a joyful one for me as an educator.”
Senior Library Assistant Alice Garten agreed. “Laurel engaged the young kindergartners just as well as the fifth graders.” For the older boys, Snyder spoke about her process for writing choose-your-own-adventure books — the boys had already read her latest in this genre, “Endlessly Ever After” — which involves a system of organizing ideas on little pieces of paper sprawled out on the floor of her room. “Adults attach the idea of work with a computer,” she said, citing tasks like taxes, bills, and assignments. Since she doesn’t want to bring her “grown-up work brain” to her writing process, she starts with crayons and markers instead. Oftentimes, she goes for walks without her phone and collects objects she finds to begin developing a character.
Fifth graders have been working on their own choose-your-own adventure books during their time in the library, so these tips were helpful. “Students were able to make tangible connections between their creative personal writing process and the author’s,” said Lower School Librarian Melissa Da. “Brainstorming ideas is just as important as writing, outlining, or editing. I hope this experience is one the boys will remember as they continue with their own writing journeys.”
Eventually Snyder’s little pieces of paper turn into something more closely resembling a book, but she is far from done. She spoke about her experience working with editors, illustrators, and publishers along the way. And although she has published 30 books, she shared that most of the ones she starts don’t make it all the way to publication. However, every now and again, a book that she puts away for a while is resurrected at a later time. “Sometimes my now brain can’t fix it but my later brain might know things my now brain doesn’t know,” Snyder said. To that end, Cooper commented, “It is incredible to hear an established author share her struggles and successes.”
To close out her fifth grade visit, Snyder read from her upcoming choose-your-own-adventure book, which is written in poetry form. Students enthusiastically voted on the twists and turns the book should take, and Snyder enjoyed their feedback. “These kinds of conversations are really good for me,” she said. “You can’t write in a language you don’t speak, and since I’m not a kid, I have to hang out with kids so I can speak the language.”
Cooper appreciated the advice Snyder gave the boys about accepting constructive criticism of their writing. She told them to always be willing to listen to someone who is willing to read their work and help make it better. “My boys said they saw writers in such a different light. This is what I love about Gilman!”
Choose Your Own Adventure, Like Writing a Book
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