Write What You Know (And What You Want To Change)

I’ve always been a writer, but never a children’s book writer. I wrote screenplays, musicals, tons of commercials, humorous op-ed pieces for the Times. But never a kids’ book.

Until I had kids.

Three boys — Charlie, Joe and Jack — who all hated to read.

Now, here’s the thing. I LOVED to read as a kid. I was a book-devourer. So when I had kids of my own, I was so excited that I could share my love a reading with them!

Didn’t exactly work out that way.

After my kids made up their minds to avoid books, I sprang into action. I scoured the libraries and bookstores and tag sales and lost-and-founds to find the magic book that they would love. I never found it.

But what I DID find was the passion to try to create something that would possibly help my kids change — that would turn them into readers. I decided to try and write my OWN magic book, about a kid just like them, who loves his family, is nice, funny and respectful, but just happens to really, REALLY dislike books. That’s how the Charlie Joe Jackson series was born. To tell you the truth, I highly doubt they’re magic books. But if they make even one non-reader change his mind about books just a little bit, then I’m satisfied. And my kids even read the books! (I forced them to, but still.)

I liked writing Charlie Joe so much I decided to keep writing. My new book, JACK STRONG TAKES A STAND, is also about something I know very well but would love to change: the epidemic of overscheduled kids. And the one after that, KATIE FRIEDMAN GIVES UP TEXTING, is about how addicted kids are to their phones.

So that’s the secret for me. When I write what I know, I’m satisfied. But when I write about something I know I’d love to change, then I’m inspired.

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Today’s guest blogger is Tommy Greenwald, the author of the Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide To series. Tommy’s most recent book, Jack Strong Takes a Stand, was just published by Roaring Brook/Macmillan in September 2013. Find out more about Tommy on his website!

Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.

If you’d like to write a guest post for the ALSC Blog, please contact Mary Voors, ALSC Blog manager, at alscblog@gmail.com.