A few years ago Charlie started whispering in my ear.  Now, I don’t write for kids. My mind doesn’t think like one and, well, today’s kids are a lot smarter than I give them credit for. But here was this boy telling me his story. What’s a girl to do?

I decided I’d write it anyway. Later I’d let the critics tear it up, but at least I would get that silly boy out of my system. So I started.

First hurdle. It’s a simple story, set in a specific place that doesn’t serve its original function any more.  Also, there are no cell phones or video games in his story, and he copes with a few social issues that were a big deal once but not now.

I hadn’t thought about that.  I was just writing it down the way Charlie told it. But now I had to make sure the reader doesn’t screw up his face and say, “Hey. What about…?” or “Why is this such a problem?”

So…I had to figure out a time line.  All my other stories had been written with a specific time in mind when I started them, so this felt, well, backward. I researched the location and the social issues and the technology and decided where and when I needed to place it.  Gee…all this work for a children’s story.  And I really don’t write children’s stories…  

Next hurdle. I let someone read the first couple chapters. He came back with all sorts of negative comments. He just didn’t understand that it was a KID! He was reading it as an adult, and totally didn’t understand about a child’s imagination. Hmmm… I wondered if I should continue. But Charlie insisted, so I plugged away at it some more.

Then I let someone else read it. I told him, “I really don’t write for children, but…”

He loved it! He had a lot of questions about what was going to happen later, asked me if he picked up on some foreshadowing correctly, and was totally enthusiastic . (Thanks, Roland!)

Then I set Charlie’s story aside for a while to work on other things.  But he’s been tugging on my shirt-tail lately, whispering remember me? And you know - all I have to do is write it.

Another hurdle. I’m really not sure it’s a marketable story. All my friends  say the current children’s market demands technology and modern or futuristic problems.  Part of me says they are wrong…after all, kids were around before the year 2000. Don’t other kids want to know what their lives were like?

***

So, indications are that this story will never amount to anything.  But do we start writing because we want to be famous? Do we write stories purely because they are marketable? Or do we just want to tell stories?

I know MY answer - the REAL reason I’m writing.

I will have the satisfaction of having Charlie in my family. That’s cool with me.