Writopia at Book Culture!

I thought that I was slick with my time-management skills today, house-hunting in Westchester, picking the kids up from school, taking my daughter to ballet - everything leading up to the big event at 6PM: Four of my Writopia students would be reading at the revolving Writopia salon on the Upper West Side at Book Culture on 112th Street. (Because what's one of my missions in life? Mentoring and supporting the next generation of writers, that's what!

My boss, the amazing Rebecca Wallace-Segall called me at 3:30 to check in about this and that. At the end of our conversation I said:

"Can't wait to see you - 6PM, right?"

"Uh - no, it's at 5 - remember?"

Thank goodness she called me! I scrambled, but was able to attend ballet with my daughter, drop her off and pick up my oldest to bring to Book Culture.

And I'm so glad that I didn't miss it - two of my students were a bundle of nerves and wanted to chicken out, but I wouldn't let them.

"I will stand right next to you. If you want me to finish reading the piece for you I will, but you can do this. You can try." The second floor of the book store was packing in a lot of peeps!

There were fifteen children reading excerpts from stories that they had completed at Writopia, ranging in age from 7 to 12. Hats off to all of them - public speaking is the at the top of the list of fears for adults so for children to be able to do it, it is quite an accomplishment. I had the privilege of introducing each one of my students, and stayed with the two who were scared. (Once they started reading though, all traces of nervousness were gone. They were clear, composed - brilliant!)

ALL writers did a fantastic job of completing well thought out and crafted stories in eight weeks. Kudos!