How is it blog time already? I feel like I just wrote the last one yesterday!
That “clear week” I thought I had to write last week? I have no idea where it went.
I got no writing done.
My Board of Ed duties and medical stuff ate up many more hours than I expected, which left me too frazzled and scattered to focus on my writing.
I am approaching some of the more difficult edits in Veritas, so I need some solid quiet time to be able to think these things through on the page.
And, no, I was not avoiding the edits through creative procrastination (this time).
I am actually eager to tackle these edits, as I am confident I can improve the story as I barrel toward the end. I am about 85 pages from the end, so I can feel it!
Once I finish these edits, I have farther to go. I will have to re-read it again for continuity. I also have other, smaller threads I want to weave in.
Then I have an entire craft book to read, to see if I can (or have) incorporated the ideas in that book, as suggested by my editor.
Will I get to this in the coming week?
No. No, I will not.
Why?
BOOK FAIR!!
My favorite event, creating and encouraging readers.
Veritas will wait one more week.
Book Fair Fall 2022–CoronaLife Day 936
Last week was IN. SANE. I had meetings or activities every night, plus it was the always busy BOOK FAIR! This Fair was Lego-themed, as we are building better readers.
Book prices have been rising over the past few years, and we definitely saw far fewer books at $5 or less. Book fairs are already becoming events of priviledge, and if prices continue to rise, the divide between the haves and have nots will become starker.
Disadvantaged children are often the very children that struggle with reading, and who do not have books of their own at home to practice with. Many studies have shown that one of the main predictors of academic success is the number of books in the home.
In an effort to bridge the divide, our school is trying to establish a fund to ensure that kids in need walk out of the Fair with a book in their hands. We did well with it this year, and hope to extend its reach next Fair.
Our next Book Fair will be in 2023. As an example of why I love working with our kids, I had this gem of a conversation with a Kindergartener:
Me: You can use the rest of the money in your account at the next book fair.
K: We’re having another one?
Me: Yes, we are having one in February.
K (looking sad): But I don’t live in February.
I then explained it would be in the same library, but in winter. She was much happier!
I have spent much of this week recuperating from the long days last week, and catching up on a thousand things I had no time for.
I’m hoping to get back into the swing now, but Octobers are historically crazy for me, so we shall see how it goes!