Member Spotlight: Jean Reidy

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? We all know that humans have stories to tell. Stories that pose problems. Stories that navigate relationships. Stories that entertain, explain, and explore. Stories that love and live and breathe. I think writing is a way to communicate and safeguard those stories. And some of the very best stories are for and about our youngest readers and listeners. Those kids are important. They’re my people. They’re the entire reason I write books. So, writing for them is a job I take seriously.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? I think most writers would agree that going for a walk or a run can work quickly to unblock a text that feels stuck or problematic. But preventatively, I love to have several projects going. And as a picture book writer, I can do that. So that when I hit a roadblock in one, I can jump to another. This has the added benefit of giving projects time to breathe between my writing or revision sessions. Also, I’m a big fan of timers. While I borrowed the idea from the Pomodoro Method, I usually set my timer for more time than I naturally find comfortable, around 60 minutes or so. That forces me not only to write a little longer but also to dig a little deeper. Timed writing somehow unlocks and unleashes lines, language, scenes, stories – you name it! It’s one of my favorite tools.

What is your favorite time to write? I joke with kids and say that my favorite time to write is when I don’t have to. And that’s mostly accurate. Because I love writing with no deadlines looming or contracts to fulfill. But truly, if you gave me my favorite chair, my notebook, my timer, and a cup of tea, that would be all it would take … the perfect time to put words on the page.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? I’ve benefited from so much great advice over the years. And I’m forever indebted to the people who’ve shared it. But there is one thing I like to keep in front of me, kind of my go-to quote, where I try to land with all my children’s writing. It’s from editor Allyn Johnston. “. . . the true goal of all this work we do together: a child, a story, and a deep and long-lasting connection between them.” For me, that means keeping my audience front and center. That, in my mind, says it all.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? I write for children at the beginning of their reading journeys. To play even a small part in those journeys is an awesome opportunity, because beloved books not only launch young kids into the wonderful world of reading but also plant the seeds for their imaginations to blossom. Picture books can help kids make sense of themselves and their world — whether it’s their town, their tortoise, or their time-out corner. So, I love every step in the process — finding those perfect, few, fun and sometimes whimsical words; presenting a concept with pacing and page turns to keep a kid captivated; and leaving room for amazing art to complete the story. In other words, creating a book that a kid will love. It’s a far-reaching, challenging, and delightful responsibility.

Jean Reidy’s Bob Is the Biggest, Strongest, and Smartest, illustrated Amy Jindra Hodgson, is out now with Rocky Pond Books.