Here are answers to some of the questions that I'm asked most often during my author visits to schools:

How long have you been writing?

There are sort of two answers to this question. I believe I've been writing ever since I started kindergarten when I was four-years-old (which was more than 40 years ago!). Even though I didn't know how to write many words in kindergarten (mostly just my own name and simple words like "Mom" and "Dad"), I still "wrote" stories—telling most of the stories with pictures and then adding any words I knew. In first and second grade when I knew how to write more words, my stories became longer and more involved. Next, I had to learn to be a good third grade author, before I could become a good fourth grade author. And so on—all the way through junior high school (middle school), high school, and into college. I believe I'm a good "grown-up" author today because I was a good kindergarten author, a good first grade author, a good second grade author, etc.

The other answer to this question is that I have been writing children's books since 1984 when I got married and started reading picture books to my three- and four-year-old stepsons and began trying to write my own children's stories (but it took 13 years to get my first picture book, Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud, published).

If it took 13 years to get your first children's book published, why didn't you just give up?

Actually, a few times during those 13 years I DID think about giving up. Maybe I wasn't good enough. Maybe I wasn't meant to be an author. But I didn't give up because I LOVED creating new stories—it was like pulling "magic" out of thin air. An idea (which is invisible and something that we can't hold in our hands) could turn into a story on paper (and maybe one day into a book) that people could read, listen to, enjoy. Carpenters can build amazing houses from wood, knitters can knit beautiful clothes from yarn, gardeners can grow gorgeous gardens from seeds. But writers don't have raw materials like wood, yarn, and seeds that people can see and touch. Writers have to use their imaginations, their creativity, their "voice" (special, personal ways of telling stories), and their language, which are all INVISIBLE. These invisible ingredients can then combine to make a wondrous, magical story that might make people smile or nod, giggle or cry, question or understand. When I wrote new stories, it felt like I was making magic—a magic that pleased me, even if I NEVER had any stories published to share with others. And so, I made a decision that I would keep writing because I loved the actual creation of stories.

Did you always want to be a children's book author?

No—you see, when I was growing up, I didn't know any authors. Even though I enjoyed writing, I didn't know that someone could grow up to become an author for a job. I always knew that I would have some kind of job in education, because I LOVED school. And so, I became a speech-language therapist and worked in schools for 21 years doing that job (in fact, my first published books were educational books that I wrote as a speech therapist). It took me many years to realize that being a children's book author could actually be my fulltime job. And as a result, I truly enjoy talking with children at schools and letting them know that if I can work as an author so too can they become an author or an illustrator or both or any other job they'd love to do—if they WANT to and if they work hard enough.

Is it hard being a children's book author?

Yes, I think being an author is the hardest work I've ever done, but it's also the most fun job I've ever had. It's hard because I work long hours (Since I work at home when I write, my work is always right in front of me and so I often work late at night and on weekends, as well as, during regular daytime hours). I also have to juggle lots of parts of my job. Most authors cannot make a living just staying home and writing new books. I do write new stories, but I also do lots of author visits to schools which can involve 2-3 hours of traveling (one way) to schools plus high energy to present at assemblies with hundreds of students and then talking to class after class during the day. I also teach courses or workshops for adults on how they can write for children, which means that I have to prepare what I teach and then read, give suggestions, and grade lots of other people's stories. Plus the "business" of writing takes a lot of my time. I have to revise and improve stories with the help of my editors (sometimes 4, 5, 6, or more times for each story); I have to proofread and help create information about my books that go on book flaps or in catalogues; I have lots of business mail and e-mails to deal with; I have to create and send out information to schools that are interested in having me do author visits to their schools. I also have to read lots for my job. I read many books, magazines, and newsletters on writing so that I can continue to learn to be a better writer. Plus I read hundreds of picture books every year so that I can learn how other people create good stories.

But remember that I said being an author is also the must FUN work I've ever done. I enjoy it so much that I don't mind working long hours. My favorite parts of being an author are sharing my books with kids and seeing their reactions to my stories plus creating new stories (I'll often stay up until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning writing a new story & then I'm sooooooo excited about the new story that I can't sleep and I lay there and wait for my husband to wake up so I can share my new story with him).

What's your favorite book?

If you mean my favorite book that I wrote, I can't choose one. Just like I have three children and can't pick my favorite kid—I love all three of them; they're each special in their own way. So, too, I love all my picture books—they are each special in their own way.

If you mean, what's my favorite book that other people wrote? That's easy—Charlotte's Web by E.B. White—what a wonderful story about friendship, life, and death, and it's all told with scrumptious language that makes me pause to read and reread parts over and over savoring each word. (I hold a special place in my heart for E.B. White. I wrote a term paper about him in high school and he wrote back to be on the typewriter that he used to write Charlotte's Web. Sadly, I don't have that letter anymore. I lost it in a house fire, but the memory is one I cherish.).

And, finally, if you mean what was my favorite picture book growing up? I didn't have one. As unbelievable as it may seem, I didn't grow up reading picture books (oh they HAD picture books—even way back then—but I didn't read them). In school I learned to read with the Dick-Jane-Spot reading series. At home, I was always reading, but I read chapter books—The Bobbsey Twins, The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew. I didn't discover picture books until I was a grown-up, and I've been trying to make up for lost time ever since.

Do you have authors today that you admire and are an inspiration to you?

Yes, there are so many talented authors creating books today. But three special ones come to mind: Eve Bunting, Jane Yolen, and William Steig. Eve Bunting is prolific and has written so many books for kids. She creates books for such a wide range of children, but her "social" picture books are my favorites when she tackles tough issues like war, riots, and homelessness in simple, poetic ways that make her stories (and as a result these difficult issues) accessible to kids.

Jane Yolen has written more than 200 books—200! That's amazing! I think of her and hope one day that I might have 25 books published or 50, but 200—that's incredible. Plus she is so diverse—writing poetry collections, young picture books, YA fantasy books. I'm in awe and impressed.

William Steig is in his 90s and still writing and illustrating, yet his work still seems so fresh and lively. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble and Doctor De Soto are near the top of my favorite books list. He amazes me that he is as talented at writing as he is at illustrating—having won both Caldecott and Newbery Honors—now that's talent (and hard work)!

How do you get your ideas for stories?

Actually, I'm very fortunate—one of my greatest abilities is my creativity. I have hundreds and hundreds of ideas; the challenge is finding the time, the words, and the special way to turn those ideas into stories. I think most people are much more creative than they realize. The problem is that people don't encourage their creativity—they don't use all their senses to notice what's happening around them and they don't ask themselves "what if" questions to add some imagination to their reality. But mostly, I don't think many people keep track of their ideas by writing them down; an idea pops into their heads, but then they forget about it. I have an idea notebook where I save all my ideas. I have hundreds of ideas in my notebook so I'll never have to worry about running out of ideas. I just pull out my notebook when I have time to write and choose an idea that interests me. I also have pen and paper with me at all times (in my car, in my pocket when I go for walks, in my nightstand along with a little flashlight); and so whenever and wherever I get new ideas, I can write them down before I forget them.

As for how I got ideas for individual stories, it varies. Sometimes the idea is based on something that really happened to me (such as, the piglets that ran down my road and inspired Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud). Other times the idea comes from editors (my "writing bosses" at publishing companies) who tell me what kind of story they would like to publish (such as, the editor who asked me to write an autumn story which resulted in Wild Child). Still other times, I ask myself "what if" (such as, what if a family keeps misunderstanding directions while creating a special birthday party for mother as in my upcoming book How Absurd! But That's What They Heard and has a party with baboons rather than balloons).

How do you choose the illustrators for your stories?

Actually, I DON'T choose the illustrators for my books—that's not part of my job. The people who work at the publishing company (editors, art directors, etc) choose the illustrators for picture books. It's their job to know different styles of illustrators and to make a good match between a story that a picture book author writes and an illustrator whose style would complement that story. The publishing companies I work with usually send me copies of sample art from illustrators that they are considering for my stories and ask my opinion, but ultimately it's the publishing company's decision, not mine.

After an illustrator is chosen for one of your stories, do you then get to tell the illustrator how you want the pictures to look?

Nope! Most people are surprised to learn that in most cases the author of a picture book and the illustrator of a picture book do not communicate with each other—even though they are sort of like the two "parents" of a book. Nobody tells me how to write the story in the first place—that's my job. I wouldn't want anyone telling me how to write my stories. Editors certainly give me feedback on revising and improving my stories (so that they are the best they can be before they are published), but they don't tell me how to write the story in the first place. Illustrators will get suggestions from art directors on how to revise or improve their sketches (before they do the final artwork for books); but it's up to the illustrator to draw the pictures that bring the author's story to life according to that illustrator's own style and vision for the book.

The publishing company does send me copies of the illustrator's sketches and the proofs for a book as it is being created; then if I notice any errors (like what is happening in a picture doesn't match what my story says), I can tell my concerns to my editor who will pass them along to the art director who will share them with the illustrator. It's not until a book is published that I finally get the chance to communicate with the illustrator (via e-mail or letter or phone—I don't usually meet the illustrators of my books in person unless they live in or visit Maine). It does seem a little strange that the two people who create a picture book together do so completely separately, but that's the case and somehow it works! (The exception to the rule of no direct communication between the author and the illustrator of a picture book is if the author and illustrator are a "team" from the beginning who plan and develop the book together as they go along).

Why don't you illustrate your own stories?

I think I make good "word pictures," but my drawing is limited to stick figures! And why would I illustrate my books? I've been thrilled with how all the illustrations of my picture books have turned out.

Will you ever write any chapter books (or only picture books)?

I hope someday I will "grow up" enough to write chapter books. I have a few ideas for chapter books, but chapter books seem soooooo hard! Most of the ideas I get are not big enough and not complicated enough to fill a chapter book. Plus it seems like such a challenge to have a good plot (the action of the story) that will keep readers turning the pages, plus good characters that are interesting and seem believable, plus come up with words that will tell that story in my own special voice or style, and research any background information I'd need for a longer story (e.g. a character's hobby, the setting for a story, an historical event mentioned in the story). Phew! I don't know how chapter book authors can make all those parts of writing work so well and fit them into a seamless story. (It is comforting to me though to hear my friends who write chapter books say that they think it's so hard to write picture books because there are so few words to tell a story, plus every word has to be perfect). So maybe someday I'll try a chapter book—it would be a BIG challenge for me. Fortunately, I like challenges.

How long does it take you to write a picture book?

It varies. Sometimes if I'm lucky and I start with a good idea and the words seem to pop right into my head, then I might write a picture book in one night—after working for 3 or 4 hours. Of course, I'll still have lots of revising and improving to do—but the basic story is done. Other times (take School Picture Day for example), it might take me 9 years to write a picture book. I keep writing and revising a story, but it still isn't working. So then I go back and change it again and again and again! Of course, I don't work on it everyday for 9 years—I pull it out and work on it off and on. But it takes all of those 9 years to think and rethink and to learn how to write better so that I can find a way for that story to "work." So, it takes me anywhere from one night up to nine years to write a picture book.

What are your work habits? Do you write everyday? When do you write? How do you write?

I have to confess that I wish I had better work habits. Even though I work hard, I'm not the most organized person I know. My desk is usually overflowing with papers, and I can't find the papers I need when I need them. On the other hand, my husband is very organized, and my sloppiness drives him crazy. He tries to help me to learn to be better organized, but I'm afraid I'm a hopeless cause. The creative part of me is such a BIG part of who I am. And creativity and organization don't seem to go together—at least in my case. New ideas keep popping into my head so I jot them down on papers. I start working on that project, but then I think of a new idea so then I jump to that new idea. And presto—that second idea triggers a third idea, and so on. It truly is a miracle that I get as much writing done as I do. I think I am reasonably productive because I'll get excited about a project and then work on it—until the wee hours of the morning or forget to fix a meal for my family. It will feel like I've been writing for an hour, but it's actually been four hours!

Lynn's first, scribbly draft of How Absurd! But That's What They Heard

I have an office area in a section of my living room with my computer, but I do most of my creative writing lying on the couch with a clipboard and pen (I CAN'T write a creative story directly onto the computer. When I was growing up, we didn't have computers & so my brain learned to create by writing my ideas on paper with a pen—that way I can scribble and cross-out and draw arrows. I even wrote 300 and 400-page teacher books long-hand on paper and afterwards typed them onto the computer!).

I also tend to do my best writing late at night between 11 pm and 2 am. I LOVE late nights—the house is so quiet and peaceful and nobody calls me up or knocks on my door then.

I tend to go through writing spurts when I'll write some every single day, day after day (just ask my agent, I might send her 3 or 4 new stories within a week or two); but likewise, I'll go days and days (weeks and weeks) without doing any NEW creative writing (of course, I will work on revising with editors and the business stuff on my desk). This inconsistency is my worse writing habit and one I want to, need to, have to change. Writing is like exercise—the more you exercise, the easier it is to exercise And the more you write, the easier it is to write. When I go weeks without writing creatively, it's like my brain is stiff and can't get going. But when I write regularly, the words and ideas seem to race right out of my brain—more ideas and stories than I have time to write. I hope someday I can tell you that "YES" I write everyday for at least two or three hours.

What writing advice would you give others?

For kids, I'd suggest:
--Remember to PLAN your stories before you write. If you don't plan your story, it will get lost. A plan is a map to show you where your story is going. So BEFORE you start writing, stop and think about what will happen in your story. Your BRAIN should do more work than your hand or your pencil or the computer do!

--Don't try to write LONG. Try to write WELL. I know many kids who think that because they write a story that is 15 or 26 or 49 or 77 pages long that it must be a great story, but it isn't. Long stories can be boring, and long doesn't mean good. Good means good. It's better to write a short story that you've worked hard on and have revised several times. It's easier to revise and rewrite a shorter story, and a short story can (and usually is) better than a long story.

--If you want to be a good writer, you must read, read, read, and read some more. You have to fill yourself up with good words before you can spill out good words. If you like reading mysteries, then try writing mysteries. If you enjoy reading poetry, then write poetry. If you devour fantasy stories, then create your own fantasy stories.

--Have fun PLAYING with words. You don't always have to write finished pieces. You can write a list of words that rhyme. You can write down funny jokes that you hear. You can write down sounds that you notice at the ocean. You can make up funny-sounding names for characters (just their names, don't worry about their stories—yet). You can write a bunch of first sentences for stories (only the first sentence). You can rewrite nursery rhymes so that YOU are the main character in them. You can write something that a 100-year-old burglar would say or a 50-pound ant would say or a frozen sun would say. You can write the names of tall things with tall letters or the names of curved things with curvy letter. You can write upside down words and purple glitter words and white-chalk-on sidewalk words. You can make up words (it's not against the law!). I believe we'd all be better writers if we played with words more. And just as there is no right or wrong way to play with blocks or clay, there is no right or wrong way to play with words. Just start playing and enjoy!

For adults (who frequently ask me for advice on writing for children), click HERE to see a copy of a letter that I wrote for aspiring children's book authors.