Here’s my answer:

1) Choose a fairly narrow topic. Even though we didn’t state a word-count limit, by the time you set the stage, tell your story, and bring your point home with a great concluding paragraph or sentence, you’ll have yourself an essay.

2) Choose a topic that conveys something unique about your family/situation, but with an element that other parents are sure to relate to. For example, the individual who posed this question stated that both of her children are brilliant. The way their ADHD impacts their ability to apply/take advantage of that brilliance might be a great focus for an essay. The children’s unusually high levels of intelligence is the unique aspect of the author’s situation, but many parents of kids with ADHD will relate to wondering what if…? How might our children’s lives (choices, successes, failures, opportunities) be different (better? worse?) without ADHD?

3) Read the Call for Submissions several times, looking for key words, and let those key words guide you.

4) We plan to group essays into sections based upon as yet unknown similarities of theme. Those groupings will reveal themselves as essays trickle (or flood!) in. It’s too early to know the various topics we’ll receive essays about, and where the holes will be. As our submission deadline draws nearer we’ll have a better idea of niches that need filling.

5) Still having trouble chosing a focus? Remember, you may chose to submit more than one essay!

Good luck in finding the perfect angle for your essay, and above all, enjoy the writing process!

Kay

Although my review of this book for Adoptive Families magazine will appear in the January/February issue, I couldn’t wait that long to recommend this powerful book. Anyone with an interest in international adoption will be intrigued by this, the true story of Vanya, a boy living in an orphanage in Russia. Because he was born “imperfect”, he’s judged unworthy of any care beyond what it takes to keep his body alive. No one cares about his mind, his emotions, his soul–until he catches the attention of a foreign visitor. That chance meeting is the beginning of a tenous support system, and a chain of events leading to his eventual adoption.

We were only allowed to see a couple of rooms in the orphanage where our daughter, Natalie, spent two of her formative years. But, the routines and caretaker attitudes described in this book took me right back to that cold, old, building. The details of Vanya’s orphanage life go a long way toward explaining the delays Natalie experienced. It’s heartbreaking to think about.

So why dwell in the past? Why put myself through reading this book? Why recommend it to others, especially those with no ties to international adoption? Because thousands of kids still live in orphanages in Russia, and in other countries, and the world should understand what that’s like.

Not all of us can adopt a child from an orphange. But all of us can help. I’m working with some local moms to start an Iowa Chapter of Gift of Adoption Fund, a non-profit group that helps families afford the cost of adopting. Visit http://www.firstgiving.com/krispeters to see just how easy it is to help.

I’ll add a link to my official review of this book as soon as it’s available online. In the meantime, read this book–this call to action. Then act. Everyone can help.

Read with me!

Act with me!

Kay

Besides being one more fact I can point to when trying to convince myself, and when telling others, that, yes, I am a “real” writer (I still need convincing!) it’s fun to have a new project to work on. I thrive on creative projects, especially those that demand organization skills. Kind of weird, since no one would accuse me of being organized at home. I guess organizing bills and throwing away junk mail isn’t as much fun, and doesn’t produce a satisfying end product, like my favorite kinds of projects do.

This book project, an anthology of essays written by parents of kids with ADHD or kids who, for whatever reason, behave in ways that present challenges to their parents, is definitely my kind of project. I didn’t even wait to sign the contract before I got started–I already did a throrough market comparison, wrote the Call for Submissions, and started a long list of venues for placing the Call.

I ran into my former boss, Lynne Carey, the other day, and she’d heard my good news through the workplace grapevine. She congratulated me. “You know how I love having a project!” I said. If anyone on the planet understands my affinity for creative projects, it’s Lynne. I drove her nuts for 9 years with a steady stream of ideas for things I wanted to do, but that ultimately created work for her too.

Well, now it’s Adrienne Ehlert Bashista of DRT Press that has to put up with me! Luckily, I get the feeling Adrienne works a lot like I do. I think we’ll get along just fine.

Watch for more info, and that Call for Submissions, soon!

Read with me; write with me!

Kay

Up until about a week ago, if someone were to ask me what my all time favorite book was, I’d probably say it was Prodigal Summer, by Barbara Kingsolver. Well, move over, Barbara! Kathryn Stockett has hit the shelves!

Stockett’s first novel–first novel!–The Help, is just about as good as a book can get. Set in 1962 Mississippi, The Help focuses on the complex relationships between black maids and the white families they work for. The point of view shifts between three characters: Skeeter, a young white woman who just finished college and wants to be a journalist; and Minny and Aibileen, black women who “tend to” white families. I know this will sound trite, but I’m gonna say it anyway–this book made me laugh, and it made me cry, again and again. I hated to see it end.

I didn’t actually read this book, I listened to it. I always keep an audiobook going in my car, and to listen to when I walk. This one had me making up excuses to drive across town, and did wonders for my exercise routine! I find listening to books to be a much different experience than reading them, and this is one I highly recommend as an audiobook. (I downloaded it from Audible.com.) Three different narrators read the three main characters: Skeeter, Minnie, and Aibileen, lending a wonderful richness to the listening experience.

Ms. Stockett–I can only hope you’re hard at work on another book, and that it’s half as good as this one!

Read with me!
Kay

I have a laptop computer. It’s missing two keys, the o and the p, but long ago I learned to hit the empty spaces where the keys belong just right, and it works fine.

I have wireless internet service at home–and at my favorite coffee shops.

I have a beautiful office center in my bedroom–not a whole office–but a very functional and attractive space to work.

I have several writing assignments to work on.

I have a gift for wasting time.

Today is Friday. Today marks the end of the my third full week of stay-at-home motherhood and freelance-writerdom. What do I have to show for it? A few blog posts and a lot of unaccounted-for time.

I need to develop a daily routine and stick to it. I need to limit the time I spend checking email and websurfing before I start writing; set goals for what I want to accomplish each week.

I keep thinking I should find some books about time management skills for freelance writers, small business owners, or work-at-home types. But wouldn’t reading about time management really just be an excuse to waste more time?

I need to take a lesson from the folks at Nike and…“Just do it!”

Love Walked In, by Marisa de los Santos

This story hit close to home. One of the story’s characters is a girl whose mother (apparently) has Bipolar Disorder. The author’s portrayal of the mother is so realistic that while reading this book, I had nightmares about my father, recently deceased, whose struggles with Bipolar Disorder had a devastating effect on my family and my childhood.

Belong to Me, the sequel to Love Walked In, was also a good read. Although it didn’t effect me as deeply, it was great to revisit Love’s characters and follow the next chapter in their fictional lives.

Read with me!
Kay