Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
If you’re looking for advice on writing a book, this piece will disappoint you. I don’t know how to write a book, but I do know a good book when I read one. If you are an author, or like me, a champion of books, please keep reading. This is what I believe every reader, especially our young people, needs from our authors.
We need stories.
Give us books that make our hearts break for all of the injustices in the world so we can rewrite a better ending for ourselves and our communities. Then give us stories about enchanted forests and magical creatures so we can escape from reality into the fantastical world you have created. Tell us the truth about our past by creating stories of historical fiction. Then make us laugh with the silliest story you can imagine. All stories have merit. Whatever you do, don’t abandon us because you think for a minute that we don’t need your story. We do. And whether it takes weeks, or months, or years, we will wait patiently for your story to be told.
We need originality.
Artificial intelligence is a cancer to authentic thoughts and feelings. Will my students be able to think for themselves when AI so conveniently thinks for them? I am not a troglodyte; I see the benefits of Chat GPT and other chatbots. But after 25 years in public education, I believe in every fiber of my being that there is nothing more important than good stories. If we cannot lure our students away from the shallow writing of AI, we must attract them to the depths of understanding offered by reading widely and reading often. It’s time to double down on good stories. And for that, we need you, dear authors.
We need courage.
Every week it seems as though I am reading an article about books being banned. These are uneasy times for all of us who believe in the power of the written word. But I promise you this: if you have the courage to tell the stories that must be told, there are people out there who have the courage to share them. I beg you: do not let fear be your silent censor. Some things are worth fighting for, and the freedom to read is one of them. So be daring and write the books my students need. Don’t shy away from the difficult topics. Write about what it means to face hate because of the way you look, the way you love, and the way you worship. Those stories are needed now more than ever.
On behalf of all the teachers, librarians, and people nurturing our young readers, thank you to our authors. Your imagination, your work, and your courage inspire us to keep going. Stories are sacred. So, too, are the people who share them. You are a gift to the world. Keep writing, no matter what.
Jen Kleinknecht has been an educator at Henry B. Whitehorne Middle School in Verona, NJ since 2001. She encourages all people who believe in the power of books to support public libraries, independent bookstores, and young people everywhere who deserve deserve good books in their homes and their schools.