Junie B. Jones Inspires by Joylene M Bailey

 

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I was introduced to Junie B. Jones when my daughters were in elementary school. She was precocious and brave. Endearing, despite her hilarious escapades. I thought her creator, Barbara Park, was ingenious.

I love to read books written for children and young adults. I admire authors who can enter the world of a child and bring us with them. Keep us engaged. And certainly, not every writer can do it.

Park's brilliance was that she could get into a kid's brain. She could tell a story with a five-year-old's voice, from their point of view, and still give a glimpse into what the adults in the scenes were thinking and feeling. 

Barbara Park did something else: she inspired and encouraged me. She showed me, through Junie B. Jones, that writing for children--from their point of view--was doable. More than that, it was publishable!

But it wasn't easy. For example, the chapter book Junie B. Jones and some Sneaky Peeky Spying is 66 pages long. That blows my mind. A children's writer must say everything needed in the fewest possible strong and interesting and just-right words. No, it's not easy. But I do enjoy trying.

I too love to get into the head of a kid. I love the unpredictability, the unique words that come out of their mouths. Their fresh perspectives. It's the most fun I have writing.

I got to wondering as I prepared this post ... did Junie B. Jones inspire me to write for children, or was I drawn to Junie B. Jones because I was innately drawn to writing for children? I still don't have an answer to that one.

Do you find yourself drawn to read the genre in which you write? When you're working on a manuscript, do you purposely read only the genre you're writing in, or do you find it more beneficial to read other genres as well? Does your reading in those genres inspire and encourage you as a writer?

Margaret Atwood's most famous advice for writers is, "Read, Read, Read. Write, Write, Write." Makes perfect sense. I write better when I read. Not just because I'm reading words that are well put together, but because I'm also gleaning from the author how they've formatted their work, how they've used foreshadowing, how best to write dialogue, etc. And for me - when I read books like Junie B. Jones, I'm taken into a child's world. It helps me to get into my own character's head, to bring me into their perspective.

And then the fun begins.

    After that I behaved myself very good. I sat up real straight. And I did all my work. Work is when you use your brain and a pencil." 

Junie B. Jones

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Feature image by HANSUAN FABREGAS from Pixabay.

Joy loves creating stories for children from her home in lake country Alberta where she lives with The Cowboy and an Entlebucher Mountain Dog named Chara. She recently won first place for her children's story, Willard, in InScribe's Fall Contest. Find more of her joy-infused perspective at Scraps of Joy.