Several years ago, I was overwhelmed with life. I had moved with my husband from Washington D.C. to a small beach town in Delaware. I felt excited about living in a beautiful, new place, but I was having trouble adjusting to multiple changes all at once. In addition to the move, our son left for college. I missed him with my whole heart.
So what turned things around for me? The clouds lifted when I started dancing my stress away in a ballet class. Lovely music swept me away. I focused on holding onto the barre, pointing my toes, and extending my leg along the floor for a tendu.
I ended up making friends in the class and writing BRAVE BALLERINA: The Story of Janet Collins – illustrated by the phenomenal Ebony Glenn.
I’m pleased to share 5 storytelling tips from this amazing journey to joy:
1. Tap into your childhood memories. Taking ballet as an adult brought back fond memories of my mother taking me to ballet class on Saturday mornings when I was a little girl. Here is an old, fuzzy photo of me with my big brother after one of my ballet recitals. EXTRA TIP: Brainstorming a big list of your childhood memories = inspiration & story ideas!
2. Do the thing you’re writing about (if possible) – and/or observe it. There was something about doing and feeling the movements of ballet that seeped into my writing. Along with dancing in class, we performed in shows. I’m here in the middle with our ballet teacher (on your left) and another friend. I also observed teen classes to see how they moved across the floor.
3. Consider whether your writing style reflects your book topic. For some writers, this might mean using a snappy style for a funny book. For another writer, it might mean using a serious style for a sensitive topic. In my case, a gentle, rhyming approach worked for BRAVE BALLERINA given the movement involved in ballet. When Janet Collins was a little girl, she stretched her arms to the sky and danced to the rhythm of palm trees swaying in her yard. Opening lines: This is the girl who danced in the breeze to the swoosh, swoosh, swoosh of towering trees.
4. No trouble = no story. This is a common expression in the writing world, but sometimes I forget it. I get attached to my characters and want to go easy on them. But in fiction and narrative nonfiction, conflict is part of the mix. Readers flip those pages to see how it all turns out. For Janet Collins, the trouble was the racial segregation and discrimination she experienced when she was aspiring to be a ballerina in the 1930s and ‘40s. White dancers and black dancers weren’t allowed to dance on the same stage. Still, Janet pursued dance with a passion. When she could not get into prominent ballet schools because of the color of her skin, she found a teacher who gave her private lessons. Despite the obstacles, Janet kept on dancing…and became the first black prima ballerina with the Metropolitan Opera House in 1951.
5. Picture the children. My husband and I loved visiting the Dance Theatre of Harlem school. How wonderful to see young dancers (shown below) sharing a love of ballet.
When I’m writing and revising a manuscript, I like to picture the children and ask myself: Am I telling a story for children? A story children will enjoy and understand? Can I envision reading this book aloud to a room full of children? I want to always remember the children.
P.S. We all made it through the college years!
***GIVEAWAY***
For a chance to win a copy of BRAVE BALLERINA signed by me, leave a comment by March 10. I’ll announce the randomly-selected winner in my next post.
Congratulations to Emma Price for winning a CLARK THE SHARK book from my last post!
Thanks everyone & see you next time!
-Michelle
Congratulations! It sounds like a wonderful book.
Thanks for reading, Natalee!
What a beautiful book, in so many respects. Thank you for sharing Janet Collins’ story as well as your storytelling tips for writing it.
Thanks for reading, Quinette! Happy weekend!
Thanks for inspiring me. This sounds like a wonderful book and an important contribution to children’s literature.
Thanks, Tanya! Appreciate your kind words.
I would love a copy of this book to share with my nieces!
Thanks, Rebecca! Have a great weekend!
What a beautiful book. Congratulations Michelle!
Thanks for reading, Barbara!
This post made my day 🙂 Thank you, Michelle
Hi Lori! Your comment made my day! Happy weekend!
Wow. Your writing is so lovely on the pages that we see here. I cannot wait to see the whole book. And yay for you taking dance lessons as an adult. I’m taking piano lessons, something I always wanted to do. It gives me such a creative outlet. I love it.
Hi Debra! So cool you are taking piano lessons. I admire people who can make music. Enjoy!
This is so lovely! Congrats on making it through the college years 🙂
Woot, woot! Thanks, Katie. Here’s to making it through!
Such lovely joy in these images and gentle guidance in your tips. Thank you!
Hi Cathy! Thanks for reading!
Wonderful post, Michelle. I love how it hinges on your personal experience. We get to know you as well as your book. And your book is lovely! Congratulations.
Hi Patricia! Thank you for your kind words. Enjoy the weekend!
Ebony Glenn is an inspiration. Love her illustrations so much.
Ditto! She is so talented. Thanks for reading!
This book looks beautiful, Michelle. Congratulations! And thank you for the excellent writing advice!
Thanks, Linda! Happy weekend!
Congratulations, Michelle. The book looks beautiful, and I am so glad you have adjusted well to your new home.
Thanks, Lisa! I’m glad it all worked out too, and I love to write at the beach!
I’d love a copy of this beautiful story for my granddaughter, who is taking ballet right now.
Thanks, Stephanie! Enjoy the weekend!
Thank you for sharing your journey and your beautiful book! I love all the photographs and appreciate your tips!
Thanks for reading, Amanda!
I have always loved ballet! Four of my granddaughters have taken ballet lessons and one went on for nine years, though she also loved, and eventually prefered, tap.
I have another granddaughter now with whom I’d love to share this book as she loves dance and music(piano) and singing.
Your granddaughter has many talents! Thank you and have a great weekend!
So wonderful. I remember my days as a child ballerina. I still dance around the house when no one is home.
Love that, Deborah! I love to dance around the house too.
I can relate so much – as a dancer and someone who just sent her son off to college last fall. Thank you for the super useful tips and the inside scoop on your story. I can’t wait to read it! Congrats!
Thanks, Elizabeth! Happy dancing! And what a joy when the college kids come back to us – something to look forward to…
Congratulations, Michelle! I love the lyrical language, and I’m so glad to hear you survived the college years. I’m in the thick of that myself right now.
Thanks, Michelle! I’m proof that you will make it through!
Thank you for the post and for the tips on voice and writing style. I also needed the reminder about conflict. Your book is beautiful and your writing is lyrical and will be mentor text for me.
Hi Danielle – Good luck with your writing!
Thank you for a wonderful, inspirational book! I’m a first year elementary school librarian with a ballet dancing daughter and a daughter looking at colleges, and your book is a must have for my library!
Hi Kathy! Hooray for librarians! Best of luck with the college search!
A beautiful person in a beautiful book. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Terri! Thanks and enjoy the weekend!
Congratulations! I look forward to reading this book. I took adult ballet and wrote a story (very different) about it, too.
Thank you! So great that a ballet class inspired us.
Such an inspiring story. And great reminders for writers. Dance on!
Thanks, Kathy! Have a great weekend!
Thank you for sharing the inspiration for your ballerina book! Those childhood memories really are a gold mine!
Thanks for reading, Judy!
Michelle, this is a lovely book, wonderfully rhythmic. Congratulations! This is one I will add to my personal library.
Yay! Thanks for reading, Debbie!
What a lyrical post. Can’t wait to read, Brave Ballerina. Childhood roots lead to wonderful stories.
Hi Carole! Thanks for reading!
Thank you for writing this beautiful book and telling Janet Collins’ story and sharing your personal story. Congrats on all your books and your son’s graduation!
Thanks, Doreen! Enjoy the weekend!
Thank you so much, Michelle, for these wonderful tips. And what a lovely book!
Thanks, David! Enjoy the weekend!
Thank you for a very inspiring post. I love ballet and didn’t know this story so am looking forward to reading it. Best of luck with your ballet, how lovely to take part as an adult.
Thanks for reading, Sareen!
Michelle, I loved this so much–you were so adorable then and now. I, too, love ballet, and took my firs lessons as a grown-up with a bunch of teenagers. Congratulations!!! The book and story are gorgeous!!!
Hi Vijaya! Thank you! Oh wow — I love that you were dancing with the teenagers!
I love the rhythm you used and the tip about imagining reading the story to children. It is easy to forget who we are writing for!!
Thanks, Margaret! Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Thanks for your accessible writing tips and sharing yourself in this post and through Janet Collin’s story. My daughter, then 14, wanted to try ballet so she joined the only available class at the time – with 9 and 10 year olds! =)
Thanks, Bridget! So interesting about your daughter’s experience. Sometimes age really just is a number and we get to share a common experience with others — whether young, old, or in between. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Thank you for the writing tips. The book looks beautiful. I love the rhythm because it makes me want to dance! : )
Thanks for reading, Linda! Happy dancing!
What a beautiful post! 🙂
Thanks, Tammi!
The book looks awesome, and appreciate the advice!
Thanks for reading, Zachary!
Wonderful! This book looks lovely! It brings back all of those many many hours I spent taking my daughter to dance classes and recitals. Congratulations!
Thanks, Angie! Hooray for dance and sweet memories!
Michelle, BRAVE BALLERINA is an important book to get into the hands of elementary students….Congratulations on being such a successful author.
Thanks, Kathy! Appreciate those kind words. It is exciting for kids to learn about the amazing Janet Collins!
What a truly inspirational and beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Hi Jen! Thanks for reading!
A double gift! An inspiring story and great writing tips! Thank you, Michelle.
Thanks for reading, LeeAnn!
Hi Michelle, what a great writing tip! I hadn’t thought about tapping into activities I was involved in as a child. I’ve been struggling to come up with new story ideas. I can’t wait to brainstorm!
Hi Mary! Great – happy brainstorming and good luck with your writing!
Love how your own experiences led to this beautiful book Michelle!
Thanks, Jill!
I got this book in the mail yesterday and have already read it out loud at least ten times — my three year old is a little bit obsessed 🙂
Having read what feels like several thousand books to kids in the past couple years, I really like how this book stands out for being (a) absolutely beautiful (words and pictures both), (b) a good story, and (c) full of little hooks for my five year to say “but why…”
Thank you!