Do Your Family a Favor and Talk Some Sense Into Them

My sister wrote and illustrated a short picture book for my mother as a Christmas present. Now my parents want me to bring the book to my editor and see what she thinks. I know exactly what shed think: "No. Thank you, but no." Oh, the story and the drawings are cute and fun, but I dont think the story can be stretched out to fill 32 pages (or whatever the length of a picture book is). However... I am not an editor. Is it possible that Im the short-sighted one?

Well... you never know. Ive said hell no to manuscripts that went on to thrill the socks off of another editor and were published very nicely. (I still say hell no, but clearly some people love that stuff.)

I dont think my editor needs another picture book submission from a) someone who thinks their relative is brilliant, or b) someone who thinks they have an in because they know someone at the publishing house.

Thats true.

Then again, it would take 30 seconds to read.

But how long to say no to it, and graciously? Thats the time-suck.

Am I refusing my sister a fair chance? Or, should I just tell her to re-write the story until its good enough? Also, is there a way to let parents down gently, without making it sound like the gift was terrible?

I dont know your family members, so I dont know what will make sense to them. You should at least try to bring across to them that editors field a LOT of friends-and-family manuscripts and they dont appreciate it. So while (of course) you are willing to do your sister as many special favors as there are stars in the sky, your editor isnt.

Editors are often sympathetic, patient people at heart (though overworked), but I know they all wish that more people understood that when one asks ones author friend to do a favor and send a manuscript to their editor, one is not asking the author to do you a favor-- emailing something takes very little time, and no energy. What one is really doing is asking the editor to do you a favor, and you dont get to ask strangers for favors.

Still, your editor likes you and wants to be kind, so sending your editor one manuscript from your family is probably ok with her. You may want to let your sister know that this is the only special favor youll be able to ask of your editor-- so is this the manuscript she wants to use her golden ticket on?

And as far as your parents: I dont understand why, but its clear that many people cant believe something is wonderful unless everyone else agrees. Which, in case anyone reading is feeling low on logic, MAKES NO SENSE. Publishing a manuscript is about appealing to thousands of people. There are lots of wonderful manuscripts that would make dozens, or scores, or even hundreds of people happy. They cant be published. They would be cherished, and they would sell, but they would not sell enough.

Publishing is about appealing to people who spend money on books. Publishing is about appealing to strangers. In terms of the story that a daughter writes for her parents, there is simply no excuse for any conclusion besides this one: if the parents think the story is wonderful, then it has appealed to the only important people in the world.

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Dont Let Them Push Your Buttons

Lets face it, most teachers have one thing that just pushes their button. Personally, pencils are it for me. A student not having a pencil or needing to sharpen a pencil in the middle of my lesson drives me a little crazy. A student has to have a sharpened pencil, so whats a teacher to do? My solution was a classroom economy.  Ive used many different types of classroom economies over the years. All of them were great but some a little too complicated to maintain.I couldnt juggle the ones that required me to write out checks, cash them, and deduct taxes. Dont get me wrong, if you can do all that, I applaud you. I just personally cant do it. Ive finally created the perfect classroom economy for the busy teacher and one that will eliminate the button pushing. Drum roll please..... Introducing the Easy Classroom Economy! (Click on the picture for your free copy)  I give the students $10 every Friday afternoon. Every Wednesday I charge $5 for desk rent. If a student doesnt have enough money to pay for their rent, they have to do math facts sheets instead of participating in extra recess. (I love having this extra 15 minutes a week for motivating students, but I know many teachers wouldnt be allowed to give an extra recess. You could use their regular recess time instead. Another option is to have learning games time as the extra "recess".) On Friday afternoons, before I pass out the money for the next week, I open my store for students to spend their money. I have three baskets with small toys and cards with things like chew gum in class, homework coupon, free time on the computer,  etc. The baskets are priced at $5, $15, and $25. Very simple and easy to maintain.
The best part of the system is that I use it as my behavior plan, too. I have a list of Fines and Fees that students must use their economy bucks on. This is where you stop letting them push your buttons. I made a list of all the things that drive me crazy and put a fine to the offense. My students are allowed to freely sharpen their pencil before 8:15 a.m. but after that its going to cost them a $1. Just like magic, no one EVER asks to sharpen their pencil anymore. Really!!! Rarely do I have to supply a child with a pencil either because they now cost $2. No name on paper.......$1. Repeating directions.....$1.  Going to the bathroom outside of bathroom breaks...........$1. Whining.......$2. Tattling for the pure pleasure of getting another student in trouble..........$2. Having a happy non-stressed out teacher...........Priceless!
Homework has its own separate reward and consequence. The one I use is very similar to the one Laura Candler recently blogged about.  Its a great post that you must check out. Click HERE to read it.
The bottom line is I try not take a students misbehavior or missing assignments personally. I charge them economy bucks for misbehavior and put them in study hall for missing assignments. Of course, there will be students that are not motivated by either of these methods, but it will work for most students. Id love to hear what works for you in your classroom.

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