T.A. Barron's Blog, page 8

Keeping Your Story Boat Afloat

Did you know that before my first manuscript was published, I received 32 rejections?

Thirty-two “no thank you”s. Thirty-two “we’ll pass.” Thirty-two “thanks, but no thanks.” That, friends, is A LOT of nos. 

But fortunately, not enough to make me give up. And I say fortunately because, to date, I have also written 32 books! 

Perhaps 32 is a lucky number for me. 

It’s certainly a number I’ve learned a lot from, especially when it comes to keeping creativity alive and finding inspiration for building, nurturing, and sharing your story. 

I don’t have 32 tips to help you along this journey, but perhaps these will help you launch your own story boat. 

3 Things You Must Remember to Keep Your Story Boat Afloat Know your why.

I find that when I’m in the creative process, it helps to remember why I’m doing it, what it’s about, and what the goal is. I maintain focus on the idea that my stories are like little boats, that I’m spending time crafting until they are finally shipworthy and ready to sail. My little story boats will have the opportunity to touch many people around the world and, I hope, leave them with something meaningful. 

That’s my goal–to touch as many people in a meaningful way through my stories as possible. In the face of adversity, including multiple rejection letters, it can be easy to get discouraged with the process. Maintaining focus on that end goal helps me to persevere.

Talent is nice, but discipline is essential.

Writing is a craft and, like any skill, the only way you get better is by doing it. It’s one of those things that just takes practice. You train your brain to be open and available to the creative process. And that’s when the magic happens! 

Sometimes I’m in my writing room working on a chapter for several days and can’t get a single good sentence, not one. And then suddenly, that next night or the next morning, it all suddenly happens. I wake up at 3:00a.m.and I know what I need to say and how to say it. I go right to work, and I can’t write fast enough! 

That’s the miracle of it, when the creative process is magical. And I know that none of that magic would have happened if I hadn’t gone through the agony of the several days before that.

Write things down.

I know in this day and age there are countless options for taking notes. You can even dictate your notes into your phone or device and it will type them out for you. I appreciate the convenience of features like this and I even utilize them in many situations, but when it comes to storytelling, it’s all by hand! 

Believe it or not, I actually handwrite every first draft of my manuscripts! There’s something quite wonderful about what happens with the hand and the brain together. When you write things down by hand, the neuroscience shows you really do capture them more as an embedded memory, an image, and it has a longer life. It has a deeper life.

I know writing an entire story by hand makes me slower, but it also makes me go more slowly through the story. It makes me feel my way through the story more intentionally and in a way where I can better connect with the undercurrents and dialogue of it. 

Want to learn more about my creative process and how I keep my story boat afloat? Tune into episodes four and five of my podcast, Magic & Mountains.

Excerpt from Episode 4

by T. A. Barron | Magic & Mountains: The T. A. Barron Podcast

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Using Mythology to Write Fantasy: Creating the Merlin Saga

Children and young adults understand both the fun and the power of a good story.

What could be more exciting than traveling without limits to other times, other value systems, and other universes? Creating lands in those other dimensions, where reality is bent in intriguing, yet somehow still believable ways, can be a challenge. 

And just as the places must feel real, the characters of your tale must also be real to readers. Their personalities, their backstories, their hopes and dreams… these must all feel as if you know the character personally. 

The problem you face is where to begin.

It All Started with a Dream Excerpt from Episode 2

by T. A. Barron | Magic & Mountains: The T. A. Barron Podcast

https://tabarron.com/wp-content/uploads/Merlin-Quotes.mp3

My journey with Merlin began with a dream. And I knew from that moment I had been given a story that had to be told. After all, we’ve all experienced the power of this great wizard in stories old and new, but never before had it been told as an origin story. 

Where did his power come from? What must he have endured and experienced as a youth to be so wise? What is it about this great human that has caused us to find reasons to be immersed in his story for over 1500 years? 

I realized that, in the glorious tapestry of myth about Merlin, a tapestry whose luminous threads had been woven over 15 centuries, there was a big hole: the years of his youth. So that was my greatest challenge: To fill in this gap, this mystery, of his youth – with all the richness and majesty and power Merlin deserves!

Building Lore from Myths, Legends, and Tales

Like many other writers — J.R.R. Tolkien, for example — I’ve drawn much inspiration from ancient myths that have endured for centuries.

Whether Celtic lore, Norse legends, Greek myths, or Native American tales, those myths carry great power. But they may also have gaps that can be filled by modern storytellers. If that is done with great respect, we can have the best of both worlds: stories with enduring depth and a fresh, original twist.

Taking ancient myths and metaphors and giving them fresh new forms is one of the greatest challenges, as well as joys, of writing. If the writer can succeed at that challenge, longstanding truths become vibrant and meaningful to new generations of readers.

My Favorite Sources for Creating Lore

There is a tremendous amount of material on Celtic, Greek, Druid, Norse, and Christian sources. All of those sources have informed my writing. All of them hold great depth and richness. 

Here are my suggestions on where to start:

For an overall perspective, nothing beats Joseph Campbell’s classic, Hero With a Thousand Faces. 

An excellent text on Celtic history and myth is The Celtic World, edited by Miranda J. Green and published by Routledge. You will also want some good resources about the ancient Druids — the kind of book or website that will help you discover that I took the phrase “Dance of the Giants” from the old Druid word for Stonehenge. 

A great book on Greek mythology is Gods and Heroes: Myths of Ancient Greece, by Gustav Schwab, published by Pantheon. In this text are all the stories I refer to in The Lost Years of Merlin books – and many more. For example, this book contains the lovely story of Baveis and Philemon, which foreshadows what will happen to the old couple T’eilean and Garlatha whom Merlin meets on his initial quest.

For some additional references, check my Author’s Note at the beginning of The Lost Years of Merlin. I name several good sources, including the poet Tennyson and the British historian Nikolai Tolstoy.

The amalgamation of these stories, tales, and texts has helped me create the various layers of my fantasy lands so that you, as readers, are able to feel as though you’re stepping into a complete world. These existing tidbits of lore give my lands their own histories and depth, without getting readers too bogged down in countless hours of backstory.

Reality Gives Fantasy Wings

Whatever worlds I’ve written about—whether Merlin’s Isle of Fincayra, Avalon, the lost island of Atlantis, a fictional Native American tribe, a faraway galaxy, or any other place—must feel authentic. That’s the key.  

Creating lands that are as relatable as they are fantastical requires intricate attention to detail. You must think about the unthinkable, consider the unimaginable, and make the myth and the magic make sense. I find creating lore — the stories behind the stories — to be one of the most difficult, but also delightful parts of my storytelling. 

If that world feels real, then anyone can enter into it — and have a big adventure. Those imaginary places need to feel every bit as real as a Colorado wildflower meadow in the height of summer — with all the right colors, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches.

All of my greatest stories, as original and unique as they are, don’t stand alone. It is their various existences in the fabric of our realities, the lore, and myth that permeates our histories, that give them their meat and strength. It’s what makes them relatable and authentic in a way that doesn’t require you to entirely suspend reality to enjoy them. It just asks you to push what you know aside to make way for something even more magical! 

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Myths, Magic, and Podcasting: A T. A. Barron Interview by Betsy Bird
School Library Journal
October 11, 2022
View Online | PDF Folks, I’ve been around a while. Met a lot of folks. And about nine years ago I did something I’d never done before: I finally visited the Bemelmans Bar. Imagine, if you will, a beautiful little watering hole located in the Rosewood Hotel in Manhattan, and inside, more surfaces than you would ever think possible are painted by none other than Ludwig Bemelmans himself. The man behind Madeline! I’d always wanted to go, but it took an invitation to get me there. And that invitation came from none other than author T. A. Barron himself. We struck up a friendship that day.

Mr. Barron’s had quite the career of his own. Sure, he’s the award-winning author of more than 30 highly acclaimed books, many of which are international bestsellers. Sure, he’s won the de Grummond Medallion for “lifetime contribution to the field of children’s and young adult literature” as well as many other awards. But what you may best know him for are his book. Books like The Merlin Saga, The Great Tree of Avalon (a New York Times bestselling series), The Ancient One, and The Hero’s Trail (nonfiction stories of courageous kids).

And now Tom’s doing something entirely new: podcasting. Called Magic & Mountains, it’s described this way:

“In this first season, T. A. explores the creative writing process, the enduring magic of Merlin, the wonders and inspiration of nature (as well as the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss), the power of young people to make a positive difference in our world… and he’ll also invite listeners to “see your life as a story.” On some episodes, he will interview some truly wonderful guests; on others, you will hear T. A. sharing his own magic as a storyteller.”

How does a fantasy author make the switch to an audible medium?

You know what this means: Question Time!!

Betsy Bird: Tom! So great to talk to you today. You’ve been a fantasy book creator for, I dare say, decades. Now you’re switching venues, slightly, and getting into the podcasting game. Can you tell us a bit about the show and where it came from?

T. A. Barron: Lots of folks have asked me to do a podcast, but for a long time I resisted. Then I realized it’s really another form of storytelling. While the form is certainly different from writing a novel, a movie script, or a children’s book — all of which I’ve done — the core elements of telling a good, gripping story are the same. And I’ve had lots of practice using my voice to share stories around the campfire (or the breakfast table) with our kids… so it’s familiar terrain!

BB: I understand you’ll be talking to some creators on your show. Can you give us a sneak peek to some of the folks you’ll be chatting with?

TAB: Sure! I’m thrilled to share some truly sparkling conversations with people, ranging from Carolyne Larrington (professor at Oxford and the world’s greatest expert on British folktales and Merlin) to Rue Mapp (founder of Outdoor Afro, a superb group that supports Black people experiencing nature) to marvelous young people who are helping our world. And of course, I will share stories about brilliant creators I’ve known like Madeleine L’Engle and Eric Carle. In addition… since the podcast episodes were recorded in my writing room at home, all those wonderful characters from my stories are “in the air” — so you can also expect to hear the voices of the wizard Merlin, Rhia, Atlanta, Shim, Trouble, Promi, the Grand Elusa, and many more!

BB: One aspect of Magic & Mountains that particularly appeals to me is the focus on “the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss”. I’m intrigued by the connection made between this and the fantasy elements you’ve discussed for years. Can you delve a bit into their connection and what they mean to you? What is the connection between conservation and fantasy?

TAB: Brilliant question. Throughout my life, I’ve been inspired by the sacredness of nature — its power to heal and teach and transform us all. Nature has been the greatest mentor in my life, giving me hope when I’ve most needed it, or reminding me of my own power of renewal and rebirth when I’ve felt deeply sad.

So it’s no surprise, really, that those themes are woven through all my books, whether fantasy novels about young Merlin or the origin story of Atlantis, children’s books about brave young people, or nonfiction tales of heroic kids. Today, young people are really hungry for big ideas and tough questions about life. So even if a fantasy tale happens on a magical world like Merlin’s isle of Fincayra, the big questions and core values are the same as those right here on Earth. Smart kids totally get that connection!

On top of that, we are living in a time when human actions are causing serious damage to our climate and the planet that supports us and all living creatures. So I hope that my stories might inspire young people to care even more deeply about the future of the environment… and also remind them of their power to make a positive impact.

BB: I see that you’re starting off with 12 episodes in your first season. Do you have any intention of creating other seasons as well? Where would you like this show to go as you produce it?

TAB: Absolutely! I’m already dreaming up some fun ideas and awesome interviews for the next season. And who knows? Maybe, if the Disney movie of young Merlin keeps making good progress… I’ll be recording some episodes on a film set.

BB: Oh, that’s neat! Which takes me to my last question, actually. I know that you’re particularly busy. So I ask you, what else are you working on these days?

TAB: You’re right that my life is busy! I’m grateful for so many blessings — including the small ways I can try to help our troubled world. Among them are writing new stories (I’ve got two in the works right now), supporting fabulous kids through the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes (which I named for my Mom), and helping superb conservation groups like World Wildlife Fund, Earthjustice, The Wilderness Society, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Alaska Wilderness League. On top of that… I’m always grateful for time with my wonderful wife and kids, as well as time out in the marvels of nature. Oh, and I’m now learning to play marimba, hoping to make something that sounds vaguely like music!

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T. A. Barron Announces New Podcast

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Congratulations to 2022’s Barron Prize Winners

Each year, the Barron Prize awards outstanding young people whose actions serve as an inspirational example of the power we all have to make a difference in the world. Over the past two decades, the Barron Prize has honored 550 young heroes from across the U.S. and Canada. They have helped the hungry and the homeless, invented life-saving technologies, protected our oceans and endangered species, and addressed climate change, almond myriad other initiatives. I invite you to take a moment to read through this year’s list of marvelous, accomplished young people, to visit their project sites, and learn more about them!

Anna D., age 17, of Alaska, who founded Promote Our Pollinators (P.O.P.) to raise awareness of pollinators’ importance and devastating decline, and to provide ways to promote their population growth.

Aseel R., age 17, of Texas, who developed an inexpensive and environmentally-friendly solution to mosquito-borne diseases. Her novel method uses household essential oils and baker’s yeast to create a larvicide that could be produced in industrial quantities.

Austin P., age 17, of Washington, who founded Save Our Salmon Through Art (SOS) to create vibrant public art projects and murals in the Greater Seattle area that engage, educate, and empower communities to restore salmon spawning streams.

Ethan H., age 11, of Alabama, who created Ethan’s Heart Bags4Blessings to support individuals experiencing homelessness in his city.

Hannah G., age 15 of Texas, who founded San Antonio Math Include (SaMi) to increase access to STEM education for underserved students.

Jack D., age 12, of New Hampshire, who works to protect critically endangered orangutans and their rainforest habitat, as well as to educate and inspire people to protect the environment.

Karina S., age 17, or Florida, who founded the Florida chapter of Bye Bye Plastic Bags (BBPB), an international student-led nonprofit committed to reducing the amount of plastic on the planet.

Karun K., age 17, of California, who created X-Check-MD, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) software that can diagnose COVID-19 and pneumonia with 99% accuracy in under one minute. His tool is an initiative of Democratize Health, the nonprofit he founded to save lives in impoverished regions using fast, accessible, and cost-effective technology.

Khloe J., age 9, of Texas, who founded A Book and a Smile to help build kids’ home libraries and to improve relationships between children and the police.

Laalitya A., age 18, of Ohio, who invented Nereid, a low-cost, globally applicable device that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect water contamination within seconds.

Lucy W., age 18 of Illinois, who founded LucyClimbs to raise awareness of the need for clean water in developing countries by climbing the world’s highest mountains. She is the youngest American woman ever to summit Everest.

Luna A., age 17, of Oregon, who founded the Effective Climate Action Project (ECAP) to increase awareness of solutions to climate change – especially the possibilities of systemic thinking and collective action.

Sahana M., age 15, of North Carolina, who co-founded Foundation for Girls (FFG) to economically empower homeless single mothers and support their children.

Sri Nihal T., age 13, of New Jersey, who created Recycle My Battery, a nonprofit that installs free battery recycling bins and educates young people and adults about battery recycling.

William C., age 16, of Florida, who founded We are Forces of Nature and its A Million Mangroves initiative to combat climate change and to protect coastlines from the effect of sea level rise.

These young leaders work hard to make their ideals and passions a reality and are an example to us all. Please join me in celebrating their accomplishments!

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New Podcast Explores the Magic, Folklore and Inspiration Found in the Mountains by Teague Bohlen
Westword
September 12,2022
View Online | PDF The connection between fantasy and the natural world has long informed T. A. Barron’s writing and environmental advocacy, and he’s turned it into a podcast called Magic & Mountains . The full season of a dozen free episodes meant to entertain and inspire will be available to stream from his website starting October 3.

The podcast delves into Barron’s writing process, the inspiration behind his beloved characters and his belief in the transformative power of nature and everyday heroism. Topics range from Celtic mythology to combating climate change and ensuring racial equity in outdoor spaces.

Fans of Barron’s acclaimed fantasy series The Merlin Saga (now being developed into a feature film by Disney) won’t be surprised by the topics covered. The author, raised for a time in Colorado, has always been a passionate conservationist, traveling the country to speak on the importance of protecting our planet and supporting young people who are making a difference in their communities through his annual Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.

“I’m one of those lucky writers who really loves talking with people,” says Barron. “Speaking at public libraries, or schools, or bookstores, or conventions, whatever. I love the interaction of storytelling. For about three years, people kept asking if I’d do a podcast, and for whatever reason, I just didn’t feel ready. And then last fall, in the aftermath of Giant [his most recent book], I had to do book events by video. I was skeptical, but it really worked. I was able to welcome several hundred people at each go. It occurred to me that the podcast would be as beautiful a form for story. I liked the challenge of that.”

From there, Barron says, he began to brainstorm what he’d want to talk about. “I thought about what buckets I could come up with that I could put ideas into,” Barron says. “I came up with five. Merlin, of course, my favorite character. Another is the creative process, both the agony and the ecstasy of it. Third is nature, which runs through everything I write, no matter the genre. And then I wanted to do something on the inspiration of young heroes, these real-life kids that are doing these awesome things in the world. And finally, I couldn’t resist doing a segment on seeing your life as a story.”

That last element clearly evokes some excitement in Barron: “It’s something I keep coming back to, especially when I speak to young people. Your life is a story, and you are the author. No one else is going to write this story. So what kind of story do you really want it to be? Tell it with passion and courage and depth and honesty and beauty.”

Barron speaks with the same sort of devotion about the sacredness of nature, including his favorite hike in Colorado, Cathedral Lake in the Maroon Bells. “There’s so much variety of wildlife and ecosystems and terrain,” he says of the trek. “But that wonderful gem of a lake is always jaw-dropping.” Barron says he’s done that hike so often that he has names for various trees along the way and knows a certain spot on the trail where the air smells particularly sweet, though he’s never been able to figure out why.

Perhaps it’s the mystery that draws Barron in, because he’s definitely a lover of the mystic and the magic. “What always strikes me,” Barron says, “what goes to the core of why nature is sacred, beyond all the things we can come to understand about the natural world, why science is important, why policy to protect the outdoors is important…there’s something deeper going on. The best way I can put it is that when I’m out in nature, really out there, I feel both very, very small, and very, very big at the same time. We can feel humbled — which is good for us human beings — by the sight of those wonderful Rocky Mountain nights full of stars, or vast forests, or a cascading river. But at the same time, we can feel enlarged by those same things, because we’re a part of all that. This grand sweep of creation includes us. It’s an immensely beautiful feeling.”

Barron talks about all these things and more in the dozen episodes of the first season — some getting a single show, others spanning several. And Barron believes that this is indeed the first season of more to come. “Unless people throw too many rotten tomatoes at me,” Barron jokes. “But even then, I’d probably keep going, I’ve enjoyed it so much. I have no idea what season two would look like — I have a few ideas, but there’s so much to explore.”

What Barron is sure of is that the five buckets of ideas he’s presenting to his audience are the right thing for him to be doing. “This feels like me,” he says. “When you pull it all together — nature’s sacredness, the inspiration of young people, the beauty and depth of myth — all of these things and more, I feel like it’s the closest thing to an autobiographical experience I’ve ever had.”

And there are few things better in the world than sitting at a table — even a metaphoric one experienced through a podcast — and telling stories. “I really want listeners to feel that way,” laughs Barron. “Hearing these stories told in podcast form, in my voice and from the voices of the wonderful guests that I’ve lined up — it’s going to be a great experience, I’m convinced. Just magic.”

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T. A. Barron Announces New Podcast

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Introducing Magic & Mountains

“All we have, truly, all we have, is our time and our souls.” – T. A. Barron

I am thrilled to announce the upcoming release of my new podcast, Magic & Mountains!

This is a project that I have been eager to share for so long because it gives me the opportunity to share some of the things that I am truly passionate about — storytelling, nature, true heroes, and the magic of Merlin — with like-minded friends like you! 

Episodes will explore the topics of magic, life, and times of the wizard Merlin; the wonders and challenges of nature; the joy, the pain, and the mystery of the creative process; and the surprising inspiration of heroes. 

We will also discuss the writing process and how to give your creativity wings when it comes to creating and sharing your own written words.

It’s a podcast for those who enjoy the magic of storytelling, for those who love the wizard Merlin, for those who appreciate the beauty of nature, and for those who seek to be inspired, enlightened, and empowered to live their lives as a story  — and maybe create a few of their own along the way! 

The first episode, coming October 3, 2022, will explore the magic of Merlin, how I encountered and built a relationship with this amazing character, and what sparked me to create The Merlin Saga. We dive into the challenges I faced while adding to the tapestry of myth around this beloved character. A tapestry that began with oral traditions of the Druids and Celts and was first written down by Welsh monks 1000 years ago. We discover three reasons why Merlin is still around today, and why we need him now more than ever.

This magical journey will continue throughout the rest of 2022 and I invite you to join me.

Learn more by visiting https://tabarron.com/podcast. 

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Bestselling Author & Conservationist
T. A. Barron Announces New Podcast Boulder, CO
September 12, 2022
PDF T. A. Barron, the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of The Merlin Saga, is thrilled to announce his new podcast called Magic & Mountains: The T. A. Barron Podcast.

Launching October 3, Magic & Mountains delves into the agony and ecstasy of creative writing, the origins of Barron’s most beloved characters, nature’s wondrous power of transformation, and the inspiration of everyday heroes.

Throughout the first 12 episodes, Barron and his guests discuss everything from Celtic mythology and the origins of Merlin, to the necessity of combatting climate change and ensuring access to nature, to the power of every person to write their own life story.

“Storytelling is so much more than pen on paper,” said Barron. “It’s the common thread that unites us all, inviting us to share our experiences for a richer understanding of the world around us. My hope is that Magic & Mountains becomes a haven for those stories, a place where we can listen and learn from one another.”

The first season of Magic & Mountains features an impressive guest line-up, with guests ranging from the president of the World Wildlife Fund to Rue Mapp, founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro, an organization that aims to inspire Black connections and leadership in nature.

The podcast will be available free of charge and without ads on all major platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, and more. Learn more at tabarron.com/podcast.

Barron is the author of more than 30 highly-acclaimed books, including The Merlin Saga, which is now being developed into a feature film by Disney, The Great Tree of Avalon trilogy, The Ancient One, The Hero’s Trail, and GIANT: The Unlikely Origins of Shim. He is also a passionate conservationist, speaking and writing on the importance of protecting our planet, helping environmental organizations, and supporting young people who are making a difference in their communities through his annual Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.

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T. A. Barron Announces New Podcast

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T. A. Barron Announces New Podcast appeared first on TABarron.com.

Dream Chasers: 5 Things Done By People Who Achieve Their Dreams

I’ve always loved a good story.

Growing up in Colorado, I always dreamed of becoming a writer. To live in a mountain cabin, writing books. I dreamed up stories and poems, sometimes to avoid doing homework, sometimes just for the fun of messing around with words. My first real story, written when I was seven or eight, was called—wait for it—Autobiography of a Big Tree. But this was just the beginning!

In fifth grade, I launched my very first magazine. Very few believed in the dream at that time, but when I wrote a secret exposé on what really went on inside the teachers’ lounge at my school (all made up, of course), I got into a heap of trouble! But that didn’t matter, because I’d discovered how much fun it is to write a story and share it with others.

My own story is one with an especially bizarre plot: lots of drama, excitement, struggle, surprise, and comedy. Like many others, there are twists and turns and tangents that, at times, took me in a direction that seemed to lead away from the happy ending.

In fact, my first book was rejected no less than 32 times!

That is a lot of no’s before I finally heard a yes.

That was many years and many books ago! One of the biggest questions I get asked to this day is about how I persevered in the face of what felt like overwhelming defeat.

I’m sure I’ll never know what truly propelled me to stay the course, other than my unyielding desire to share my stories with others, but here are some things I think helped.

Dream Chasers: 5 Things Done By People Who Achieve Their Dreams They know their dreams.

 

Often people are vague about their dreams – they want to “be rich” or “be successful” – but the important thing is to know what that truly looks like to you.

How much money do you need to “be rich”? What do you need to accomplish to “be successful”? And don’t base that on what others think it means. You have to look inside yourself and determine what your dreams coming true looks like to you.

Remember: Dreams come from inside, not outside. They must be owned at the level of your soul. When you are clear about your dream, then set yourself on that path and start walking.

They practice perseverance.

 

Setting aside my dream of being a writer, I went into business—and wound up as the president of a private equity firm in New York City. But even as busy as I was, I found myself waking up at 4 a.m. to write or scribble story ideas before going to work. Sure, I was aware that doing this on top of my day job, even after all those rejections, meant this urge to write must really be important to me. But it took me a while to work up the courage to pursue my passion full time.

What helped the most was to visualize myself at the very end of my life—when the hourglass of time had almost run out—and to ask, “Did I have any big dreams that I never pursued? Any great passions that I didn’t have the courage to go after with all my heart?” What could be worse than coming to the end of your life and knowing that you could have done more to make your dreams come true?

They prioritize their dreams.

 

I always say that all we have in life is our time and our souls. So why not make the most of both?

This is your life, your soul, your dreams – the most precious things you have. It’s worth fighting to keep them wholly alive! If you stay true to them, with a bit of luck, you will succeed. And if you don’t succeed, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that at least you really tried. Whatever happens, you’ll have a marvelous journey along the way.

They live life as a story.

 

Stories have a beginning and an end, but they also have so much going on in the middle. They’re happy and sad, they’re full of surprises and intrigue and adventure. They have so many twists and turns and stops and starts that at times they can overwhelm you with emotion. But, what they’re not is predictable.

When you live your life as a story you give it the power to lead you towards what the ending should be. I think of it kind of like one of those choose your own adventure books we all loved as kids. You don’t give up in the middle because you already know how it’s going to end, you keep going, fully knowing that your choices could mean that there’s a surprise ending right around the corner waiting to, well, surprise you!

Living your life as a story means that you are invested in every arc, that you are excited about the development, and committed to seeing it through to the end. So, when things get challenging and you feel like you’re not going to succeed in some way, you just keep reading, because something magical could happen that changes your course.

They believe in their power to make a difference.

 

This is the most important thing of all because it is what keeps us committed to doing great things. Each of us is a force – a package of positive energy that could help the world in some way. You may not believe that. You may think it’s the craziest idea ever. But it’s deeply true.

When you believe in this possibility, it’s hard for small setbacks to throw you off course. When you know that your choices, your ideas, and moments can impact the world around you in important ways, it’s easy to push forward in the face of adversity, because you know on the other side something amazing could be waiting!

The experience of working hard to achieve a sometimes-elusive goal, more than anything else, has made a difference in my life. I am certain that the same will be true for you. For if you can imagine your goals, your future, and your path to making a better world — all that remains is to work hard to achieve your dreams. And you will succeed! Just stay true to yourself, and true to your dreams, and nothing can stand in your way.

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Equality in Education: How to Empower Young People

I have always been a firm believer in the idea that young people are capable of great things.

Since 2000, when I launched the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, I have had the unique honor of seeing firsthand the many ways that young people can impact our world and affect change.

From innovative efforts to save rainforest gorillas and other endangered species to helping families battle food insecurities and homelessness in urban areas, I have seen young people step up to do creative things to help solve our world’s problems because they were empowered to do so.

When we take the time to build confidence in our children and give them the tools to be critical thinkers and strong decision-makers, they learn to trust themselves, push themselves, and see obstacles as opportunities. Empowered young people have the courage to take risks and are able to trust their own instincts and ideas to carry them into new challenges and experiences.

They know that it’s okay to think for yourself, that you can use your voice for good, and that any one person, young or old, has the ability to make a difference.

So how do you help the young people in your life feel empowered? Here are some things you can do.

Educate them about their community. 

 

They say knowledge is power because education is truly one of the most empowering things you can offer someone. Once you understand how something works — or why it doesn’t — you can better become a part of the solution and inspire change.

Start by helping young people get to know their own community and how it functions. Encourage children to learn how their community works, from public health and education to politics and policing. Take your children with you to vote and talk to them about the different offices, volunteer with them at a local community center or event, or take a tour of your local fire station. These are all great ways for young people to see their community and its leaders in action.

As they learn about the different facets of what it takes to make a community go, they will begin to understand how they fit into it, what things need attention and support, and how they might carve out a space for themselves to make a difference in the place they call home.

Encourage them to explore. 

From far away lands to different cultures living right in their own backyards, encouraging young people to explore other people, places, and things will give them the ability to relate to others in meaningful ways.

Exploration allows all of us to encounter new perspectives and connect over shared experiences. It gives us empathy and builds clarity so we can better communicate with a variety of different people in many different circumstances.

Being able to communicate is empowering because it allows young people to learn from others while leaving a mark on them too.

But don’t feel like you have to go on a trip to South America to encourage exploration. Books are an amazing vehicle that can take children to faraway places to meet new people and even bring a little magic into the comfort of your home.

Allow them to make their own decisions. 

From a very young age, being allowed to make your own choices teaches you that others trust you and you can, in turn, trust yourself. It builds courage and helps you know that it’s okay to have your own opinions because you don’t need anyone else’s to get by.

Simply letting your child pick what to wear, even from among a few choices, is an easy way to start. Let them choose which pants to wear to school tomorrow, or which vegetable the family will have for dinner tonight, and then don’t try to change their mind, even if they pick the lima beans.

Listen more and talk less. 

Adults tend to have a lot to say, especially when it comes to young people, but listening is just as critical.

When we listen to young people we teach them that they have a voice and that their opinions and thoughts are relevant. When they know their ideas have merit and their voices have power, they will be more willing to think outside the box and share their creativity with others.

Plus, young people often give birth to innovative ideas that offer a fresh take on things which means listening doesn’t just empower them, it empowers us too!

Empowered young people have the skills, abilities, and motivation to make a huge difference in our world. Helping them build these tools will not only benefit them in the future but all of us who make up this big, beautiful world.

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5 Unique Ways You Can Help the Environment, Every Day!

Protecting the environment and saving our remaining wilderness should be a bipartisan, patriotic duty that benefits all Americans, now and forever. There is hope to save our planet from the forces of greed and ignorance, but it requires people to work together. That is why the best thing you can do is volunteer for a good environmental group. There are also many other simple ways to help the environment every day!

One of The Merlin Saga’s core ideas is nature’s enduring power. Nature gives us sustenance as well as healing and renewal and inspiration. Just take a look at our mountains here in Colorado, and how can anyone not feel inspired? That’s why I make sure that nature is more than just the setting for my books — it’s actually one of the characters. I want the places in my books even if they’re imaginary to feel utterly real to a smart reader and I also want to convey the environment’s beauty and wonder and inspiration.

Merlin himself stands for the sacredness of nature. The great wizard’s world of Avalon (which you could say is one of the main characters in The Great Tree of Avalon trilogy) kindles some of our deepest longings to be close to the natural world, to be one with it. Nature, as a whole, combines mortal and immortal, transitory and eternal. It’s a place where all creatures — whether they walk or fly or swim or crawl — can live together in harmony. And also a place of hope amidst human suffering. The sort of place where Merlin himself might live – and where, through the magic of story, we all can live, for a time.

I’ve had people ask why I support environmental groups, and my answer is this: because they are great forces for good, healthy, sustainable life on our fragile planet! It’s that simple. Without the dedicated, savvy, hard-working folks at those groups—people who could be making lots more money doing something else, if that was all they cared about—we are lost. With them … we have a genuine chance to save our planet.
Our children.
Our fellow creatures.
And ourselves.

And something more — a chance to rise to a higher level. To choose long-term wisdom over short-term greed. To be our best selves as stewards of the Earth.

As an environmentalist, I encourage everyone to do what they can to help protect our planet, and ourselves.

5 Unique Ways to Help the Environment Be a Citizen Scientist

Did you know that you can help scientists draft conservation plans for your area by sharing insights and information into your environmental pursuits? Scientists often crowdsource data from citizens, and citizens can “participate voluntarily in the scientific process, addressing real-world problems.” (citizenscience.gov)

That means that by sharing your data and observations about the world around you and in your community, you can help scientists create plans to help the environment!

Create a Grass-Free Lawn

As pretty as a sprawling grassy green lawn may look in the suburbs, maintaining that grass is a huge burden on the environment — with risks ranging from the devastation of local ecosystems to the overuse of precious water.

Consider an alternative to grass and plant native ground-covering plants instead. Or better yet: create a garden of native edible grasses and forageable plants. Not only will you be taking a large step toward a better world, but you’ll also have a beautiful masterpiece of local flora and fauna to show off to your neighborhood — and maybe convince them to follow in your path!

Don’t Just Recycle, Upcycle

While recycling certainly reduces the amount of junk that ends up in our landfills, there are even more benefits to reusing those items and “upcycling” them into other useful items. By upcycling existing resources, you are ensuring that no new raw materials will be used to create whatever it is that you make. For example, by taking thrift store finds and refurbishing them, you are creating a brand new piece of furniture or clothing or art — cutting out the middle-man production plants completely!

Shop Environmentally-Friendly

From the farmer’s market to the supermarket, taking small steps to avoid extra packaging or plastic goes a long way. Bringing your own reusable shopping bags and buying unpackaged produce are just two simple ways to be more environmentally friendly when you shop.

It all starts with buying from retailers that actually care about the environment. To determine if you’re looking at a company that takes extra effort to be green, you should check the company’s website. If possible, always shop environmentally friendly by purchasing your products from local companies and stores.

Another way to shop more green? Try buying produce in-season. This supports local farming while making sure that you get the freshest fruits and vegetables.

Bring a Little Nature Indoors

Indoor plants do more than just look great — they can make us feel good, too. Studies show that having plants inside can help boost your mood, increase creativity, and—best of all— eliminate indoor air pollutants.

Breathe a little easier by bringing in species of plants that are proven to freshen the air naturally and toss out all of those air fresheners that do more harm than good. A few types that are most effective include spider plants, Ficus trees, and bamboo palms. Just be sure that if you do choose to introduce new plants inside your home that they are pet- and children-friendly (if you have little ones or furry friends, that is.)

I can’t quite give up on this home planet of ours. It is so full of enduring wonder, beauty, and mystery — a place that nourishes us physically and spiritually every single day. On top of that, the natural world holds enormous powers of resilience. Nature will survive, with or without us. The changes we make toward protecting our home provides a chance for us to survive as well. Looking for Something? Search for: CategoriesCategories Select Category Adventures of Kate  (3) Adventures of Kate Excerpts  (3) Articles  (16) Blog  (152) Book Excerpt  (22) Books  (46) Books  (9) Conservation  (5) Contests  (9) Encouraging Writers  (19) Events  (14) Fantasy  (5) Featured  (18) For Educators  (11) For Educators  (22) For Nature Lovers  (14) For Writers  (17) For Young Heroes  (40) Free Downloads  (6) In the Media  (33) Interviews  (14) Merlin: The Movie  (1) Movies  (6) Nature Book Excerpts  (2) News  (29) On Nature  (10) On Nature & the Environment  (46) On Reading  (12) On Writing  (24) On Writing  (10) Personal Writing  (14) Press Release  (2) Quests  (4) Sweepstakes  (4) The Atlantis Saga  (2) The Atlantis Saga Excerpts  (3) The Merlin Saga  (13) The Merlin Saga Excerpts  (13) Videos  (3) Young Heroes  (12)/* */(function() { var dropdown = document.getElementById( "cat" ); function onCatChange() { if ( dropdown.options[ dropdown.selectedIndex ].value > 0 ) { dropdown.parentNode.submit(); } } dropdown.onchange = onCatChange;})();/* ]]> */ Recent Posts 5 Unique Ways You Can Help the Environment, Every Day! All Your Writing Questions, Answered! Bringing a Character to Life “All Smiles” Comedy Writing Contest A Magical World

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