PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Young aspiring writers learned on Wednesday that the worst thing they could do is give up on their passion when the writing process gets tough.
“I’ve spoken with writers who have never sent their work to publishers because they’re scared of rejection,” said children’s book author Rob Buyea, who was the special guest speaker at the 36th annual Young Authors Institute conference on May 16. “Failure is painful, but when you learn from those failures you become better and more successful at what you love.”
One hundred and sixty fourth- through eighth-graders from schools throughout Aroostook County gathered in the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Wieden Auditorium to hear Buyea talk about his own journey as an author and share his tips on how to persevere through the often difficult process of writing.
Rob Buyea reads from his latest book, “The Perfect Score,” during the Young Authors Institute conference at UMPI on May 16. Buyea shared his thoughts on the writing process with students and encouraged them to continue pursuing their craft even through the challenges of writing and publishing. (Melissa Lizotte)
These students already have taken a major step as writers. As part of Aroostook Right to Read’s annual conference, all students received copies of an anthology in which their short stories have been published. They also participated in workshops about topics such as poetry, fables, songwriting, mystery stories and confronting writer’s block.
“By having their work published and meeting an author, we hope students realize that their writing is something that they could continue to work on and improve,” Angela Kelley, president of Aroostook Right to Read, said.
Every fall, teachers submit student writing that can either come from assigned reading prompts or the story winners of each classroom, if a school has more than one classroom for grades four through eight. All submissions are published in the anthology, which includes seven categories: friends and family, animal tales, seasonal lore, adventure, feelings, dreams, and reflections, fantasy and other fiction, and Aroostook County.
The book also features cover art from the winner of Aroostook Right to Read’s book cover contest. This year’s chosen artist is Orion Ouellette, a student from Presque Isle Middle School.
During his keynote address, Buyea spoke about how writers can use their imagination and personal experiences to create vivid stories.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Buyea taught third- and fourth-grade students in Connecticut and then high school biology at Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts. In his early days of teaching, he realized that he needed to become a better reader and writer in order to help his students. Not long afterward, Buyea began writing children’s stories and drew inspiration from many of his students’ personality traits and often hilarious hijinks.
He encouraged students at the Young Authors Institute conference to always keep their “writing switch” turned on even when they’re far from their desk.
“When I got the idea for my first book, I was visiting my parents in New York and I was helping my mom in her flower garden,” said Buyea, who now lives with his wife and three daughters in North Andover, Massachusetts. “I was reflecting on the end of the school year and from out of nowhere these seven students came to me and began telling me about their first day of school.”
That idea became the concept for Buyea’s first book, “Because of Mr. Terupt,” which features seven fifth-grade narrators who take turns talking about their first year with a new teacher, Mr. Terupt. He follows those same students in sixth and seventh grade with the sequels “Mr. Terupt Falls Again” and “Saving Mr. Terupt.” His latest book, “The Perfect Score,” tells the story of five sixth-grade narrators stuck in the same after-school program. The sequel, “The Perfect Secret,” will be released in October 2018.
Buyea told students that despite receiving 27 rejection letters from publishers for “Because of Mr. Terupt” he did not give up hope on one day seeing his writing goals become a reality. He told the young authors that “all writing is about revision” and that the time it takes to create meaningful characters and stories is well worth the hours spent writing.
“Your stories aren’t going to be perfect the first time you write them, but don’t wait until you think you have everything figured out to try,” Buyea said. “If you work hard, that perseverance will help you no matter what you do in your life.”
After his talk, Buyea spent time signing copies of his books and interacting with many of the students during his “Meet the Author” workshop. Gracy Labbe, a young author from Valley Rivers Middle School in Fort Kent, felt inspired by Buyea’s message and plans to continue her own writing. Her story, “Drowsy,” is published in the Young Authors Institute anthology.
“I like how he uses a lot of imagination in his stories,” Labbe, 13, said, about Buyea.
Adam Ayotte, 11, of Van Buren District Elementary School, was excited to spend his birthday celebrating his published story, “The Adventures of Three Friends,” and gaining wisdom from an experienced writer.
“I wrote about three kids who hear about an abandoned road that nobody lives on anymore and decide to check it out,” Ayotte said. “It’s great to have the story published.”
