Cheryl Kim on Teaching and Writing

From Teaching to Writing

Becoming the Student

by Cheryl Kim

Each year the 2nd graders at our school worked on a biography project.  They chose and read a biography from our school library and then gave a presentation dressed up as the person they chose.  

A few years into teaching this unit, I noticed something- The biography presentations didn’t reflect the diversity of the class.  I thought there surely had to be a wider variety of global people to learn about! Especially if multiple students were reporting on the same person!  

So, I googled “Asian American biographies for kids” and I stumbled upon Lee & Low’s website. One book by Paula Yoo caught my eye—Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story (Lee & Low, 2005), the first Asian American to win a gold medal in the Olympics. The story won Lee & Low’s New Voices award.  This sparked something in me and I decided that I also wanted to write stories featuring and celebrating Asian Americans. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be that simple and while I entered Lee and Low’s New Voices Contest the following year (and made every rookie writer mistake!)  

I realized that I, the teacher, had to become the student. As much as I enjoyed creative writing growing up, I still had SO MUCH to learn about the craft of writing for children. 

I started by attending writing conferences and listening to other authors share their journey.  I joined a critique group where every manuscript I drafted could receive honest feedback.  Then, I spent a few more years taking classes from how to structure a picture book story to using lyrical language.  I especially had to learn the valuable lesson of not giving up after each rejection and to keep going. 

Growing up, I would often quit if something got hard. I remember showing up for basketball tryouts in 7th grade and not going back the second day. Back then, I would have rather given up than to feel the sting of rejection and not making the team.   Yet, in this writing journey, I’ve learned that critique and rejection are part of the process and being able to accept and learn from it, is what helps authors cross the finish line for each of their book projects.  

it wouldn’t be until 6 years after entering that first writing contest that I would be ready to enter that same contest again and have a different manuscript become a finalist.  That connection led to writing Wat Takes His Shot and signing a book contract with Lee and Low another three years later!  

Now, when I teach my students writing, I’m able to draw from my experience as an author by reminding them we’re all learning as we go and that if we continue to step forward, and not give up, we can create something wonderful. I love guiding my students through the writing process and for them to see how an idea that starts out in their mind can become a beautiful book they can hold in their hands.  

So yes, I want to continue to write the stories that reflect the diversity of my classroom and our world. Meanwhile, I’m excited to continue raising up a future generation of writers who take courageous steps to create.