At the end of my

10/13/09 -- At the end of my presentations I like to give kids an opportunity to ask questions. This morning at an elementary school in Kearney, Missouri, a third grade girl asked me a great one: "When you write," she said, "is it like going on an adventure in your mind?" I told her, "Absolutely." In fact, for me it's a necessary part of the writing process. I need to mentally project myself into the middle of the action -- see what the characters are seeing, do what they are doing, and feel what they are feeling. Only then am I able to move the story forward with any certainty, and -- hopefully -- authenticity. An added benefit is that it's also lots of fun, like playing make-believe, or acting out a part. Try it. Write a story. Go on an adventure in your mind.