"This summer, 59 students wrote 59 novels in a month. That's 2.5 million words, and over 5,000 hours of tv-watching, video-game playing, Facebooking, and texting replaced with WRITING. That's a revolution." –Kristen House
If you've been reading here the last few months, you may have gathered I'm rather ga-ga about Kristen House and her "novel idea." Who wouldn't be enthralled with the inventive creation of this 30something college professor–who's also and mother of soon-to-be-three small children–to teach middle-and-high schoolers and adults how to write a novel in mere weeks….
Last spring, I met House in the packed library of my daughter's high school. Angry parents lined up to protest the dimissal of a 30-plus year veteran, award-winning, innovative international baccalaureate teacher in lieu of the school board's new agenda for academies. I'd just spoken about how the changes were limiting opportunities for meaningful inclusion for students with disAbilities such as my daughter. As House took the microphone, she was told by a moderator that she could not speak because she was not a member of the PTSA. This was true but House, as she told us had left her two babies at home to come there that night and speak on behalf of the teacher who inspired her to write her first novel–the method she is now using with A Novel Idea. "I WILL NOT BE SILENCED," House proclaimed loudly and passionately visibly with every cell of her small, carrot-topped frame after the failed attempt to muzzle her. "It is my fight as an American to speak and I will die defending that right,"she began….
In that instant, I decided this woman and I must become friends. And, lucky me, we are.
Here's a video segment of this summer's debut programming:
novel education – a yesisaidyes.com short film about A NOVEL IDEA from yesisaidyes.com on Vimeo.
The First Novel Idea for fall begins tomorrow, but is for ANI alumni. A Monday evening class (5:30-7:00) for kids ages 11 – 17 begins, September 25 and a Wednesday evening class (7:30-9:00) for adults begins September 28th. Both classes meet once per week for 9 weeks. More details at ANovelIdeaNashville.com. And for past posts on ANI, here at "The Journey with Grace," click here and here.
You can also read House's fabulous posts at A Novel Idea: The Blog. I'm never disappointed in the crisp, rich writing, contemplative and sometimes a bit gut-wrenching, tissue-dabbing perspective, often with a dash of humor tossed into the mix.
A Novel Idea!
