Author Dan Elish Visits

Author Dan Elish inspired our fifth graders yesterday when he visited with the class as part of the PA Author Series. Dan is the author of several books for adults and children, including The Worldwide Dessert Contest (1988) and The School for the Insanely Gifted (2011).

Dan said that he had originally envisioned himself writing for musical theater after discovering a love for it in high school, but that Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory had inspired him to write his first book--The Worldwide Dessert Contest.

During the session, he discussed with the boys the essential elements of books and stories, including the need for characters to be relatable and for there to be a central conflict or problem. He encouraged all of the boys to write. "Find a really good idea that inspires and speaks to you," he said.

He shared that when writing The Worldwide Dessert Company he thought it would take no more than three months to complete. In fact, it took over a year due to the rewriting and editing process, which he noted was essential: "Everything about writing is rewriting." This is a great message for our boys to hear, as they come to appreciate the need for revision and rewriting in their own work.

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