This week, I’d like to share a bit about my memoir-in-essays. 

1.  I continue to query literary agents and have not yet had any requests for my manuscript. It’s hard, I admit, not to feel badly about this. At the same time, I know there are multiple ways to get my story out into the world. If it doesn’t work out with an agent, I’ll pursue one of those other possibilities (such as hybrid publishing or publishing with a smaller, independent press). 

2.  I am keeping the title private, for now. Just like when I was pregnant, we announced the gender of our baby, but kept his name private except for family and a few super close friends. So while I’ll tell you I have written a memoir-in-essays, I just don’t feel ready to share the title yet. Though I do realize I shouldn’t get too attached to my working title, because titles are often changed, for many reasons. (This has been the case for many of my personal essays which have been published over the years.) 

3.  Here’s my official pitch:  “… my story of becoming chronically ill, retiring from my teaching career, and living a life I hadn’t planned as a stay-at-home mom. The book is composed of personal essays and micro-essays written as short school assignments.”

One of the things that makes my manuscript unique is the inclusion of these “micro-essays written as short school assignments.” Teaching was a huge part of my life, my identity. And it is because of my chronic illness that I am no longer teaching. Therefore, there’s no way I could write my story about life with an invisible disability without including parts from my teaching life. 

When I taught fourth grade, my students and I completed a getting-to-know you questionnaire during the first week of a new school year. It was a short form that was a quick, fun way to share what made us each unique while also giving students the opportunity to learn about each other, and realize many of them shared common interests. 

I included this questionnaire in my manuscript, and this week I will share a bit of it with you, my readers. 

I Am A Person Who…

By: Mrs. Kennar

Directions: As a way to get to know each other, please fill out this worksheet. By writing honest responses, we will learn about our new classmates. In the process, I think we will come to realize that while we are each unique individuals, we have a lot in common. 

I Am A Person Who…

likes Nutella crepes

dislikes spinach

can recite the Preamble to the Constitution 

cannot throw a spiral

would never watch a horror movie

loves to read

How about you, dear readers? Feel free to leave a comment answering one (or more) of these prompts.