Here’s this week’s podcast link!
This week, we couldn’t think of what to talk about in our podcast and we went to Carrie’s Facebook page and had an ask for ideas.
Public Safety Dispatcher Marie Overlock and Firefighter Lt. Amilie Blackman, both suggested, ‘friendship,’ so it won out and we’ll save Matt Baya’s suggestion of cow hugging for a later date. Because… cow hugging!
Friendship and children’s books are a pretty natural combination. Carrie’s own books are big on friends even when they are full of romance.
Friends matter. And there are so many beautiful examples of friendships in children’s books, but let’s go with this Maine classic from E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web.
Wilbur blushed. “But I’m notterrific, Charlotte. I’m just about average for a pig.”
“You’re terrific as far as I’mconcerned,” replied Charlotte, sweetly, “and that’s what counts. You’re my best friend, and Ithink you’re sensational. Now stop arguing and go get some sleep!”
In our life, Carrie is Wilbur and Shaun is Charlotte. Just so you know.
DOG TIPS FOR FRIENDSHIP AND LIFE
1. You do not have to be everyone’s friend. Choose wisely. Pick the people who don’t bring you down. That’s the base for the friendship that you get to build on.
2. Don’t pretend to be who you aren’t. Don’t be Captain Boasts a Lot. Don’t Be Mrs. One Up or even Madame Fixes Everyone Else’s Problem.
3. Listen to your friends.
4. Realize you and your friends don’t have to agree on every damn thing in the world to be friends.
5. Be honest. Don’t pretend to agree on everything in the world.
6. Don’t be talking about your friend behind their back. That’s not cool.
WRITING TIP OF THE CAST
As writers, we have to make friendships seem real in our books, right? So to do that we have to know what makes a friendship real.
We think there are four basic elements to friendships.
- You have to be able to initiate things – conversations, communications, texts. And you also have to actually respond when your friends initiate these same things.
- You have to have Friendship Situational Awareness – what does that mean? It means you can understand the social scene, your friend’s attitude, needs, issues, and strengths and you can love them despite their occasional annoying mouth breathing moments. Be aware of what the appropriate responses are to your friend’s needs. Don’t tell them they are beautiful when they just want a hug. Don’t mow their lawn when they are looking for kimchi.
- Interact in a nice way. Seriously. If I’m reading a book and the friends are total schmucks to each other and don’t exhibit any caring or generosity? I don’t believe that friendship. I don’t believe it in real life either.
- Listen to your friends and focus on what they are saying. Don’t be staring at your phone or out the window when they’re talking to you.
Bonus Tip: Don’t put your friend’s head in your mouth and slobber on it.
SHOUT OUT
The music we’ve clipped and shortened in this podcast is awesome and is made available through the Creative Commons License. Here’s a link to that and the artist’s website. Who is this artist and what is this song? It’s “Night Owl” by Broke For Free.
Writing News
Next and Last Time Stoppers Book
You can order my middle grade fantasy novel Time Stoppers Escape From the Badlands here or anywhere.
People call it a cross between Harry Potter and Percy Jackson but it’s set in Maine. It’s full of adventure, quirkiness and heart.
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Moe Berg
The Spy Who Played Baseball is a picture book biography about Moe Berg. And… there’s a movie out now about Moe Berg, a major league baseball player who became a spy. How cool is that?
It’s awesome and quirky and fun.
OUR PODCAST – DOGS ARE SMARTER THAN PEOPLE.
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Totally hilarious (to me), that you would quote Charlotte’s Web on a podcast suggested by Amilie and me. I never liked that book. At all. Maybe I read it when going through a bad spell of growing up, or when I was hangry or when my bff found a new bff, or because I have a spider phobia, not sure, but I just never liked that book. ANYWAY, I plan on taking your tips to heart and try harder to be a better friend.
Ha!
That’s so funny! I can TOTALLY see you not liking that book and thinking it was pedantic. Plus, you grew up in Maine, I can imagine you saying, “Mm… that’s not right.” Or, “No, we don’t sound that way.”
I like thinking of Little Marie the book critic!