Brod Bagert

This morning I attended the awards presentation for Anthony's first-place poem.

The PTA forked over some major moola and brought in author, Brod Bagert, to speak to the 3rd-5th grade students.

I was planning to just stay a few minutes for the award presentation, but Mr. Bagert grabbed my attention and I couldn't pull myself away.

He was outstanding -- as a speaker/presenter -- but I was mostly impressed with his ability to command the attention of a horde of children.

One of the tips he left with the kids:

"Don't try to write your best the first time. Right your worst. Then, re-write it a little better. Then do it again, and again, and again..."

He explained how it was totally freeing and rewarding to simply TRY to write your worst, and SUCCEED, rather than to try to write your best on the first attempt, when you'll actually end with your worst anyway.

I.e., when you achieve your expectations in your writing, you're successful, and you'll feel better about your efforts and yourself, and you'll keep on trying.

When you don't achieve your expectations because you've set them way to high, you'll ended up frustrated and disappointed, and there's a high probability you won't try again.

Hmm. It doesn't mean lowering your overall expectations, it simply means setting smaller, achievable expectations all along the way.