Tamora Pierce's Visit

Tamora Pierce visited Ellen Sands’ sixth grade class at JHS 104, Simon Baruch School, on June 9, 2004. They met to discuss Tammy’s book, The Circle of Magic: Sandry's Book, the first in The Circle of Magic Quartet. In preparation for the visit, the students read Sandry's Book in a mere two weeks. For those of us who lack this keen speed-reading ability, The Circle of Magic Quartet is about four different mages, from various backgrounds, who find themselves living together, developing their magic, and becoming friends. The first book revolves around the story of Sandry, a noble whose parents had recently died and who has a magic power involving thread (read an excerpt of Sandry's Book at http://www.tamora-pierce.com/sandry.htm).

Like the book, the visit was filled with magic, honesty, and enchantment. Tammy entered the classroom dressed in a magical cape and scarf. She told the students the only rule for discussion was that the classroom had to be considered a safe place where anything can be said, using any language necessary, without judgment. She was then ready to discuss the act of writing and creating.

The students came prepared with lots of questions. Many were about Tammy's creation of the complex, magical universe in which the book takes place. How did she come up with such a world? Where did she get the ideas for the different characters and their respective magical powers? How did she create their names? How did she make up the different languages she uses, like Trader Talk? Which character does she most relate to?

Some of Tammy's ideas are taken from observing the world around her. For example, Sandry's magical talent with thread: Tammy was always in awe of her mother’s and sister’s ability to produce incredible blankets from little balls of yarn and crochet hooks. This, to Tammy, seemed like a form of magic and so she developed the skill of weaving into a magical ability for Sandry. Other ideas come from her personal interests in knights, the Crusades, and the Middle Ages. Tammy also gets her ideas from current events and history. For example, the cholera outbreaks in Rwanda and Zaire of the early 1990's led to The Circle of Magic: Briar’s Book, the final book in the quartet. Tammy says that anything that interests you can become the source of your next idea. Tammy advises young writers to listen to and write about their own interests, to open their eyes and ears to their surroundings, to read and re-read magazines and books they like, to visit places with those themes of interest, and to write down everything you can - whether you use it at that moment or save it for another time.

Tammy was incredibly encouraging and inspiring when it came to questions about the writing process. Writing can be an intimidating thing so it is hard to know how to start. Tammy had many suggestions for beginning writers. Two of the most important elements to help you get started are to do your research and find a comfortable time, place, and manner in which to write. A writer's space will differ from person to person but it is important to feel comfortable in one’s surrounding, to get into a routine, to gather all that is necessary to write and then to sit down and start writing.

How To Deal With Writer’s Block:

• Introduce a new character
• Make something dramatic happen
• Put the story aside and start something else
• Talk to someone about your story
• Most importantly: know when it's time to quit

There are times in every writer's life when he/she has taken an idea as far as it can go. This is completely normal. The ideas you come up with in one story and, even the ideas you can no longer develop, can be brought to your next project.

(More questions and answers from Tamora Pierce can be found at http://www.tamora-pierce.com/faq.htm)

Tammy's final words:

• Write what makes you happy
• Write about what will keep you interested and keep you writing
• Keep your eyes and ears open to the world around you
• Write the things that you would like to read

Tammy's Recommendations