Image via midwestjournalpress.com
When I first thought of the title of this blog post, it was to be about all the books I have received from publishers the last few months—all the books I did not have time to properly write about, but I still wanted to acknowledge.
Then, after this week’s events, another meaning struck me.
Nathan Bransford already said it: Now we write.
There are stories inside you which will help ease the terrible confusion of the moment. Stories widen our world view, they introduce us to the struggles and triumphs of others, they increase our empathy and understanding. They lighten our hearts. They open our minds. We cannot see those stories now, deep within you. You have an obligation to summon them forth.
But I want to further the discussion. There are other things we can do besides read and write.
Volunteer for a cause in which you believe deeply. Volunteer for a cause that you want to know more about. Step up. Be a role model, a pillar of your community. Start small and aim big. Encourage others. Instill hope and stand for something good and decent in this world. There is no greater call to service than right now, however you feel about this week’s outcome.
We can all make a difference.
(Recommended for kids: BE A CHANGEMAKER by Laurie Ann Thompson.)
Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) 
44 comments
Comments feed for this article
November 10, 2016 at 9:35 am
Mark Bentz
Thank you Tara for all you do and this post.
November 10, 2016 at 9:39 am
Rebecca E. Guzinski
This post is very appropriate considering Thanksgiving is 2 weeks from today. The image made me think it was book heaven where all our stories are just waiting to be born.
November 10, 2016 at 9:41 am
Jenny Bagan
Well said … thanks so much Tara.
November 10, 2016 at 9:45 am
evelynchristensen
What a very helpful post, Tara! Thank you! I say AMEN to your call to service.
November 10, 2016 at 9:48 am
Rita K.
I heartily agree with your well-written post, Tara. If we all contribute just a little bit, we can enrich our communities, our country and our world. Thank for encouraging us.
November 10, 2016 at 9:49 am
janetmcd
So true, Tara. Make art, make stories, and make CHANGE by volunteering.
November 10, 2016 at 9:51 am
Jane Heitman Healy
YES, YES, YES!
November 10, 2016 at 9:59 am
Mavis Penney
… Start Small and Aim Big… Thank you Tara Lazar! 🙂
November 10, 2016 at 10:02 am
mariagianferrari
Thanks, Tara! Mobilization like this is empowering–just what I need since I’m feeling quite powerless at the moment. Write on!! ❤
November 10, 2016 at 10:26 am
rochellegwrites
thanks so much for this, tara! felt like a warm hug i really needed after yesterday:).
November 10, 2016 at 10:48 am
Ink Bottle Studio
What a lovely, eloquent post.
November 10, 2016 at 10:50 am
Mary Warth
Thank you for the thoughtful and encouraging post. I totally agree- we can all make a difference!
Peace
November 10, 2016 at 10:57 am
Laura Purdie Salas
Yes. Thank you, Tara.
November 10, 2016 at 11:00 am
Kelly Vavala
I love the image,the title, the message and the inspiration it brought forth! Thank you Tara!
November 10, 2016 at 11:19 am
Henrietta Choplin
Lovely, Tara…
November 10, 2016 at 11:39 am
Deb Lund
Yes! Yes! This is our job. I expressed it verbally yesterday, and your words, as always, put it in perspective so wonderfully. We make a difference and we need to carry on.
November 10, 2016 at 11:45 am
evelynkrieger
I use this idea with my students to develop a sense of agency. Role models help, too.
November 10, 2016 at 11:57 am
Beth
Thank you, Tara. The stories we hear and read as children help us understand what goodness, kindness, bravery, and empathy are. They help us recognize injustice and challenge oppressors, whether fire-breathing dragons or Presidents Snow. They teach us that it’s beautiful not to be normal (Norman). Our stories are precious, our children are precious, and I’m grateful for all the wonderful writers and teachers who recognize that.
November 10, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Laurie Ann Thompson
Tara,
Thanks so much for mentioning Be a Changemaker! I think it’s so important, now more than ever. Beyond the very real good that kids can do when they become changemakers, they themselves also gain a sense of empowerment. When we feel empowered it diminishes our fear. It allows us to make decisions from a place of thoughtfulness and compassion rather than reaction and isolationism. It gives us a sense of purpose that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. As the world continues to change faster and faster, more and more people will feel disenfranchised and scared, unless they learn how to influence those changes in positive ways. So, being a changemaker isn’t just good for the people and causes you help, it’s actually essential to your own survival, too.
November 10, 2016 at 12:40 pm
Tara Lazar
Thank you, Laurie.
November 25, 2016 at 4:25 pm
realmaven18
Yes!
November 10, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Lindsay Hanson Metcalf
Such a simple concept, yet so inspiring. We are ambassadors of good for the next generation. We must keep writing.
November 10, 2016 at 12:07 pm
hmmmmm
Hear hear.
November 10, 2016 at 12:14 pm
hmmmmm
I’ve been thinking a lot about Maxine Greene today, who taught at Teacher’s College in NY and wrote a lot about the role/place of the arts in democracy and in working for social justice. She died a couple of years ago, but the Maxine Greene Center continues her work, and it relates very much to what you are talking about Tara …
https://maxinegreene.org/
November 10, 2016 at 12:40 pm
Tara Lazar
Thank you for sharing.
November 10, 2016 at 12:43 pm
Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Thank you for your message and for asking us to become involved in helping our communities. I would also like to mention some organizations that are specifically devoted to free expression and to protecting writers and journalists who have come under attack for what they write. If you are not familiar with PEN, you should look into becoming a member. Amnesty International is also an organization with increasing importance here in the United States as well as around the world.
November 10, 2016 at 12:53 pm
triciai
Yes, I totally agree, both with service and the ability of stories to help us see another perspective
November 10, 2016 at 1:26 pm
susandilldetwiler
Thanks for this uplifting message, Tara, and for all you do for us, your community. I really needed to read your words today!
November 10, 2016 at 1:55 pm
Gabi Snyder
Thank you, Tara, for the reminder not to wallow but to write now more than ever AND to make a difference in our communities.
November 10, 2016 at 2:01 pm
Mary Uhles
one of the best tweets I saw in the maelstrom said “just think of all the great art, books and songs that will come out of the next 4 years.” So true… and so thankful that you remind us of this Tara
November 10, 2016 at 7:58 pm
hethfeth
This is a beautiful, encouraging post. Thank you! Personally, I am taking a step back from sitting in a room alone, writing. I’m about to step out to do some community volunteering for kids.
November 10, 2016 at 8:08 pm
Amy Smith
Thank you for this, Tara; and for the link to Nathan’s beautiful post as well.
November 10, 2016 at 9:59 pm
Carleen M. Tjader
You are right, thank you! If my values don’t change, my world doesn’t have to change.
November 11, 2016 at 2:40 am
Donna
Beautiful sentiment, Tara. I think we all want to say so many things about what has happened two days ago, and I’ve said a few, but words of encouragement and positiveness is invaluable.
P.S. I have that beautiful picture on my desktop 🙂
November 11, 2016 at 6:31 am
Ali Pfautz
Yes! Yes! Thank you!
November 11, 2016 at 8:28 am
Lisa A. Reiss
❤
November 11, 2016 at 12:07 pm
Carolyn Rohrbaugh
Thank you for the encouragement. I will keep writing and I will volunteer
November 12, 2016 at 12:13 pm
martymi6
Write on, Tara! Great advice.
November 12, 2016 at 1:31 pm
Dorothy Wiese
Thanks, Tara. I have been volunteering for most of my life (in addition to reading, writing, and pursuing careers). Volunteering gives us back more than we can give. We meet interesting people of all ages who appreciate what we do. We go into volunteering to give what we can, and we receive love. Spread the love!
November 16, 2016 at 4:32 pm
Lisa Riddiough
Thank you, Tara! I am so glad I follow your post. You are a wonderful role model – and a pretty darn good picture book writer, too!!
November 17, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Amy M. Miller
Thank you, Tara, for this compassionate post and for the link to Nathan’s post. I sat down and wrote a new PB ms last Friday to help spread more compassion. Writing and community, that’s what is keeping me going.
November 17, 2016 at 1:44 pm
LeeAnn Rizzuti
Thank you for such a positive and encouraging post amidst all the negativity swirling about.
November 25, 2016 at 4:26 pm
realmaven18
I love your blog!
December 30, 2016 at 1:21 pm
Maria Bostian
I’m catching up on reading blog posts and this one hit me right when it was supposed to. Thanks for encouraging us to put down the paper and pen sometimes and get out into the community!