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My Bio
Come and listen to a story ‘bout a gal named Jan… And, if the story is a little dull, remember, you asked.
Writing was always something that came naturally to me. I considered that a real advantage for getting good grades but not a career possibility. Career possibilities always involved big professions, like veterinarian or lawyer. An unfortunate squeamishness about eyes eliminated the first career choice, and an unfortunate squeamishness about robbing banks to pay for law school eliminated the second career choice. With both gone, what ever did I have to fall back on? I became a freelance writer, of course.
Well, my dear mom had always said she thought I should be a children’s writer because I wrote poems and stories for my little sister. Naturally, I
 discarded that career choice early since mom suggested it. Instead I got a degree in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I chose Journalism because I had heard it was a good undergraduate school if you wanted to get into law school. Journalism school was tough and the professors had no sensitivity for budding young writing egos, but I learned how to write spare and to research with accuracy. After I gave up the idea of law school, I tried newspaper writing. ACK. Ewww. Yuck. I was reasonably successful but I hated the work. So I escaped. I went home to the mountains of North Carolina and I began my freelance writing career.
Soon, I began teaching writing, as well, in the local community college. I did a little manuscript editing for hire. But slowly, even a fog brain like me realized that all the pieces I wrote and enjoyed writing were for education markets, or parenting markets – and they focused on kids. The classes I most enjoyed teaching were the ones with segments about writing for kids. I did crafts for kids. I did educational stories for kids. I did puzzles. I did paper dolls. And I enjoyed every minute of it. I also did regional writing, and computer techie writing, and some legal stuff – but the articles that targeted kids and their parents were my favorites.
In recent years I have tried to focus on my children’s writing. Although a quick glance at my resume will show you that my writing has taken some odd twists and turns, I always return to the kids. And along with a love of writing for kids, has grown a love to helping other people perfect their writing for kids.
In 1998, I married Mark Fields, the kindest, most wonderful man I had ever met. And he proceeded to haul me all the way to New England. He keeps my life, my computer, and my focus in good order. In 1999, I had a baby girl – Rachel Aspen Fields. Since then, she has taught me how little I really did know about parenting (and after I wrote all those articles, tsk tsk tsk). She is a great lover of books, which gives me even more excuses to buy them! Every day my family shows me again the value of laughing, and taking time for other things besides work… so I am not as prolific as I once was, but I am far more focused.
These days, I have returned to teaching as an instructor for the
Institute of Children's Literature. I am also the moderator at the children’s writers mailing list on Yahoo!groups.
And, I am the editor of
Kid Magazine
Writers. As you can see, I jump back and forth between being a teacher and a learner every day…and I think that is the best thing anyone can be. I want to learn something new everyday, and find someone I can help with that knowledge, as well. Thanks for asking,
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