Yesterday my daughter and I were brainstorming about a new book I might be doing work-for-hire. She loves to talk about the book writing process with me and tell me what she thinks I ought to do. One of the things this book will need is a poem that accidentally turns into a spell (because of where it's recited) that wreaks catastrophe...the power of the word, indeed.

My daughter was thrilled. She immediately went to work on the poem. She was reciting all evening long. She was considering different poetic forms and which would work best in the book. It was fun to watch (if a bit overwhelming after the first hour.) She promised to work on it some more at school today.

She did let me know that if she comes up with the perfect poem, she wants byline billing in the book. I think I can talk her down to a mention on the acknowledgements and a new webkinz.