Why I Write For Tweens

Inspired and enthused about writing another adventure for Belle and Winnie, in my sequel to Belle in The Slouch Hat, I sat in front of my computer and placed my forearms on the armrests. I extended my fingers toward the keyboard with my forearms slightly angled down and noticed my right pinky finger had developed a permanent downward curve in it. That didn't bother me because I felt grateful that I had found something I love doing as much as I did when I had a real paying job. I straightened my back, threw back my shoulders and smiled to myself about the joy I find in writing for tweens. Suddenly, a thought rushed through my mind that the main reason I like writing for tweens is because we have the same mentality! I gasped and gradually lifted my fingers off the keyboard; I folded my hands and quietly placed them in my lap. My shoulders automatically slumped and I gently, and ever so slowly, lowered my head to prevent the annoying cracking sounds my neck makes when it moves after I sit at the computer for any length of time. I took in a deep breath, shut my eyes, relaxed my body and calmed my mind by counting backwards from seven to one.

Determined to know where that thought came from, I looked around to make sure no one was listening to me, and I repeated the question out loud, "Is the main reason I like writing for tweens because we have the same mentality?" Within a nanosecond I heard a small voice inside my head say, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, maybe ya do, and maybe ya don't. The next thing I knew all of my fingers were properly positioned back on the keyboard and I began writing this article on why I write for tweens - those precious 8 to 12 year olds.

There are many reasons I enjoy writing for tweens, and one is because I have tween grandchildren, ages nine, ten, and twelve. I'll have two more next year, and in four years two more tweens will come into my life.

I love the innocence of tweens and their ability to believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, ghosts, goblins, and mythical creatures. Tweens are loving, adventurous, silly, smart, eager to learn, determined, strong-headed, temperamental, ultra-sensitive, imaginative, sensitive, moody, serious, and sassy. They are fun to be with, and if you haven't had a good giggle in a long time, hang out with a tween.

Because of the onset of puberty, tweens are experiencing a lot of physical changes and can have tremendous mood swings. They are fragile, yet tough; hot one minute and cold the next. Then out of the blue, they will surprise you by sharing some their special love emotions that will lift your spirits so high above those complex puberty hormones you will never want to come down.

To wrap this up, I think tweens, like every other category of young people, are blessings. And that is the real reason I, and my inner child, like writing for them.