Campbell — Janice

"I heard a heavy sigh all the way from the kitchen," Janice smiled, setting the tray down on the desk. "Writer's block?"

The name is most prominently tied to a real-life author and educator known for the Excellence in Literature curriculum, where she inspires students to read great classics and write beautifully. janice campbell

Clara closed her eyes. She ignored the rain and thought about last summer. She thought about the giant old avocado tree in her grandparents' backyard. She remembered climbing up into its thick, green branches where the leaves were so dense they created a secret, shaded cave. She remembered sitting up there for hours, hidden from the rest of the world, eating a peach while the juice ran down her chin. "I'm thinking of the avocado tree," Clara whispered. "I heard a heavy sigh all the way

Just then, her aunt Janice stepped into the room. Janice was a teacher who loved books so much that her house was less a building and more a giant, sprawling library. She was carrying a small tray with two glasses of cold milk and a small plate of warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies. She ignored the rain and thought about last summer

Clara nodded gloomily. "I want to write something wonderful, Aunt Janice. Something like the books you have downstairs. But I'm just a kid. I don't know how to make words dance."

Janice reached over and tapped Clara’s blank paper. "Close your eyes. Don't think about writing a masterpiece. Just think about a memory that feels like a cookie."

Janice picked up a cookie and broke it in half, letting the melted chocolate stretch between the pieces. "You know, Clara, a lot of people think writing is like eating a giant bowl of raw broccoli. They think it's just hard work, strict rules, and something you have to do because it's good for you. But really? Storytelling is just like these cookies." Clara tilted her head. "Cookies?"