We walk. I try to picture Grandy’s father here. My great grandfather. Twice. Why did he come back? We stop at the edge of the Green, a weathered plaque swaying. Remember Us, For We Too Have Lived, Loved and Laughed. A chill runs through me like I’ve never felt before.
The above 50 words are the basis for a new middle grade collection of vignettes I am currently working on. The first 15 chapters (vignettes) have been submitted for editorial review at an upcoming writers retreat through the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). Thank you to my draft content readers (Liz, Lee Ann, Shauna and Jean) for your creative insights this past long winter! The working title of the middle grade novel is Unseen. I am proud to be bringing to life this work highlighting the mental health challenges woven through four generations of a family with Mac as the 14 year old main character.
The 50 words We Too Have Lived were also just entered onto Vivian Kirkland’s blog (a fellow WordPress blogger and children’s book writer) for the 50PreciousWords 2025 International Writing Contest held in early March for 48 hours. While hundreds of submissions are entered, the thoughtful comments and inspiration from fellow writers are the true prizes!
Writing is a journey. For me the process of writing is everything. Time to think. Permission to pause. Receiving critique and insights. Raising the project up with hope. Respecting the blessing of my words. When the process feels joyful and flows, results surface. Some planned, many unexpected. Being a writer places me on a meandering path where I am ever watchful. I see life in snippets and this is why vignette writing is a beloved format for me. Vine Leaves Press has been generous in accepting several pieces of my vignette work. Sometimes the beginning, middle and end of a story is captured in the time it takes for the train to stop at a station, open its doors, enter the passengers and be back on its way. A snapshot.
The original art used in this post was created by Aidan, a senior in high school, Class of 2025. Aidan will be attending Northeastern University in the fall studying Art and Business where he will begin his studies abroad. He created this drawing when he was in 9th grade. The work continues to serve as an ekphrasis piece as I move through the development of Unseen. Immediately, upon seeing this image, it begged the questions of what happened before this moment, in this moment, and beyond. Used with the artist’s permission, this stunning work won a Scholastic Art Awards Gold Key in 2023.
Lisa Rose Bauer 