Rita Williams-Garcia - The Writing Process | Storyfest

Award-winning author Rita Williams-Garcia was one of the featured authors at the 2017 StoryfestSC, an annual event sponsored by the South Carolina State Library. Knowitall talked to Rita about her Gaither Sisters Series (One Crazy Summer, P.S. Be Eleven and Gone Crazy in Alabama) and her latest book, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground. 

Rita also shared some insight into her writing process and offers advice to young aspiring writers.

Other books by Rita Williams-Garcia include:

• Clayton Byrd Goes Underground (2017)
• Bottle Cap Boys (2015)
• Gone Crazy in Alabama (2015)
• P.S. Be Eleven (2013)
• One Crazy Summer (2010)
• Jumped (2009)
• No Laughter Here (2004)
• Every Time a Rainbow Dies (2001)
• Catching the Wild Waiyuuzee (2000)
• Like Sisters on the Homefront (1995)
• Fast Talk on a Slow Track (1991)
• Blue Tights (1987)

Standards

• Grade 2: Use and apply knowledge of how inflectional endings change words.
  • Grade 2: Use a base word to determine the meaning of an unknown word with the same base.
    • RI.LCS.10 Analyze and provide evidence of how the author’s choice of purpose and perspective shapes content, meaning, and style.
  • Grade 2: Make predictions before and during reading; confirm or modify thinking.
    • RI.MC.5 Determine meaning and develop logical interpretations by making predictions, inferring, drawing conclusions, analyzing, synthesizing, providing evidence, and investigating multiple interpretations.
• Grade 2: Make predictions before and during reading; confirm or modify thinking.
  • Grade 5: Acquire and use general academic and domain specific words or phrases that signal contrast, addition, and logical relationships; demonstrate and understanding of nuances and jargon.
    • RI.LCS.10 Analyze and provide evidence of how the author’s choice of purpose or perspective shapes content, meaning, and style.
    • RI.LCS.8 Interpret and analyze the author’s use of words, phrases, text features, conventions, and structures, and how their relationships shape meaning and tone in print and multimedia texts.
  • RI.MC Meaning and Context
    • RI.MC.5 Determine meaning and develop logical interpretations by making predictions, inferring, drawing conclusions, analyzing, synthesizing, providing evidence, and investigating multiple interpretations.
• Grade 1: Orally produce single-syllable words by blending sounds including consonant blends in spoken words.
  • Grade 2: Use a base word to determine the meaning of an unknown word with the same base.
    • RI.LCS.8 Interpret and analyze the author’s use of words, phrases, text features, conventions, and structures, and how their relationships shape meaning and tone in print and multimedia texts.

Resources