Reetta Neimelä
writer of books for children
You write mostly for kids. How do you literature of fairytales in Finland?
I think we have very original fairytales. Foreigners literature came later, Finnish writers had to find their own way, fantasy. Since 90ties it is getting better. Started to be some translations of Finnish writers in Russia for example (but not many translations of Russians writers in Finland), and also kids poetry started to show up. This happened also in 50ties and 60ties, and now poetry for children is back.
How did you become a writer?
It was accident. I was working at musuem with animals, and I had to do a programe for kids. I found there are no books for kids about nature. And previously I studied biology. So I decided I will fill this gap. I am doing for kids rhymes about nature and what is happening in it.
How does look your "writing process"?
I think that only thing which is needed in books is tension. Writing is inventing, inspiration comes from inside. I have to sometime force myself to write, but I am also waiting for the right moment. And it comes - you feels like you and your writings go in one. My favourite daytime is morning, language is good in this time.
How children react on your books? Do you communicate with them personally?
Russian children contacts me much more than Finnish. I do some workshops with kids in school, then it is very good response. I started to perform, because everybody did it. It was a big tradition
What are your biggest chalenges as a writer?
Find time to write, find time for my hobby-horse riding. I like "short" writing, because I like to do something all the time. I can´t sit for a long time and write long stories for example. I learned a lot from children, a complex structure. Challenge is how to trust yourself, know yourself. I challenge myself everyday to write something new, to use imagination.
What are contributors of a good literature?
The language - if there is something what makes you excited. What is good for adults, cand be different for kids. I have to trust to language itself.. Also attractive is writer who is going forward. I don´t like today´s very popular idea - that book has to have "ideas" for adults and story for kids. Just write and your best.
How did you become a writer?
It was accident. I was working at musuem with animals, and I had to do a programe for kids. I found there are no books for kids about nature. And previously I studied biology. So I decided I will fill this gap. I am doing for kids rhymes about nature and what is happening in it.
How does look your "writing process"?
I think that only thing which is needed in books is tension. Writing is inventing, inspiration comes from inside. I have to sometime force myself to write, but I am also waiting for the right moment. And it comes - you feels like you and your writings go in one. My favourite daytime is morning, language is good in this time.
How children react on your books? Do you communicate with them personally?Russian children contacts me much more than Finnish. I do some workshops with kids in school, then it is very good response. I started to perform, because everybody did it. It was a big tradition
What are your biggest chalenges as a writer?
Find time to write, find time for my hobby-horse riding. I like "short" writing, because I like to do something all the time. I can´t sit for a long time and write long stories for example. I learned a lot from children, a complex structure. Challenge is how to trust yourself, know yourself. I challenge myself everyday to write something new, to use imagination.
What are contributors of a good literature?
The language - if there is something what makes you excited. What is good for adults, cand be different for kids. I have to trust to language itself.. Also attractive is writer who is going forward. I don´t like today´s very popular idea - that book has to have "ideas" for adults and story for kids. Just write and your best.
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