South Dakota: A Great Place to Write
Why do so many people care about stories, and remember and treasure
them all their lives? And what is it about South Dakota’s people,
animals, and land that makes for good stories? Jean Patrick has
thought about those questions. She’s a modern-day author, living
near Mitchell, who writes for young readers. Jean comments, "People
in larger cities or on the coast, who are not familiar
with this way of life, see this kind of life as being almost exotic,
and I think that is something that we as South Dakotans need to
remember. What may seem like typical life to us out here on the
plains actually is extremely unique."
Jean also adds that there is a bright future for South Dakota
authors. "What I have found is because I write from a location that
not a lot of writers are from, I actually can present myself as
being more unique when I submit manuscripts to the bigger publishing
houses. Because I do have unusual insights and unique experiences
and many times publishers are looking for the unique stories. I feel
being from South Dakota, there are so many things that can be
written about."
Jean encourages young writers to follow their dreams. "What I do
encourage young people to do, is if they feel a calling to do
something or if they have a strong dream…take those first steps and
do everything they can to answer the call of those dreams."
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