Many students don't like to write – they see no purpose in it. But a local author and publisher has found something to pique students’ interest in writing.

Student-generated anthologies allow young writers to become published authors. They learn the significance of proofreading and rewriting, the importance of reader feedback prior to publication, and they experience the joy of seeing their compositions printed in a legitimate publication.

Swanee Ballman, a published novelist, screenwriter and publisher, is a former high school English teacher. She desires to help students learn to love writing … at least to have a logical purpose for writing.

"For the most part, students write to a one-person audience—the teacher. They write for a single purpose—a grade. The writing assignment, has little meaning," said Ballman, who served as a writing consultant for Charlesbridge Publishing in the 1980s. "Once writing becomes real and has an audience, then young authors get excited about writing. I have seen this over and over."

Ballman, founder and president of Jawbone Publishing Corporation (www.jawbonepublishing.com), has spent the last 35 years working with students. She visits classrooms and encourages students to develop writing skills.

Educators have long known the reading/writing connection. The more students read, the better they write; the more they write, the better they read. "Both reading and writing involve higher-lever, critical thinking skills, such as comparing and contrasting, making inferences, and analyzing. The difference is that reading identifies these skills while writing generates them," said Ballman.

"I see young eyes light up with excitement when I share stories with them of other young authors. And when they realize they, too, are going to have compositions in real books, they are really motivated," said Ballman.

One teacher in Jacksonville, Fla., wrote to Ballman that the day her students' books arrived, the class went crazy. The principal came into the classroom to find out what the disturbance was about and was amazed that the students showed so much enthusiasm.

"In another school, the students had a book-signing party on a Friday evening. The entire middle school was involved. The chorus sang as the band accompanied them, and several students were selected to read excerpts from their anthology. The students then held their book signing at the end of the special event. And it was very special," said Ballman.

In other schools, Ballman has initiated after-school writing clubs, whose sole purpose is to create enough compositions to produce a book.

"We have also worked with individual student authors," said Ballman. "A fifth-grader in Illinois wrote a book about a dog. Her teacher suggested that she find a publisher, so her parents asked if I would help. This young lady sold over 300 copies of her book."

Ballman offered suggestions to the parents on how to promote the book. The author was featured in two human-interest stories in Illinois newspapers, and Barnes and Noble invited her to sign copies of her book in their store.

Another young author in South Carolina also wrote an animal story. According to Ballman, she sold around 400 copies of her title. "Her mom still contacts me for reprints, and the book was published two years ago," added Ballman.

Ballman's Jawbone Publishing Corporation (www.JawbonePublishing.com) is a digital printing operation. She and her husband offer help from editing and book formatting and cover design to printing and binding. "Digital presses have made printing much more efficient and allow us to print fewer copies at one time," said Ballman.

The Ballmans have also bound master's theses, family reunion books, and recipe books.

"One of our favorite projects was the publication of the memoirs of a World War II veteran. This man is a walking history book and I wanted to make sure his story was preserved for future generations," said Ballman, who met the author in a writing group. He has sold hundreds of copies of his title, Innocence and Death in Enemy Skies, his recollection as a B24 tail gunner and his imprisonment in a Swiss camp after a crash.

"I was surprised to learn that he also served as a reporter after the War. He interviewed Eleanor Roosevelt and Estes Kefauver," added Ballman. After learning of his additional experiences, Jawbone Publishing published a second book, Is That So? A Journalist's Most Memorable Encounters of the 20th Century.

Everyone has a story, either non-fiction or creative writing. The Ballmans have published many books for people over the past 8 years. Several authors now have great stories to share of their successes.

"A single mom in Central Florida co-authored a book with her middle school daughter about an actual place. The mother, who was quite shy prior to the publication, now is an avid public speaker, especially when she knows she will be selling copies of her title," said Ballman.

The Ballmans work closely with their authors, whether the project involves an entire classroom or an individual. "We get to know the people behind the words. They are painting pictures with words."

Ballman may be contacted for a classroom presentation or to share her experiences with civic organizations at editor@JawbonePublishing.com or at 678-876-4696.

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