Last modified: Friday, May 2, 2008 1:01 AM EDT Jack Gantos talks about writing with seventh-graders at Norton Middle School recently. Students read Gantos’ books, “Joey Pigza Loses Control” and “Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key” in anticipation of his visit. (Staff photo by Martin Gavin) Talking about the write stuff BY MICHAEL GELBWASSER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF NORTON -Don't be surprised to see Norton Middle School students keeping journals. The first entry? Reflections on meeting Jack Gantos, the author of the Rotten Ralph and Joey Pigza children's book series. Gantos earlier this week urged Norton students to keep journals - just as he does for his books - and to commit at least 10 minutes a day to writing in them. Journals are good ways to start stories, he said. "You do have things to say, and you need someplace to say it," said Gantos, who figured he has about 200 journals, one of which he held up for the students. "You are the main character, and you are the most important character. You win all the awards. You are the boss." Gantos added that "at the end of the week, you have a nice chunk of a story." "By the end of the month, you've got a big chunk of it," Gantos said. Gantos walked students through his writing process, and answered questions, during separate one-hour presentations to sixth- , seventh- and eighth-graders. Sixth- and seventh-graders read "Joey Pigza Loses Control" and "Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key" in anticipation of Gantos' visit, Assistant Principal Michael O'Rourke said. Gantos was impressed by books that students created using his characters. The books were displayed in the school entrance and in the auditorium. "I'm very pleased to see how much work you put into it," Gantos said. Seventh-grader Connor Grieve said he learned a lot from Gantos. "He tells us how to start, because starting is the hardest part of writing," Grieve said. Grieve wrote "Rotten Ralph Sneaks Into School." He said Ralph, a "bad cat. He destroys things and stuff," has a friend named Sarah. Sarah has a new friend, to Ralph's dismay. "Ralph doesn't want Sarah to forget him, so Ralph makes the friend hate Sarah," Grieve explained. Gantos, who writes for all ages, said students should get used to writing many drafts of a story. That's part of the process, he said. "Your job as writers is to go through life looking for great content," Gantos said. "Writing isn't something that goes around happening to other people. It happens to everybody." MICHAEL GELBWASSER covers Norton for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.