Janet Goldwasser

Janet Goldwasser is a published author and 826michigan volunteer. View Janet's feature poster [PDF]

Why do you write?

“I originally volunteered with 826michigan thinking I would help with math, but I discovered I can help with writing as well (I come from a family of English teachers)! The creativity comes from the students, but helping them organize their thoughts [and having] gentle conversations about conventions after they get their thoughts out is something I can help with. It’s so hard to teach a group, so working one-on-one with students fills a real gap. I’ve tutored about four years, and one thing I like about working with students on their writing [is] I don’t know what’s going to happen. It keeps me on my toes!”

What is the most memorable thing you have written?

“My husband and I wrote a book together about going to China in 1972. The book, Huan-Ying: Workers’ China, [was] published in 1975. We wrote it to combat misinformation. China had a different way of setting priorities in terms of healthcare and working conditions, so we intended to get information [to] readers who weren’t able to visit themselves. It took over two years to write and a lot of editing.”