The secret to writing was right there for the taking.

All the students at Coleman Elementary School had to do was make a promise.

“When all of you write books that push my books off the shelf, you have to promise to remember where you got the secret. And send me lots of money,” said Roland Smith, a children’s author from Portland, Ore.

A former zookeeper, Mr. Smith has written more than 25 books — mostly about animals — aimed at young adults. The third- and fourth-graders who sat in the gym were surprised to hear that the author re-wrote novels like “Thunder Cave” or “Cryptid Hunters” more than a dozen times. And there lies the secret.

“The secret to writing is this: revision,” Mr. Smith said.

The visit provided more than a chance for readers to meet an author and get books signed. Mr. Smith gave students pointers on selecting story ideas and even shared pictures of his writing process. Slides showed stacks of facts on notecards that became a story, which Mr. Smith mapped out on a story board. Once everything was placed in the right order, Mr. Smith turned the story into a book.

The author spent most of Friday’s school day at Coleman, where he held workshops with different age groups and even ate lunch with a select group of children who wrote book reviews of his work.

Coleman principal Molly Pierce said she was glad Mr. Smith visited for a whole day of workshops, instead of a short assembly that might provide more entertainment than educational value.

“It’s always been a dream of ours to have a well-known children’s author come and speak to the kids about the craft of writing,” Ms. Pierce said.

Mr. Smith’s St. Joseph visit was part of a 10-week national tour. He said he enjoys school visits because they give him the chance to show children the goal of becoming a writer is attainable.

“The first author I ever met was me,” Mr. Smith said. “I don’t believe authors are special. I believe writers are made, not born. It’s something that I’ve practiced a lot, and I hope that after the kids hear me talk, they see they can become a writer, too.”

Clinton Thomas can be reached

at clintonthomas@npgco.com.