POLAND – The idea that real authors actually save a lot of their ideas intrigued fourth-graders Nate Morin and Josh Abrams.

The two friends are going to keep that in mind from now on, especially as they work with two other friends on their alien comic books during their free time.

Morin and Abrams received that enlightening writing tip from acclaimed children’s author Lynn Plourde, who is currently conducting a three-week author-in-residence program at Poland Community School.

“She seems really nice and funny,” said Morin. “I didn’t know that you could save your ideas. A lot of times, I forget mine. I liked it when she talked about getting ideas by turning the world upside down.”

Abrams tried his best to get the word “specific” out of his mouth as he described the suggestions that Plourde offered.

Plourde, in midst of helping third-graders this week, kicked off her visit to Poland last week with animated and energetic renditions of some of her best-known books.

“Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud” and “School Picture Day” kept both third- and fourth-graders captivated with vibrant illustrations shown on a projector screen and Plourde’s ever-changing voice to bring out word patterns and play.

Some of the students became the characters in “Moose, of Course!” during an enactment complete with costumes and props while the entire student audience participated in chorus lines.

Once Plourde got in the classrooms, she reminded the students that they, too, were authors.

“You’re fourth-grade authors, and I’m a grown-up author,” said Plourde to one of the classes. “I used to be a fifth-grader writer. But I couldn’t become a good fifth-grader writer until first I was a good fourth-grade writer.”

The school’s parent organization arranged for Plourde to work with the students in hopes of better preparing them for next year’s Maine Educational Assessments, said Mary Ella Jones, PTA vice president. Jones said teachers also thought the fourth-graders, who will take the test this year, could use some review.

“Your job is always to be the best writer you can be,” Plourde told pupils in reference to their MEAs. “You might not think it matters, but it’s like playing on a team, and all of your scores count.”

Every year, the PTA tries to provide some kind of enrichment program that the school’s budget would not otherwise allow, said Jones.

This year, the PTA contacted Plourde at the teachers’ request and paid her $1,400 residency fee, said Jones. Plourde is working with students three days a week for three weeks.

While Plourde gave students professional advice about getting ideas, what to do with them, how to play with words and bring them alive, teachers also took diligent notes in the background.

They grabbed onto ideas such as the symbolic shaker full of make-believe to steer a peer writer’s workshop session away from the often-heard comment of “that sounds boring,” into a more constructive “maybe you need some more make-believe.”

Several students asked Plourde about her books, how many more books she plans to write, and if she ever gets tired of writing.

“I know this: I will never stop writing,” said Plourde. “I’ve been writing since I was 4, and I will always keep writing because that’s what I love.”