Hello again fellow Children’s Writers and Friends,
In case you hadn’t realised, last month I was really excited about a friend of mine from my FAW (Fellowship of Australian Writers) branch getting a publishing contract, but I couldn’t say much more at the time because she had yet to make the announcement to everybody that she wanted to. That now done, I’m happy to recommend you all have a look at her new website carolyneldridgealfozetti.com and go to her News page to hear all about her new picture book Forest Feasts. Congratulations Carolyn!

Yes getting a book published is very exciting and not only for the author themselves but also for those who care about their success. However, as Carolyn herself says and I have to agree, it’s still a real buzz every time you achieve publication, no matter the scale. In my case, I have had some near misses in the past i.e. placing in the competitions, but not high enough to make it into Anthologies and then in 2014 it finally happened and I was shortlisted and published in the Zinewest Anthology. nwg-inc.com When it happened again in 2015 I was equally excited, possibly more so and I have my fingers crossed for the hat trick later this year. I have to say, it was at this point (i.e. 2014 publication) that I finally felt confident enough to let people other than my family and my fellow Eastwood/Hills FAW http://hillsfaw.wordpress.com members know that I was actually a writer, on the road to publication. I beamed, quite goofily no doubt, for at least a week, the beamed again when I actually held the Anthology in my hands later that year. 

Probably as a result of that, things seemed to fall into place more readily then, especially when I (have the confidence to) put the time and work in. In January of 2015 I was the www.creativekidstales.com.au ‘s Emerging Author of the Month featured on the front page of their website with none other than Graeme Base. How cool is that? Since then I have entered many more competitions, submitted work to editors at conferences, some of which has been received favourably and even submitted directly to a couple of publishing houses receiving personalised rather than form rejection letters. All positive steps! I know I still don’t submit enough, however as you know, I’m spending more of my time and energy on learning my craft by methods mentioned in other blog posts, so that every time I do submit I know I’m giving it my best shot. 

Although the last sentence may seem a bit off topic, I guess it’s my way of explaining why I have a rather short list of publication credits and why (despite it being a common recommendation) this doesn’t worry me much. I have been working on ensuring I learn enough to receive that little buzz even more often because I’m told it’s just as exciting as getting that all elusive book publishing contract. Many professional authors I’ve spoken to say how each and every publication, no matter how small is exciting! So for those of you out there slogging away and feeling down about your apparent lack of success remember every new bit of learning about the craft, every bit of writing is success. You’re in the world’s minority simply by completing a manuscript. Remember also (note to self) to work on achieving some smaller scale publication success. Submit to magazines e.g. The School Magazine theschoolmagazine.com.au and anthologies, newspapers, competitions and websites because every successful submission, every publication, no matter how small will give you, and those who are backing you, a real buzz.

Short and sweet today fellow travellers, farewell,

Savour the quest,

Journeygirl