Dear Fellow Children’s Writers and friends,

It’s hard to believe we’re at the end of March, but not so hard to believe this blog post is a little late, okay, a lot more than a little late. What have I been up to? Well, as you’d hope, writing. Writing and taking advantage of the ever increasing opportunities and learning experiences open to Children’s Writers and other KidLit enthusiasts. I have been submitting manuscripts, listening to Podcasts, applying for a mentorship and a fellowship, attending launches and a new Writers’ Group run by the ever generous and knowledgeable Paul and Beth MacDonald of The Children’s Bookshop in Beecroft (https://www.facebook.com/The-Childrens-Bookshop-239327069453946/) and all in a month! Some of these events, I will admit I have been doing for more than a month, however, I thought I’d share a couple of highlights from this month.

In January, I rejoined the Creative Kids Tales Critique Group and this month I posted a PB of mine and received valuable insight into its strengths and weaknesses. As well as this, I’m once again sharpening my own critiquing skills, as I critiqued three of my five fellow group members PBs and chapter extracts.

I’ve polished and sent off six manuscripts; four for assessment at the Creative Kids Tales Festival (https://www.creativekidstales.com.au/whats-new/ckt-writers-festival) this week, one for the ASA mentorship (https://www.asauthors.org/services/mentorships) and one for the Write It Fellowship (https://www.penguin.com.au/win/entryform.aspx?id=33) run by Penguin Random House Australia. Quite a process as was applying for a position at The School Magazine, something else I did early this month, but that’s something for another post.

I’ve discussed and sought help regarding these submissions from the wonderful Duck Pond Facebook group, which I also moderate with five other amazing members of our own ‘Mod Squad’. Here, advice, support, comfort, news and celebration are freely shared by any and all members.

I have also been enjoying https://www.onemorepagepodcast.com/ and https://www.middlegradepodcast.com/ Podcasts by Liz Ledden, Kate Simpson and Nat Amore and by Julie Grasso and Pamela Uekemann respectively. And just to mix it up a little David Tennant’s, https://open.spotify.com/show/4NaOYpBHF5WhPvoyRRTkxr has been easy, often humorous, listening for Wednesdays after work.

That’s it for me, I hope to post a lot earlier next month and more than likely about the upcoming Creative Kids Tales Festival.

Until next time, fellow travellers,

Savour the quest,

Journeygirl