Journeygirl

Hello once again Fellow Children’s Writers and Friends
I’m going to dive right in today and start thinking and talking about critique groups. Thinking Criqually is a wonderful skill to develop if you are a writer of any genre and joining a critique group even if it’s not your genre is extremely helpful. Of course it’s better (especially if you write Picture Books like I do) to try to find a group who write in the genre you are working on, however, this is not always possible. For example the prose group I belong to decided not to stay behind and critique last month due to a variety of other commitments. As a result I sat in, with their permission, on the ‘Tanka Huddle’ critique group. I felt awkward at first knowing that I was out of my depth, however, I was able to participate and provide suitable feedback simply as a reader. After all, any writer writes or should write with the reader clearly in mind and not every reader, in fact not many readers are going to be aware of what makes a tanka, or any other poem, or any piece of writing for that matter enjoyable. They just know that they like it. That is what I could offer, I couldn’t help with the technical aspects, but I could tell them what I liked, disliked, understood, didn’t understand and why AND I even found out a little about how they were able to fix that. Actually shorter verse forms such as Tanka and Haiku have quite a lot in common with Picture Books because every word and in their case every syllable, has to count. 
I was surprised to find that there was still something of value for my own writing in that wonderfully welcoming poetry critique group. Thank you ‘FAW Tanka Huddle’. I do actually belong to two critique groups, the prose one mentioned before with my FAW Branch members and CKT Writer’s Workshop; a private Facebook group you need to register for to be able to participate. It is specifically for writers of manuscripts suitable for children. Details on www.creativekidstales.com 

Both of these groups have been invaluable to me. From them I receive and hopefully provide for others help with manuscripts and even advice on where to enter or submit said manuscript. It is here where we apply the ‘sandwich method’ of critiquing; a positive piece of feedback, followed by constructive but not brutal comments about areas to work on, followed once again by a positive comment. For some manuscripts this is repeated several times within the critique as there is a lot to say. Using this method encourages us to be able to find both the negative and the positive; often a challenge for writers who are usually more than able critical thinkers, especially when it comes to their own work, but not necessarily ‘critiqual’ thinkers.
Belonging to critique groups has also had many added benefits such as developing the ‘critiqual’ thinking muscle through practice as I learn from those critique partners who are more experienced. Practice as we know, makes per… well experienced anyway so now I am no longer the least experienced. This is useful both to the group and for my own self editing. Also there’s a shared knowledge base i.e. about competitions, lesser known publishing opportunities, when the well known publishers have opened their books, however briefly, advice on where and how to enter/submit PB manuscripts, poems and short stories. As well as this, you will have like minded people to attend writerly events with, because despite how much as your family love you, a writer’s life is generally a lonely one. Family members will either drag themselves along to please you or point blank refuse to go (read teenage males, who generally point blank refuse to do just about anything anyway, so don’t take it personally) which is often the better option for all concerned. When you’re excited about meeting an influential writing hero, or eager to learn something new at a conference, or just wanting to soak up the atmosphere at a festival, you want someone with you who will enjoy it at least equally as much.
Then there is the joy of helping others and the thrill of seeing them succeed especially if/when they credit you as being part of their success. I had this experience just the other week when a writer friend of mine told me of a big success she has had recently and that I am one of the first people she has told because of the help and interest I had displayed in her efforts particularly with this ms. Well I think I was almost as excited as she was. If writers look on their manuscripts as though they are almost like children then I have to say that this ‘ms aunt’ was very chuffed.
And so to the final benefit for today, being part of an amazing nationwide sometimes even worldwide community. My experience with my friend’s success is not at all uncommon. As I have mentioned in past posts, other writers, even published authors are out there pulling for you, hoping for and delighting in your success. So if you haven’t already joined a critique group, find one who write in your chosen genre (where there will be more focused expertise) if possible, or join one regardless of genre where you may even discover a new writing passion! Diversification too, will open up new doors. Whichever way you go and whose to say you can’t go in more than one direction- join a critique group today. 

We sometimes even share new release books, some of which we later buy ourselves. What are some of the more interesting added extras you’ve gained from your critique group(s)?  I’d love to know so don’t be shy, comment below.

Farewell for now fellow travellers,

Savour the quest,

Journeygirl.

Hello Fellow Children’s Writers and Friends

Firstly let me apologise for this post being a week late, however, I have several good reasons and some news. Personally, I was nursing an unwell hubby while picking up the slack in household chores and I wouldn’t even mention this if it wasn’t for the fact that I also began a couple of new professional ventures in both my professions, i.e. teaching and writing. It is the writing one, however, that I will talk about today for obvious reasons, this being a writing blog and all.

It has been one of the most interesting and challenging writing experiences I have ever undertaken. I’m really excited about it in fact! “Well what is it?” you say. Go on then, say it. OK OK you’ve dragged it out of me? This week I’ve participated in NaPiBoWriWee, short for National (American originally although now worldwide) Picture Book Writing Week. Paula Yoo, who started it was finding that she like many of us procrastinated so much that she didn’t write nearly as much as she hoped to. Inspired by NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) she decided to document in her own blog and also invite others to join her in a challenge she set for herself. The challenge: Write 7 Picture Book drafts in 7 days. That was seven years ago and NaPiBoWriWee has become bigger and better with guest posts, prize giveaways and a wonderfully supportive Facebook page. And that’s how I discovered it, through another writing related Facebook page which mentioned it. I was interested so I did a Google search and I’m so pleased I did.

Why? Simple I now have seven brand new ideas and four drafts which need a lot of work, two I’m pretty happy with an one… one golden gem I’m going to polish till it dazzles and submit far and wide! Obviously you can’t miss how happy I am with my gem, but the best thing is that I have much more than one gem which anyone can get at any time. What I have is seven possibilities. Seven drafts I’m unlikely to have written in a month, let alone a week! And what of the ones I struggled with. Who said a little struggle was a bad thing? Making myself complete this task despite the week’s writing and non writing challenges makes me feel really good. Really proud of myself and if nothing comes of any of them- including my gem, I have still written everyday for a whole week, which along with read read reading, is one of the most common pieces of advice given to writers on the road to publication. So you see, I can’t lose. How often does that happen in life, let alone in our writing life? No wonder I’m excited.

Incidentally, I came upon this accidentally just before it was due to start. There were writers on the Facebook page who were very happy with several of the drafts, writers who did more than seven, one who challenges herself each year to do one more than she did the year before. She managed ten this year. There were posts from Paula beforehand suggesting that you have your research done if you already knew what you planned to write about so your drafts were more successful. Many did, particularly those who like me had done PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Ideas Month) in January. These organized souls didn’t come up with seven brand new ideas but spent the months since January or maybe just the week before preparing and fleshing out some of those ideas ready to begin drafting on the first of May. NaPiBoWriWee goes from the 1/5-7/5 every year.

Go on admit it, you thought I was going to announce an offer for publication, didn’t you? Sorry, not yet, however, next week I will tell you about the first time I was published. Not my own book of course, you’ll know if that ever happens believe me, but in one of the many other ways a writer can be published. So go ahead check out the various writing month and week challenges out there and then check out this blog again next fortnight to hear all about my ‘big’ publication.

Well that’s all folks! Farewell fellow travellers,
Savour the quest,
Journeygirl.