Journeygirl

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

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.