5 posts tagged “children's books”

Well, I got the mail today and I received one postcard back acknowledging the publisher has received my manuscript. I also received a rejection letter (!) from an agent.  I'm pretty excited. Not only am I one rejection letter closer to becoming published but it was actually a LETTER. No generic postcard with a "No" plastered across it but an actual letter! 

I can honestly say I'm happy. There is something about sending out your work and having professionals look at it.  It's pretty scary at first but it just makes the whole journey more exciting. Like I am writing seriously now. For real. Not a hobby. I know my story needs some tweaking still but I needed to send out a few submissions to get me to the next stage. In a weird way it gave me momentum. It has also allowed me to put my story aside for a week or two so I could come back fresh instead of beating it to death.

I am currently fighting a head cold after a long (wedding!) weekend. I'm sure my post isn't put together in the best way but I just had to say that "I'm pumped" about the future of my story.

I have been feeling the urge to simplify things in my life. I tend to overload myself with information and clutter - even the appearance of my blog was getting really busy. I am constantly stumbling over books throughout my house. Even though I can't bring myself to get rid of them - I can't keep them out all the time.

I have been writing queries and cover letters - not to mention researching the hell out of becoming a freelance writer. There is no set time limit but for some reason it all feels so rushed. Like I'm not going to ever get this opportunity again so I'm trying to make the best of it. I have an internal accountant tapping her watch saying, "Time is almost out. You should make money before you have to go back to work."  My husband is completely supportive with everything I do but I'm worried that we can only survive on one income for so long.

So, of course, I am thinking of freelance writing to bring in a dribble of income. I still don't call myself a writer. I feel that I haven't earned the title yet. It can get discouraging - researching two parts of the same field (children's books and freelancing). But I am determined. I just wish I had a map as to where to start.

The hubby, Baby T and I went for a nice bike ride. We got caught in the rain. It was refreshing. Baby T was perfectly dry in his little bike trailer but the rest of us had to hack it in the wet *ahem, cold* weather. It's one of the simplest of exercises but it's so uplifting. I need to do more of it...

...including other simple exercises, such as, yoga, walking, jogging and anything that doesn't require me to pay an arm and a leg for a gym membership!

PS: OH! And I got accepted to a school for children's writing. I had to take an aptitude test before applying (and I read somewhere that they only accept about a third of the applicants). I don't know if I'm going to take the course yet but it's nice knowing I've got the aptitude for it!

I am sitting at my desk. Printer shooting off page after page of my manuscript. Nerve-wracking does not being to sum up how it feels. I can honestly say, I'm nervous. And doubtful. The competition is high out there and what makes me think that I have ANY ability to rub two words together? I wonder if writing children's books is for me. Don't get me wrong, I love and I'm learning SO much but my critiques all say the same thing. I need just the bare bones of a story. Detail need not apply.

Does this mean I should be writing for older children? Adults? (How do I find out what I'm good at?) I've got some great children's stories (sadly, most of them are true) but it really kills me to cut out all the details. These books are suppose to be detailed and unique but apparently there is this imaginary line - that I like to step over quite frequently.

I guess I'm feeling a little discouraged. I run a very large critique group (by "run" I mean I started it... it's like a community, so to speak) and they have seen one of my stories change and develop for some time now. They are - for the most part - in agreement that I should send it out. Aside from tweaking a few things, there is another person in the industry who says it's almost there too. Well, we recently added some new members and I received a critique that says A LOT is wrong with it. It needs to be chopped big time.  I don't know what kind of experience this woman has but she makes some very valid points. (Of course, I keep in mind that it's just one opinion and I could be tweaking forever if I try to please everyone.)

She said she was afraid to leave me that critique because she noticed everyone else had said to move forward with it. Frankly, I'm grateful for her honesty. I knew this business wouldn't be cake - and you really have to love the work because it doesn't seem like lots of money can be made after everyone gets their cut. But it just seems like an uphill battle sometimes.

And that's only a small part of the stress I've got going on right now.  But I'll spare the rest of the details (can't cross that line again! 8)

I came across an ad today. Children's Circulation Clerk. My local library is hiring. I would LOVE to work in a library. Weird, I know. I've been spending a lot of time there as it is - writing, story time, and researching. Why not get paid to be amongst bookcases full of every kind of writing?

Our library is right up the street which makes for a good walk (not in this heat!). Unless I'm dragging my laptop there, I always get there by foot. Can't hurt the waistline.

This position is full time (although, I've been in contact with other clerks who say there's a part time position opening too).  I've got some decisions to make.

Right now, I've been staying home with my son and trying to learn everything I can about the writing industry. Children's books. Magazine articles. Commercial marketing. I would ultimately love to work from home and take care of my son. My husband works full time but he's on call a lot (and he gets called in frequently). It's safe to say that if I were to get a job - no matter what the hours - I would need a childcare provider.

Which costs money.

I am really stuck about this because what I bring home might pay for the childcare itself (maybe with a little left over). But can you put a dollar amount on experience? Would editors look at my stories differently if I worked in the Children's department of a library?

Don't get me wrong, we are not well off. Extra income would help us get to where we want to be faster but we aren't at the point where it's a requirement.

Of course, I worry about where my son will go to daycare. I would need to trust them implicitly.  As it stands I've been thinking about childcare one or two times a week so I can get some daytime writing done. But since I'm not bringing in any money yet I can't justify paying for it.

*sigh*

I really don't know what to do in a situation like this. I guess if I had to work anywhere, it would be in a library. However, my goal is to ultimately work for myself. Hard work and freedom rolled into one. I like the ability to take my writing wherever I go... if we want to head to New Hampshire for a few days, we just have to worry about my husband's job.  Writing can go anywhere I am.

I'd like to hear what others would do in a situation like this.

I'm feeling a momentum in life in general.

I might not be where I want to be financially or physically but I'm getting there. I am noticing some things are getting easier. For instance, I am not a great cook. I can read recipes and they turn out great. When it comes to creating dinners out of thin air I have some trouble. We don't eat horribly but there is room for improvement. I have been trying to alter our dinners little by little to create healthier meals.

I am feeling the most momentum in my writing. Don't get me wrong, it's still a struggle to sit down. With a 10-month old it's not the easiest thing to do. When I first decided I wanted to write children's books I looked for a critique group. I looked all over for a face to face group and I looked for an online group.

Finding a face to face group is next to impossible in my area. Most of the groups that had started were either in stand still mode or disbanded. So, I decided to start one. I found a SCBWI member that was in my area and contacted her. Come to find out she was looking for a local group too. Now, I've got a partner in crime. We are in the final stages of getting this group together and we'll be on our way.

I also decided (before starting the local group) to start an online critique group. I had no idea what I was doing but now it feels like a well oiled machine. We've got a little over 15 members and it's (surprise!) a success. This group has provided more help (and helped me grow more) than I ever expected.

Like my schedule isn't busy enough, my Partner in Crime is also part of a book club that meets once a month. Apparently, there are other members with little ones in my son's age range. Since, I don't really know anyone around here, it'll be good to get out AND meet potential friends/moms/playdates. It can't hurt. Or can it?