Who’s Keeping up with the Kardashians?

By Kate Carroll

Now that I have your attention…

Sorry, this isn’t about the Kardashians. Heaven knows everyone else writes about them. Hollywood groupies and fans crave every single detail of their lives.

Details. That’s what I want to talk about - the details of manuscript submissions. Unlike the details leaked about the Kardashians, the minutiae of manuscript submissions is vital to a writer’s success. Being alert to the details helps a manuscript get to an editor’s or an agent’s desk. So let’s dish details– shall we?

Once you polish that manuscript like a bowling ball, you are ready to submit. Sounds easy, but any of us who submit our work knows that it is not that simple.

Of course, we secretly believe that our manuscript is a best seller and that editors’ or agents’ calls will be forthcoming. But most of us know, that’s not as realistic as we would hope. Does that happen? Yes. But for most people who are looking for their first publication, it has to do with the preparation and the details.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when seeking your first publication.

1. Know the market.

And the market is always changing!  What was considered acceptable when I was reading to my kids probably wouldn’t pass muster from an editor today.

Every genre has very specific guidelines. Every market has a structure that authors use.  It took me a while to go from reading lots of picture books to actually studying them. Scrutinizing the competition is a great way to understand what editors are buying and what is trending in the genre.

That being said, due to the subjective nature of publication, there are always, and always will be exceptions. Editors buy favorite authors. Houses publish specific types of projects.  As writers, it is our responsibility to familiarize ourselves with the current trends. Sometimes, I have a seed of an idea, and I can’t seem to stop it from growing. But many times, I find that my idea is blooming along with a hundred fully bloomed projects out in the marketplace.

I would never tell you not to write what’s inside of you. At the heart of every thing I write is the passion to write words and ideas that inspire me. Yet, as I grow in experience, I conduct more market research. I check out titles on a specific subject, especially if it is a well-worn subject. I make monthly visits to the local library where I research new titles in the genre I’m writing. I’m sure others can add ideas here, but the most important thing to do is your homework. Study the market.
  

2. Follow the rules.

We can’t seem to get away from them – especially in traditional publishing. Here’s the thing: We are at the mercy of those who make decisions. Research every agent or editor to whom you want to send your project. Generally, you can find specific submission guidelines on websites. My advice? Follow them! 

Slush piles are real, folks. If you want your manuscript to make it from there to an editor’s eyes and heart, then adhere to the guidelines.  Don’t ever give the first reader of your manuscript a reason to put it down simply because you didn’t follow the rules. Details! Pay attention to them.

3. Write your best work.

When I first heard that advice, I thought it was rather trite. Of course I’m writing my best work; I wouldn’t write anything less. Everything I write is my best!  But, over time, I’ve learned that every genre has its demands. Every genre wants perfection.

You may have a wonderful way with words and great syntax but does your manuscript have the charm, the magnetism, the quirk and the precision to make it to acquisitions?  Whatever you write, it needs to be irresistible to those making the publishing decisions. Be courageous to write and rewrite. Be courageous to take criticism from fellow writers. And when your homework is one hundred percent done, be courageous to submit!

Luck and Karma

By Julie K. Rubini 

One of my favorite quotes is, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
   
The Roman philosopher Seneca could have been referring to my journey as a published children’s book author.

My story has a tragic beginning, but a beautiful, new ending.

Julie K. Rubini

My oldest daughter, Claire, died July 6, 2000. She was just ten years old.

Claire left behind her parents and a younger sister and brother who loved her very much, and a chocolate Labrador puppy she wasn’t too sure about.
   
She also left behind a passion for books and reading. Claire was never far from a book, and often used reading as an excuse to get out of chores. Often her dinner got cold, as she begged to read “one more chapter, please Momma?”
   
We encouraged her passion from birth. Every night while reading to our children, I would go to that back flap of the book. As a freelance writer, I thought it was important that they learned about the authors and illustrators.
   
Soon after her death my husband Brad and I felt compelled to honor Claire in a way that was true to her. We kept coming back to books and reading, yet couldn’t quite get our heads and hearts around anything but getting through the day.
   
Then a moment of divine intervention, karma, pure luck, or whatever you want to believe happened.
   
Six months after I gave her “one last hug” while she walked off to her campsite, we were on a flight to my oldest niece’s wedding in Jacksonville. There, in my seat pocket was an in-flight issue of Time Magazine. Slightly tattered, the cover intrigued me.
   
For within was a story about former First Lady Laura Bush and her involvement with the Texas Book Festival. I’ve always been a huge fan of hers, so I read on. What resonated with me was the fact that the TBF featured Texas-born authors and illustrators, or who had written books set in the Lone Star State.
   
Wham! From all those years of teaching my children about all of you, I’d discovered a way to honor her, as well as all of your amazing work that brought such joy to our family.
   
I turned to my husband sitting across the aisle, and with tears in my eyes, I said, “Read this article. This is what we are going to do to honor Claire.”
   
Claire’s Day was born.
   
Although we promote Claire’s Day as Northwest Ohio’s largest children’s book festival, it is Ohio’s only book festival dedicated to children.
   
And, now into our 15th year, we are no longer just a day. Not that we ever were.
   
Claire’s Day has always featured a dozen or so of our region’s most prolific authors and illustrators. And, a highlight of the day, is our C.A.R.E. Awards - Claire’s Awards for Reading Excellence. Given to children who are selected by their principals as being the most improved readers in their schools, the awards include a special certificate and a coupon for the recipient to choose his or her very own book from the selection authored or illustrated by our special guests.
   
In 2002 we gave out 23 awards. On May 21, we anticipate honoring 800 children.
   
For the first few weeks of May this year, over 20,000 children at 43 schools will witness the magic of a school visit by one of our guest writers and artists.
   
And I’ll be amongst the featured authors this year.
   
In 2007, while speaking at Claire’s Night, our fun reception for grownups the night before the festival, I shared that I had written my memoir. In the audience was Anne Margaret Lewis, who was not only author, but owner of Mackinac Island Press. She had just written and published Hidden Michigan. They were looking for an Ohio writer to pen the Buckeye State version.   
   
Hidden Ohio was such an amazing introduction into the world of being a children’s book author. Well received by educators, librarians and families alike, Hidden Ohio was featured as the 2012 Ohio Arts Council Governor’s Awards Book.   

It taught me how much I enjoyed researching and presenting material in a way that children and families would enjoy.
   
I continued to write, conduct school visits, created a social media presence, joined a critique group, and all the other steps one needs to do to become published, even after the fact.
   

I met Michelle Houts at the reception prior to the 2009 Books by the Banks book festival in Cincinnati. She had just had her first book published as well, and after becoming instant friends, vowed to help each other from becoming one-hit wonders.
   
Michelle and I connected once again at the Northern Ohio section of SCBWI the fall of 2013. I was in the midst of seeking re-election to our City Council (I was approached to serve a year before. I did not actively seek this role originally. Are you sensing a theme here?) and trying to establish a succession plan to Claire’s Day.       
   
Michelle told me about an exciting new series for middle grade readers. Ohio University Press was seeking proposals for their biographies for young students. I responded, “Wow, that sounds like something I’d be interested in.” Michelle thought I’d be perfect for the project, and provided me with the initial contact information.
   
I walked away from the conversation thinking, “What the heck did I just get myself into? I’ve never written middle-grade, much less a project of this magnitude.”
   
Once again, I jumped in, with every ounce of my being.
   
Missing Millie Benson: The Secret Case of the Nancy Drew Ghostwriter and Journalist was released last fall. I’ve enjoyed nice reviews and feedback from critics and readers of all ages.   

I’m under contract for two more works with the series. One is in the midst of edits, the other due this December. I’m revisiting a YA manuscript and other PB and MG works that have sat latent on my computer for years, just waiting for me to bring the characters out of cyberspace.
   
Claire’s Day has successfully merged with Read for Literacy, I’m enjoying my third year on Council, and have awesome, loving relationships with Brad and our two children, now starting their own lives. They’ll both come join us at Claire’s Day, helping to hand out awards in their sister’s name.
   
It is no surprise to me that as I wrap this up, my Pandora cranks up with Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colby Caillat.
  
I am. And blessed.

Julie K. Rubini is the Founder of Claire’s Day, children’s book author and serves on Maumee City Council. She is the recipient of a Jefferson Award, the YWCA Milestone Award, and UT Distinguished Alumni Award for her efforts to promote literacy and create lifelong readers. For further information, feel free to visit clairesday.org and julierubini.com.

Know Your Role

By Kate Carroll

Children’s writers are an amazing bunch of people. The people I meet at conferences impress me. Fellow writers in my critique groups inspire me. And yes, “groups” is plural. I personally believe you can’t have enough of them. Today I want to share something I learned from my fellow writers.
   
One thing that my writing journey teaches me is self-reflection. Exposure to other writers challenges me and allows me to see things in my writing that I didn’t see myself.
   
To be successful, it’s vital to know who you are as a writer. If any of you watch the reality singing shows, very often, the judges and coaches tell contestants to know who they are as an artist. I think that’s true of writers too. 
  
Find out where your writing voice lives. Where is it best heard? I love writing picture books, but my publishing credits are with magazine articles. I had never thought of myself as a nonfiction magazine contributor, but my critique group did. To try our hand at nonfiction, our group challenged one another to write in that genre. What I produced for that group meeting became my first publishing credit for Cricket Magazine. What a thrill it was to share my writing with Cricket readers all over the world!

As time goes on, I see the value in knowing that’s where my writing feels comfortable. And that gives me an irresistible urge to keep writing to that strength. That doesn’t mean I give up on the passion I have for writing an amazing picture book, but finding a successful path for sharing my thoughts and words with kids is my dream come true!
   
Knowing your role and your potential as a writer can be a great launching pad for future success in an unexpected area of children’s publishing.

Five Things I Told Myself (Before I Became a Published Author)

By Lana Wayne Koehler

There are many things that I told myself before I became a published author, but these are my top five:
   
1. Before: I’m too old to start a new career   
After: I’m NEVER too old.

I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve done many things in my life. I’ve been a babysitter, teacher, mother, wholesaler, retailer, business owner, speaker, executive director, entrepreneur, marketer, and, lastly, a writer.

We all have long lists of things we’ve done. So why do we think that we’re EVER too old to start something new? We’re getting older every day, whether or not we work toward our dreams. Why not dream in hot pursuit of what we love?

2. Before: I can do it alone.
    After: It really DOES take a village.

I get it. Writing is a solitary profession. I have to sit down to an empty page and fill it. With words.

That make sense.

And yet, we are social beings always looking for ways to interact. My first writing village was very understanding. They were kind and gentle in the ways they critiqued my work (although, at the time, I thought that they were ripping my heart out!). Later, when my heart could better stand it, I was able to hone my craft with those willing to share their experience and who understood their role of Master Teacher. I studied at their proverbial knee and eagerly lapped up all they were willing to share.

Now that I’m with like-minded writers who support each other immeasurably, I find myself in the position of encouraging beginning writers as I had been encouraged—gently and with kindness and a lot of understanding.

The circle goes round and round. And that’s as it should be.



3. Before: Writing takes one good idea.
    After: Writing takes LOTS of good ideas!

How many times have I said to myself, “If I could just find that one good idea, I’d sell a million books!” I then proceeded to start projects that I never finished, daydreamed about life in the fast lane, and came down to earth with a big thud!

I’ve had the good fortune to meet lots of successful authors and most tell me the same thing—their “breakout book” wasn’t their first book. In fact, many of them have written 40 or more books and still have not had a breakout book. What they have is a career. And, in the end, isn’t that we all want?
   
So now I do my best to finish the projects I start and realize that writing is a lot like cooking spaghetti—I have to throw a lot against the wall to see what sticks.


4. Before: I’ll make lots of money.
    After: I’ll make some money in lots of ways.

Some of us will be fortunate enough to get an $85,000 signing bonus like one author I know (no names here) but for me, getting a book published was a lengthy, and not particularly profitable, process. It took three years from the first idea to final publication! While I did get an advance on royalties, the second half was received a full two years after the first half.

I’m learning that I can get income from book signings (that sell more of my book), speaking engagements at schools, teaching classes on writing, and writing more books!

5. Before: All I need to do is sell one bestseller.
    After: I need to keep writing!
   
Didn’t you sign up to be a writer? I know that I did! Looking at successful writers both past and present, I am filled with awe that I am counted in their company. Hemingway, Shakespeare, Dickens, Seuss. They were all prolific writers, managing to dazzle us time and again with their personal use of language and storytelling.

Why not use your special skill, your unique perspective, and your vast knowledge to expand the universe?

Keep writing! If you’re not one already, you may find yourself in the enviable position of calling yourself a Published Author!


Lana Wayne Koehler’s first picture book, “Ah-Choo!” (co-author Gloria G. Adams), was published March 1, 2016 by Sterling Publishing.

Interview with author Mary C. Ryan

By Kate Carroll

I sat down with Mary C. Ryan today and, over lunch, we discussed life, her family and her successful career as a children’s author.  Encapsulated here are some of the highlights from one of the hippest seniors and writers I know.

Did you plan to be a writer?

 

I wanted to be a cowboy when I was young. Not a cowgirl – a cowboy. I didn’t like Dale Evans, I liked her husband--not in a romantic way, but he could go out and do things like ride the horse and catch the bad guys. Dale rode a horse but she had to wear a skirt.

           

I used to write plays as a kid and then perform them in the neighborhood… I recently found 5 or 6 pieces of writing from way back when. It was quite a surprise because I didn’t think I had saved anything. I mean they were horrible, but I was just so happy to find them.

Mary wrote for her high school paper newspaper and won several awards, including essays and fiction.

I didn’t do much in college. I was too busy socializing!  When Patrick was born, I wrote him a poem. My husband hand-wrote it in his nice engineering handwriting so I could submit it. I was terrified to send it out. I think I mailed it to Good Housekeeping or Woman’s Day. Of course it was rejected, but I kept telling myself, all they can say is no.

It’s all about that thick skin we need as writers. 

Yes, eventually, I did develop that. During my early career, I went on an interview for a reporter (position) for The Niagara Falls Gazette and walked out with the job. I knew absolutely nothing about what I was doing, but I picked it up quickly. For years I covered council and Board of Ed meetings.

I also did feature work and freelance work. I have record books with pages and pages of rejections, and every once in a while, there would be a little Snoopy sticker (signifying a sale.)

Yeah!

My first actual sale was to the Wall Street Journal. It was a poem; I never saw it in print but they sent me a check for five bucks.  Then I sold something to the Toledo Sunday Blade – a humor piece. Also wrote a lot for the Buffalo News.

But, it was your son, Patrick who inspired you to write your first story for children. 

There were probably a gazillion things wrong with it, but it got me writing. I still have it somewhere; I have all my old notebooks. The story, How Long is the Summer, developed after a distraught Patrick came home and announced that his favorite play area had met its fate. A developer had bulldozed the fields to make way for a housing development. My main character found happiness in the end because he met a new playmate in one of the new homes. Although the story remains unpublished, it was the catalyst that started me on my publication journey.  

How did you choose the genre you often write in?

I think it chose me. I guess it was a particularly good time in my life, maybe, that I remembered. My kids figured into it too. That time period in my own life was full of good memories, so you write what you know.

You found your stride with middle grade characters and wrote another book, Blue Flyers.

           

That was my first real book. It was about a kid who played hockey. Why? I don’t  know, because no one in my family played hockey. Geared towards middle grade, it’s now available on Amazon.

How long does it take you to write a book?

I always say about a year.

 

Do you work from an outline?

No. They bore me to tears. It doesn’t leave enough room for you to take those digressions. I always say the most fun part of the journey is when you hit a detour and you have to go off and find something you never found before. I usually have a general feeling of how it starts and how it ends and everything in the middle is up for grabs.  

Do you have a favorite book from your body of work?

I always have to say Me Two, because it did well and it was fun.

Take me through the journey of  Me Two.

It actually started as a whole different book. It started with the idea of an overweight kid whose parents sent him to what they call "fat camp" now. I’m not sure I even have the original version, but one day I was at the supermarket and they had a little kiosk with some kids’ books on there. I saw this title called, “Jelly Belly” and I picked it up and it was literally my plot!  So I thought, I can’t do that, but I liked the characters and now that I've created them I just can’t abandon them.

The seed for the new plot emerged after a session with your writing group.

Something must have stuck in my brain, because the next morning, It was like, that’s what I’m going do. I’m going to clone this kid! It was a Eureka moment.

When did you know you had a winner?

I had published three books with Little, Brown prior to writing that. My editor had said those three were fine, though they are not going gangbusters, even though a couple of them were National Literary Guild nominees.  She said, we would really like your next book to be a little more serious, so I handed her Me Two, which was really far from serious. But I think they must have seen the potential in it, because they took it. After a couple of years, it went out of print and I always had this feeling that it was a movie. So when it was going out of print, I thought, I’m going to see if anybody is interested in making a movie of my book. Well, I wasn’t smart enough to know that you can’t do that!

Just call Hollywood, right?

Yeah, kind of like that.

What happened next?

           

I called Steph Lurie, who wasn’t at Little Brown by then, and I said, "I just have this feeling that this should be a movie. How do I do this?’ She told me to call one of the editors over at Little, Brown and tell her that I suggested putting it out there. So, I did and the editor said they usually don’t do this, but that she would put out a few feelers. And a couple of weeks later, she called me and said, we’ve got some interest and one of them is Disney. Anyway, they took an option for two years and they paid me some money and the book was still in print so I got 80%. The first year went by and the second year they didn’t renew the option, so I was back to square one. I had some connections at Nickelodeon, and I was just about ready to contact them when they (Disney) called back and wanted to take another option and, by now, the book was out of print. Then there was a little more money that I got to keep. They took another two-year option and finally on a day in March of 2000, they got the green light to go.

Exciting! Were you involved in the movie making?

No, but I got to go on set and I took Pat (husband), Mary (daughter) and Joe and their three kids.

Did they keep the movie true to the book?

Amazingly, yes! They did add a grandfather who was in a nursing home, which I liked and wished that I had put him into the book.

Did you have a premiere?

I did. It was at the Chagrin Valley Athletic Club … My friend took it over and she did a wonderful job.

Aside from this amazing work, is there one baby that you still have percolating in your mind?

There is. I actually won the SCBWI Work in Progress award for it. What was amazing, the second place winner was my friend, M.J. Auch, who was in my writers’ group.  She went on to publish hers and I did not. I had psychoanalyzed myself in this book. It was about this girl who had lost her mom when she was young. The book opens with her going back to the house that she shared with her dad, who had just died suddenly of a heart attack. It was so dark and I had lost my own dad at that time of my life. I don’t think I could deal with what happened to this character. She was so mired in her grief and I couldn’t pull her out of it.  I have all the pieces but never got that far in the writing.

Now that so many years have passed, do you think you could do it justice and offer something to someone who is suffering loss?  

I don’t know. It would seriously take some time. And I don’t think I have that kind of time right now.

Where do you get all of your ideas from?

God only knows. I think they are floating out there. It was said by someone else that they are all floating out there and whoever grabs them first…

Who were your mentors?

I took a night course at the University of Buffalo from Margery Facklam, who was a great nonfiction and fiction author. Margery invited me to the National League of American Pen Women… these were a bunch of women who were writing and my eyes were opened. Eventually, Marge and I ended up in a critique group together.

(Margery mentored Mary, and they remained good friends until Margery’s death last year.)

What is the hardest thing about the children’s publishing market today?

Oh, I don’t even know where to start. I think there’s a lot more with the self-publishing options. Everybody thinks they are a writer now. And there are fewer "work your way up" opportunities with newspapers and magazines. There are blogs, but it takes much more effort to find them maybe.

I had a pretty good part-time job with newspapers. But then the news wire service eliminated the small contributors.

           

I did humor columns for many years. I still contribute humor pieces (to a local paper,) the Spirit of Bainbridge. It’s called Scrapbag. It doesn’t pay but it keeps the pen flowing.

That is something I see clearly in your writing - the underlying humor that you have that’s very comfortable  - it just comes through. It’s never forced.

           

I love humor. Thank you.

It’s obvious that you get who you are writing for, too.

Maybe it’s my quirky frame of mind. I have always liked time travel. I’ve always liked anything with the supernatural or off-beat. I was always fascinated with that stuff.

Speaking of quirky, give us something quirky about you.

           

About me? Well, I decided many years ago that I wanted to play the banjo. I can strum it, but I can’t pick it. I surprised a lot of people with that. I still have my banjo and I still harbor delusions of playing.

As a children’s writer, do you need a quirkiness in your style?

I think that kids like humor. I think kids are adept at picking out the absurd in situations, including things that their parents do. I don’t know. I never deliberately tried to do that nor to I try to write down to kids, but I do try and throw things in that are not the first things you think of.

What are the most valuable assets a writer should possess?

Talent, of course, but I think determination and confidence. I can’t put it down to one thing. I think you have to believe in yourself and believe that you can do it and somehow find the courage to blast past all those people who say you can't.

I think the people who can’t do that will just fade away. They are going to give it up. It’s not going to be something they can get other people to buy into what they are writing.

As a seasoned writer, how do you keep up with the current trends?

           

I don’t.

Oh Mary, you do. Tell us about Dragonseed Press.

           

I had to develop that for The Secret in the West Woods and I had to learn the process of publishing. It was a local book and I didn’t think publishers would be interested in it. I still wanted to publish it. I published three books like that. This was before CreateSpace and things like that.

You are an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature. Which side of the page do you like to be on? Editor or author?

Oh, the author definitely. As an instructor, I was paying more attention to what everybody else should be writing, so it drained my ideas. But it was a great way to earn extra money.

If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?

You know I almost think I did already. They say your first book is pretty autobiographical and mine was – Frankie’s Run. And it was my favorite too because it was my first (published) one. And it was about a girl who wanted to be taken seriously. She didn’t want to have to fit into the norm of what girls were doing. She wanted to do something important with her life. While I probably didn’t consciously do that, I think it was in the back of my mind that I wanted to do that too. I didn’t want to be forced into a mold of some kind.

You know it’s funny. At my writers’ group in Buffalo, we were reading things at our meeting. M.J Auk was reading and she had just sold her first picture book, Easter Egg Farm.  M.J. has published over 40 books. She’s an artist-illustrator and middle grade writer. She does it all. I was really depressed and I thought, why can’t I do that? And I came home and opened up the mail and found a letter from Little, Brown saying they were going to take Frankie’s Run the same day. I remember that so well.

Kid writers – you couldn’t ask for a nicer bunch of people.

 

Tell us about your newest projects?

The Aidan Pike Series came out of my “idea pile.” I have hopes for this. The second book is due out soon. Aidan Pike introduces kids to library education. It’s both serious and quirky.

What advice would you give aspiring children’s writers?

           

Hang around kids.

Remember when you were a kid.

Read other writers to learn structure, but then write something different.

What else makes Mary C. Ryan tick?

I love knitting and crafts. I also love water sports. Last summer at our family gathering in Georgia, I tried water skiing, and also kayaking, water-tubing and jet-skiing.  Not bad for a great-grandmother!

For a complete list of Mary C. Ryan’s work and to purchase books, visit her website at www.M-C-Ryan.com.  I want to thank Mary for her time and for such an entertaining and enlightening insight into her successful career!

Celebrate Your Journey

By Gloria Reichert

 

Every writer’s journey will be different. A very few writers will have almost immediate success and have their early submissions purchased and published. Most of us, however, will experience a much longer journey. At times we could become discouraged by setbacks, but that need not be the case. We cannot control what we will encounter on our journeys, but we can control our responses to the events. Viewing each event in a positive perspective can make our journeys more joyful.

Deciding to write is a wonderful first step. Hooray! Joining a critique group is also cause for celebration. Having fresh eyes read a manuscript and give informed feedback helps us to see things differently and to grow as writers. Becoming a member of larger organizations such as the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and attending workshops and conferences bring opportunities to educate ourselves about the field of publishing and to learn about the craft of writing. Becoming acquainted with fellow writers and forming friendships create a valuable support network. 

      

When we get to the place where we are submitting our work, alleluia! Of course, this step will bring those rejection letters, but they put us in great company. Successful authors usually have folders full of rejections slips. Laurie Knowlton says that each rejection brings us one step closer to publication. Receiving a rejection with advice from an editor or agent on how to improve the piece should cause us to jump for joy. Consider their thoughts and write on. Being published in a magazine or newspaper are huge steps along the way.    

      

None of us knows when success will come. The field of writing is subjective and random. It is important to remember that each of us gets to decide what success is for ourselves. Celebrating every step along the way as we grow as writers can make the journey a wonderful experience. Keep reading and keep writing! To your success!

Six Pens Interview with Jean Daigneau

By Gloria G. Adams

This week we're featuring an interview with author and former Northern Ohio SCBWI Regional Advisor Jean Daigneau. Jean has found success writing magazine articles as well as picture books and middle grade novels.

1. How long have you been writing?

          

As a kid I always had pen pals and loved writing long chatty letters. I wrote poetry in high school and actually enjoyed having long term papers to do for homework. But my biggest connection to writing and my childhood is the middle grade novel that my friend Claire and I wrote in 6^th grade. It was called Billy Bixby and it was a story about a boy and his dog Mopsy and the trouble they got into.  The first line was, "Fetch it, Mopsy," yelled Billy Bixby, one bright sunny day as he threw a stick across the yard. We thought we were so creative because the first chapter - about Mopsy getting loose and running into a corner grocery store and knocking down a display of eggs - was called "The Egg-cident."  Unfortunately, we both had fires at our homes at some point during our childhood and assume that Billy Bixby was lost somewhere along the way. I'd love to see that manuscript again.

           

2. What made you decide to try to get published?

          

 I started writing professionally around 2000 when my best friend Linda encouraged me to submit a rhyming story that I had written for my first grandson Ty for publication. I knew absolutely nothing about writing for children or publishing, but I sold the manuscript within five weeks of submitting to a small publishing house in California. And a couple months later I sold another picture book to them. Ultimately, neither book was ever published and I withdrew the manuscripts on the advice of Jane Yolen…yes, THE Jane Yolen, because the company was having a lot of problems and I was hearing some well-grounded stories about their troubles and people, like me, not getting paid.  The company is still around and while I've always questioned whether or not I made the right decision, the whole experience gave me the confidence that I really could write children's books, so that's my silver lining to the whole thing.

3. What is your process? Do you have a regular schedule? When do you write?

           

My process is pretty scattered, but when I'm in the throes of a project, I'm quite obsessed. I've learned to write in short snippets because I work three part-time jobs and my days are pretty full. I'm not good at disciplining myself to write every day or write at a certain time every day, but someday I hope to have the luxury to be more focused. I have a lot of interest in nonfiction, especially history, but some of my ideas have come out of nowhere and have started with something as minimal as a title.  I like to have at least two projects going on at the same time - preferably something longer like a middle grade novel and then a picture book - so that as inspiration flows I can go back and forth.

4. What was the first thing you published?

           

My first publication was a short piece called "Nice Surprises" for Clubhouse magazine back in 2002. It was a list of random acts of kindness that kids could do for neighbors, classmates, and their family. I remember the thrill of opening the magazine to my piece and finding that they had misspelled my last name!

5. What it is like writing for Highlights magazine?

           

I love writing for Highlights because I enjoy doing nonfiction.  It was especially fulfilling for me because I worked with editor Debra Hess for the four pieces I sold to Highlights for their "What a Pro Knows" feature and another for "Gallant Kids". It was wonderful to have a personal connection with an editor - I loved calling her "my editor" -  and I'm hoping that I can establish the same connection with Judy Burke, who has taken over for Debra. While I have been published in other magazines, writing for a magazine with the reputation and credentials of Highlights is especially fulfilling, because I know how difficult it is to get accepted by their editorial board.

6. Why did you decide to look for an agent?

           

I had had a number of "near-misses" with several picture book manuscripts and have a notebook full of rejections, many of which are extremely positive and include personal notes from editors. But I never quite made the leap to getting published in the book market. When Vicki Selvaggio, former regional advisor for SCBWI Northern Ohio became an agent, I was given the opportunity to meet with her and discuss my work. Vicki had heard me talk about one particular historical fiction manuscript and really liked the story. So, she asked to see it.  I was very clear when we met that whether or not she accepted me as a client had nothing to do with friendship and everything to do with feeling like I was the kind of client she wanted to represent and that she could sell. I say that fate and luck brought us together, but hard work and perseverance got me my agent.

7. What is it like to have an agent?

           

For me, having an agent is a dream come true.  I know that Vicki is working hard for me and that she wants exactly what I want - to sell writing that is the absolute best that it can be. It's also encouraging to know that as things change in the field of publishing, that she can open doors that I would not find open on my own. That, for me, is HUGE. But, I will tell you that Vicki knows her stuff and she is not afraid to push me to the upper limits of my skill. The picture book that we both love went through at least 9 or 10 revisions after I submitted it to her, and that was after it had previously won an SCBWI Barbara Karlin Award Honorable Mention a number of years ago. But, I think many of us assume that when we get an agent, the contracts are going to start flowing in and that's just not true. It's just as hard to get published whether or not you have an agent, because children's publishing is still a changing field to break into. And the agent now has to be sure that the project s/he is representing is the absolute best since their name is tied to it as well, so there's a lot on the line for them, too.

8. What is the most frustrating part of being a writer?

           

For me the most frustrating part is not having the time that I'd like to put into my writing. And sometimes when I do have the time, I don't always have the discipline to stay focused. Writing is hard work, plain and simple, and even extremely short projects (like the 46-word picture book I just resubmitted to Vicki) can cause a lot of stress, self-doubt, and frustration. The words don't always come together as easily as I'd like. But the knowledge that I have found success in the past and the hope that every new project that I send out might find a home reaffirms the importance of all that hard work. 

9. What's the best part?

 Being in two critique groups and having another one-on-one writing partner have been the best parts of writing for me. I would absolutely NOT be doing this or finding the success I've had without them. Hands down. Of course, getting something accepted and seeing it in print is extremely rewarding. But the friendships and connections I have made with my critique groups and with people that I have met over the years through the SCBWI and as the Regional Advisor for the organization have definitely been wonderful. Then, too, the hope that one day something that I have published might somehow touch the life of even one child in a positive way is something that I dream about.

10. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

           

I would say get into a critique group or find a writing partner and don't submit too soon. I sent out plenty of stories that I worked very hard on and that I thought were my best. But when I continued to work on them later or as I continued to revise and submit with the suggestions of my critique partners and/or my agent, I am always amazed at how much better they can be. I see a lot of authors self-publish, and while I have no problem with that, I think the ease with which that can be done nowadays makes it way too easy to turn out work that really is not a writer's best. And, isn't that what we all want to show the world? Our best?

Jean, thanks for stopping by and taking time to share your experience with us. We wish you much success in your future endeavors!