Later in the conference I thanked Brett personally for the encouraging comments, that it really lifted my spirits. He gave me some further advise when I submitted it, which was to say that this was written as a stand-alone manuscript, however, __ and __ would make interesting subjects should a series be considered. I took him up on that tidbit and included dolphins and elephants as subjects. Honestly, I could easily name 10 other fascinating subjects for a series should it come down to that.
Three of us from my picture book critique group decided to head out of our region for some refreshing brain food and this conference looked like a good one. We drove out of Ohio and into Pennsylvania excited about who we might meet and what we might learn. I signed up for a preconference intensive with Rebecca Westin, associate editor at Random House. This meant participants had 15 minutes to talk to her about anything. This was done in groups of about eight people and most participants chose to read a couple of pages from their latest novel for feedback. I took a different approach. When don't I, right? I brought in a query letter and simply handed it to her and asked, "When would you stop reading and why?" (She gave me very positive feedback, said I had a very strong first sentence and my bio at the end was perfect. If anything, she recommended I condense my plot to 150 words. Also, she was confused about my MFAC abbreviation, which was a bit startling. My tablemates recognized it as my Masters credentials, so...?) I also took a minute to ask about a copyright question. I wrote a Halloween story based on a song from the 30's. I had requested permission to use the song and had yet to hear back. Should I query editors prior to getting the permission? She recommended I wait until I have permission. Lastly, I also asked if an author should send in a chapter index with a query, and she said probably not unless it is requested. So was it worth the extra bucks to participate in the intensive? I suppose it was nice to get reassurance from a "pro" that my query was on the right track. I do wonder, though, if I had presented it to the same editor during a break if she still wouldn't have been willing to look at it and provide feedback? I don't know. Our panel of professionals seemed to be telling us that was what they were there for. However, by paying the money, I did prepare ahead of time to use my time wisely, which I might not have otherwise. I also paid additional money for a critque of 15 pages of a manuscript. I decided to send "Octopus Capers" the nonfiction manuscript that won the 2014 Karen Cushman Award. I have to admit I have been very frustrated with this piece. Although it won an award, I cannot get anyone to actually read it. So my plan was to send it to Brett Duquette from Sterling Publishing and have an actual editor look at it. His remarks very well may have been the highlight of my conference. His recommendation was for me to go through and ensure that my vocabulary was at a 4th grade level, and to either define those that were not, or include them in a glossary. Every other comment was glowing, and he asked for me to submit the entire manuscript. I could not have gotten better news. Later in the conference I thanked Brett personally for the encouraging comments, that it really lifted my spirits. He gave me some further advise when I submitted it, which was to say that this was written as a stand-alone manuscript, however, __ and __ would make interesting subjects should a series be considered. I took him up on that tidbit and included dolphins and elephants as subjects. Honestly, I could easily name 10 other fascinating subjects for a series should it come down to that. I loved the group assembled for our panel. It included Brett Duquette, editor from Sterling, Jasmine Rubero, art director from Dial, Jennifer Ung, editor from Simon Pulse, Mary Colgan, editor from Boyds Mills, Rebecca Westin, editor from Delacorte Press, Heather Alexander, agent from Pippin Properties, Karen Grenick, agent from Red Fox Literary Agency, and Jennifer Soloway, agent from Andrea Brown Literary Agency. I attended four workshops during the conference including one with an agent about how to be professional, another with an editor to learn what was meant by "high concept" (this was one of my goals for the conference, and I believe I understand it now), one with an editor on genre and how to use it, and the last with an editor who used "We Found a Hat" to demonstrate how the emotional journey follows the plot of a story. I liked this one so much I recreated it for my picture book critique group at our following meeting. In addition to the workshops there was plenty of time for socializing and book selling for those who were published. I ran into a friend I met at a Highlights workshop a couple years back, whom I recognized when I saw my name signed on her bag! Keila was peddling her wares during the lunch break. Also, during lunch both Keila and Liana were recognized as having manuscripts closest to publication. Ohio represented well! We celebrated following the conference and shared what we learned, agreeing that it was definitely a worthwhile experience for us. We all left rejuvenated and vindicated that our efforts were beginning to pay off. Slow and steady.
6 Comments
1/6/2017 05:27:15 pm
It was a great weekend! Thanks for making me remember and smile.
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10/19/2018 11:18:40 am
It had been an excellent weekend break! Many thanks to make me personally keep in mind as well as grin.
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10/28/2018 08:16:01 am
Previously it was a superb end of the week! Thanks a lot in making me personally don't forget and grin.
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10/28/2018 08:18:44 am
It was subsequently an incredible weekend break! Thank you to help with making everyone remember that not to mention look.
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11/25/2018 08:35:58 am
This conference is helping not only teachers but also other person who really have interest in such area. This is learning platform for all students.
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I remember the excitement of visiting the public library as a child. The magic and suspense of reading favorites like The Velvet Room and The Secret Garden tugged at my imagination. Biographies of George Washington Carver and Betsy Ross allowed me to see the lives of those who came before me and to appreciate their accomplishments. Poetry collections like my favorite The Tall Book of Poems, which I took with me on sleepovers, introduced me to a range of poetry where I could consider how the placement and rhythm of words affected your mood – sometimes bouncy, other times melancholy. Plus, I really loved the way that book felt in my small hands. My goal in writing children’s books, I think, is an attempt to recreate those feelings, those early years of reading books where everything seemed possible.
I received an M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and won the Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award from SCBWI. I worked as a Children's Librarian for 20 years and still prefer to read books written for young people. I have two Cavapoo dogs named Prince Albert and Daisy Wu, and a black kitten named Mortimer. I am married and split time between homes with my husband Rod in Dayton, OH and in Cadiz, KY where we enjoy our pontoon boat on Lake Barkley.
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