Appalachian Wordsmiths met last night. It had been so long, I was starting to have withdraw symptoms.
It was good to see everyone again. Five of us were at the meeting last night. Two of our regular members couldn't make it. If you're reading this post, "We missed you!"
It was good to catch up on all the news and happenings. After we did that, the ones who brought material read aloud and we discussed the stories and marked up our copies to give back to them.
Last night I read a newspaper article I'm working on and one of my picture books that I am continuing to edit.
I have sent this PB out many times, but only once since I did it 'right.' I have blogged about this before, my having a hard time keeping description out of picture books. I rewrote the story and took out all the beautiful descriptions that you are supposed to leave to the illustrator, and I love it. I tried to do all the right things. I started out with action, used lots of descriptive words such as swoosh! swished, cracked, boomed, splashed, & splattered to make it exciting, and it is (in my opinion) a good story.
I tossed copies to everyone and said, "What's wrong with this?"
My writing friends found a few things wrong. Yea!
Now onto the revisions and sending it out again! I really have faith in this one story. I'm going to keep sending it out until (hopefully) I find a publisher who wants to take a chance on it.
What have you been doing? Anyone have a manuscript out there?
Are you in the middle of revising one of your stories? Do you have a work in progress?
We're all in this journey together. Share your stories, your ups and downs, let us cheer each other on and help each other along the way.
Oh how I miss the loyalty of a writers group. Ours hasn't met in so long, and besides me there is only one other children's writer. I'm glad you're still pursuing your book. What is it about?
ReplyDeleteI'm in between novels. I'm toying with a new idea, and I've submitted Attack at Fleetwood Hill. Fingers crossed, Gulp.
Amy, good luck with Attack at Fleetwood Hill, I'll keep my fingers crossed. The picture book I'm talking about is Amazing Miss Maizy, it's about a girl scarecrow.
ReplyDeleteHi Janet,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your writer's group is doing wonderful things :-)
AND! How wonderful that they didn't find very many problems with the manuscript you've been polishing.
YIPPEE!
It's either at perfection or that much closer :-)
And as you know I love Miss Maizy,
Gooooood luck!
Laurie
Your writing group sounds like a wonderful group of friends. I can imagine how much confidence that you all give to each other!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get it worked out just the way you want it.
I am working on revisions as well as another WIP.
Hi Janet,
ReplyDeleteYour writing group sounds great! The group sounds like a great & supportive group of friends sitting around talking about their books. All the writing groups I'm in are online since I haven't found a physical children's writing group in the area...yet!
I do wish I was more of writer. I have words in my head but I do not seem to be able to put them down. I enjoyed your post. Thanks for your visit.
ReplyDeleteHi, Janet (o; You asked about revision. I know a writer (well known) who revises her picture books an average of 50 times! I have a pb that I've revised 45 to 50 times, too! Sounds unbelievable but it's true. I'm not talking about 50 complete revisions, of course. several lines here. A scene change there, etc. Occasionally the changes are big. So---don't give up!
ReplyDeleteMy book with Scholastic is coming out in November (see the pictures of my books in left column of my blog. Just added them). I lost count of how many times I had to revise each mini-play for this new one! It was crazy! Keep going, Janet! You are not alone!
Sheryl