We’re All in This Together: Celebrating 2013

I wrote a middle grade novel, LOOSE, and revised it, changing it from first person to close third.  Because I knew this revision would be a huge undertaking, I decided to print it out and totally rewrite it.  I have a tendency to over-write.  In revising this way, I saw huge chunks that felt too dull or repetitious — and I threw them out!  It was WONDERFUL!   I netted a 30% shorter MS, but I bet I cut closer to 50%.  Then I read it on my e-reader as my critique group (the heart of much of my writing improvement in the almost 4 years we’ve been working together) read it.  I made other significant changes as a result of those reads.  The final product is much more suspenseful, creepier, and better plotted.  It is with my agent now and my fingers are crossed — it’s the best novel I’ve written so far, and I am hoping, hoping, hoping!

Vivian Kirkfield

Author – Educator – Parenting Speaker
www.viviankirkfield.com

All writers – love to write. Most writers – love to see their work in print. Few writers – love to submit. No writers – love rejection.

I wrote for many years, but never submitted ANYTHING because I was: a) afraid of rejection b) foolish c) ignorant of how to go about it d) too busy with other responsibilities and obligations e) all of the above
The answer is ‘e’ – all of the above.

How did this change? I: a) participated in Susanna Leonard Hill’s writing prompts and holiday contests, b) joined Julie Hedlund’s 12×12,  c) took part in Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo d) connected with this incredible kid lit community (including SCBWI, Sub Six and my 2 fantastic critique groups) , e) all of the above
The answer again is ‘e’ – all of the above!

The one writer-related thing I accomplished in 2013 was to SUBMIT – 11 manuscripts to 12×12 literary agents, 3 or 4 manuscripts to Rate Your Story, many entries to contests like Cheerios, Susanna’s holiday contests and other blogger’s events, 1 manuscript for professional critique, several manuscripts directly to small publishing houses. AMAZING! From no submissions to more than two dozen! The steps I took were to participate, join, interact and connect with others who had either done it (and knew how and could teach me) or who wanted to do it (so I wouldn’t feel so alone).
Thank you everyone! Happy Holidays – I’m looking forward to a wonderful 2014!

Lori Degman

Children’s Author

www.Loridegman.com

Alayne Kay Christian

Author of  “Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa”

http://www.alaynekaychristian.wordpress.com

Represented by Erzsi Deak, Hen&ink Literary Studio

I imagine people are sick of hearing about it, but I have to say that my biggest accomplishment in 2013 was fulfilling my dream of achieving representation by literary agent Erzsi Deak from Hen&ink Literary Studio. http://henandink.com/index.html

The steps I took to accomplish it were as follows:

• I set a goal to submit six different manuscripts to agents in 2013. By the time I signed with Erzsi in November, I had sent out 37 submissions for 9 different manuscripts. I subbed to 5 editors and 22 agents.
• I started Sub Six, so I would have some company while moving toward my submission goals. We encouraged and supported each other all year long as we worked toward our goals. It also helped to hold me accountable by sharing with the group each time I made a submission. https://www.facebook.com/groups/SubSix/
• I did lots of research on agents.
• I joined 12 x 12 with the gold level membership, which offered an opportunity to submit a picture book manuscript to one agent each month. I lucked out, and Erzsi was the June 12 x 12 agent. I lucked out a second time because Erzsi asked to see more! http://www.juliehedlund.com/registration-for-2014/
• I joined the Agent/Editor Discussion groupwhere we discuss agents and editors; submissions and acceptance or rejections; and share information about agents and editors. https://www.facebook.com/groups/299530846844884/
• I continued (and continue) to improve my skills by increasing my knowledge about writing.
• I got lots of great advice from my fantastic and smart critique partners.
• I wrote and edited my butt off (I only wish the butt had really leftJ).
• And I had friends and family with lots of crossed body parts wishing me luck and supporting me all the way.
• Although there were times that I felt like throwing in the towel, I never gave up.

Robyn Campbell

Robyn Campbell’s blog

Donna L Sadd

Varied Posts from a Gal who Wants to be a Writer When She Grows Up!

http://donnalsadd.wordpress.com

After self-publishing my children’s picture book, LUCCI- The No Smoochie Poochie, on Amazon in January 2012, I spent the better part of that year ‘building my author’s platform’.  I picked my head up in December to realize that my writing had taken a back seat.

This January, I vowed to focus solely on my writing and learning the craft. The best thing I did was join Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12. I took a bronze membership because I didn’t have stories to submit to agents, but joining this vibrant, smart and sharing community alone, opened all sorts of doors to me!I joined my first critique group with other 12×12 members; learned oodles from authors’ guest posts; discovered classes, like Picture Book Academy of which I am now a graduate; followed other children’s book writers blogs; joined contests, like Susanna L. Hill’s; participated Kristen Fulton’s WOW Nonfic Pic and Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo; and got accepted into another critique group of more experienced writers. I even revised LUCCI, which will be up any day now.

Marcie Flinchum Atkins

Children’s and YA Writer

www.marcieatkins.com

2013 was the YEAR OF REVISION. I spent a lot of time revising. I still have so much to learn and many more projects to revise, but I know I’m a better writer at the end of 2013 than I was at the end of 2012.

* In 2012 I drafted 12 picture books through 12×12. In 2010 and 2011 I participated in the Picture Book Marathon. So I had loads of picture book drafts. Some horrible. Some with a lot of promise. I still joined 12×12 in 2013, but I was less concerned with drafting every month and really concerned about revising at least one manuscript each month. I did a lot of extreme revising that involved cutting, sorting, drawing (not illustrating, but stick figures for my knowledge), and color-coding. I learned a LOT. I still have a lot to learn. But several of my picture books have benefitted from my extreme revision.

* I accomplished a big revision of a middle grade novel. I took Cheryl Klein’s Plot Master class and learned a lot about what was working and not working. I’m also signed up to take a novel revision retreat in the spring, so I know that will help even more.

2013 was also a YEAR OF SUBMISSIONS. I sent a lot of various manuscripts out. I sent out short stories, book proposals, picture books, my middle grade novel, and my YA novel. I’ve learned a lot from the process. I’m thankful for the very kind and very specific rejection letters I’ve gotten. Specific is good in my book because then I can know exactly what wasn’t working for that reader.

* 12×12 has helped with the picture book submissions because I’ve had a community who is committed to picture book writing and submissions.

* I joined Alayne’s Sub Six group where we hold each other accountable and encourage each other in submitting.

* I kept track of all my submissions including a submission spreadsheet and an agent spreadsheet (which includes possible people I want to submit to as well as who I’ve already submitted to).

* Knocking on all these doors led to some freelance work, several articles, and a 1st place contest win for Children’s Writer Newsletter.

Your Turn

What did you accomplish in your writing life in 2013?