I have spent a great deal of time, during the past couple of years, studying, enjoying and learning from the blogs of other folks who write for children. I can honestly say that I would not have persevered without their wisdom and inspiration. So... I have decided that it is my turn to give back by encouraging others, sharing resources and building a community.
I could spend my first post telling you why I think it is
important to have a blog (aside from the above statement, of course), but we
all know that. I have decided, instead, to relay an experience that I had
yesterday - an inevitable side effect to this journey of writing for children.
I had the opportunity, last night, to spend a rare 30
minutes in one of my favorite places: Barnes and Noble. Thirty minutes?
Seriously? It was all I could do to tear myself away once I got there. Intent
on capitalizing on every second, I planted myself in front of the New Release
Picture Books. To study those lucky folks who (in my mind, anyway) have
accomplished a dream.
I declared yesterday that I was making an "Old Year's
Resolution", because I didn't want to wait for the new year to start:
"I will get a literary agent!" Did you hear me? I WILL DO IT!
As an active critique participant and one who changes her
own work often (several time a day sometimes) to follow all the
"rules", I have honed my skills. I am one of the weird ones who
actually enjoys ripping apart my work and that of others.... and, ultimately,
seeing the end result. It is so exciting to see a project go from idea to an
amazing story.
So... back to the bookstore. Last night, unfortunately, I
found myself reading the beautifully glossy new PBs with a critical eye. And
guess what? I didn't enjoy them nearly as much. I was, instead, picking out
every little thing that I had been cautioned against. "Hey... wait... I
thought PBs were supposed to state the problem right away" or "the MC
didn't solve her own problem." What
I should have been saying was, "Hey... I really liked/didn't like that
story."
I was cursing myself for this behavior when (honestly...
this really happened), I heard a "blip" from my phone. A message from
a new crit partner. It said, "Thanks for the suggestions! I'm honestly not
trying to butter you up here, but 99% of ever comment you make I go "duh,
why didn't I think of that?" You're the best! Back to
revisions." :)
Okay, so maybe the revision/critique process has tainted my
abilities to read and enjoy PBs in quite the same way, but if I can continue to
help and be helped by others..... it's all worth it. After all, there is no way
I could do this alone. So, thanks to all of my critique partners. You're the
best!!!
I love this! I find myself doing the same thing, analyzing books I'm just supposed to be enjoying. I wish we could turn off that part of our brains sometimes. :)
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing. By the way, I nominated you for the Liebster Award. You may find all the information here.
ReplyDeletehttp://iwritepicturebooks.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/spreading-love-in-the-writing-community-the-liebster-award/
Thanks, ladies!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nomination, Jackie.
I find myself doing this too! I also love the 'new' children's book section in my library, and find myself enjoying the books, admiring the authors who've made it, and hoping we make it real soon :)!
ReplyDelete