picture book coming soon

Hi,
I've been having negotiations with a very large publishing house regarding publishing one of my picture book manuscripts - at this point I'm waiting on the contract in the mail :) (can't wait!) The publishing process is a very long one, especially as this publisher has a very full list, so it won't come out until around 2013, but it will be worth the wait :)

on writing for children...

I had my first public speaking engagement last Thursday. Very scary. I was quite pleased to be asked actually, as other than online I don't get the chance to talk about my passion to many people. However, I was presenting to a group of Service Club members, rather than a group interested in children's writing,so I did find it a difficult ask.
I'm not sure how many of the audience were really interested in children's writing but it was good practice for me in public speaking (there you go, I'm planning on doing a few more obviously :) )
The following link:

http://www.katrinagermein.com/blog/ten-things-not-to-say-to-a-childrens-author/

is Katrina Germein's blog with some questions that children's writers get asked quite often.

I didn't get these questions myself although I think it's possible some of them were considered even though left unasked :)

Cheers
Lynn

Ballarat Writers' Festival

I spent a lovely weekend travelling down to Ballarat for the Writers' Festival, which was being run for the first time in five years. The Festival focused on Children's and Young Adult writing so I was keen to go along, even though it involved a 16 hr round-trip. The drive down, firstly through country NSW and then through country Victoria, was beautiful. Lush greenery replaced the dry, brown barreness of the last few years and we could feel the first days of Spring had well and truly sprung.
The Festival began with a dinner on Friday night and was held in the wonderful Alexandria on Lydiard. I have to admit it was a little nerve wracking heading off to dinner, when I knew not a soul in the room, however I met some very entertaining and interesting people who made me feel very welcome.
The Saturday consisted of a number of sessions including 'Picture Books - to Rhyme or not to Rhyme', which of course interested me greatly. Another session I really enjoyed was the feedback session from the editors. The last session of the day consisted of the three visiting editors critiquing a section of entries in the First Page competition. This provided very valuable insights into what editors are looking for and what we, as writers, can do differently when submitting.Congratulations to the organisers of the Festival, you obviously haven't lost the knack, even after five years.
It was nice to be able to meet in person a couple of people I had otherwise only known as Facebook writer friends. It's always good to put the face to the name.
The drive home was again a pleasure, although a tiring one, but I think we were very lucky we drove on the Sunday and not today (Monday) as the Victorian townships we came through have since been deluged with flooding. My thoughts go out to those affected and I hope the damage is not too great.

Hoping for good news soon

Hello all,
I'm sorry I haven't been posting many poems of late, but I've been concentrating on my submissions, one of which has been received very favourably by a very well known and respected publisher. I can't say too much until I have a contract in my hot little hands but it sounds very promising ( she says as she jumps up and down on the spot with glee :) )Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive in my quest for publication in picture book format.
Please keep all your fingers and toes crossed for me and I'll let you know as soon as I have something definite.
Cheers
Lynn

Caught - Again!

I will Never, EVER go out of the house in trackies and slippers again. NEVER EVER! Why is it that the one time you tell yourself 'I'll only be gone 5 minutes, I don't need to put my face on. Who cares if I haven't showered yet? I'll just throw on the trackies, slip into my uggs, drop my daughter off to her mate's place and be back before anyone sees me" is the very time you get a flat on the main road? Two hours later ( and a bill for $141.50 for a travel mug - with a free new rear tyre for the car thrown in ) and I was back home. Good thing I didn't leave the stove on I suppose. :) Gotta smile.

Note to self - dry your hair and put on your face! Don't look at me like that! Off you go this minute!

Note to self: Do not assume that because you are working at home you can do away with any worries about your appearance.
I was sitting enjoying my cup of tea when I had to shuffle to the door in my trackie dacks for a Country Energy worker. With my face bare of even a scraping of moisturiser, hair lank and limp from the shower and with the bleary eyes of one not yet focused on the day's to-do list, I am convinced this poor man back-pedalled as I opened the door. I can only take comfort in the fact that he was not accompanied by small children who may very well have been scarred for life.

an Ode to the Shirking of Housework

I sat, this morning, on my much under-utilised side verandah, enjoying a steaming cup of coffee and basking in the warmth of the pre-work day sun. The verandah is north-facing, running the side depth of the house and is a glorious spot for contemplation, yet I never make use of it. The barbeque, which sits at one end, is layered with a deep red dust blanket, spiders have squatted in the underside of the chairs and small pockets of cobweb adorn the ceiling and the terrible, gnawing guilt at the state of the place scraped annoyingly against my pleasure, threatening to ruin the moment.
I almost gave in to the shame of my wanton neglect of all things housework, musing for a minute or two on whether I should abandon the cuppa for a broom. I resisted the urge however, relegating the job instead to the to-do list for the day, and deciding to simply enjoy the moment.
Rather, I opted to admire the arachnids' artwork, a glittering veil in the sunlight, strung between chair legs and across leaf blowers, woven with such intricacy that I felt it worthy of my arrogant disregard for the menial job of cleaning them off.
And, after a respectful time at the altar of nature's wonder, I came inside and blogged, thereby beginning my work day with writing. Aaah, the start to a perfect day, the avoidance of house-work, and using it as an excuse to write.
Cheers
Lynn

Further to Increasing Word Count

Check out Dee White's blog tour as she visits Robyn Opie to talk about this very subject. I related to Robyn's story totally. http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com/  http;//www.robynopie.blogspot.com/
Not sure if this will work as a link but just copy and paste the address if not. Happy reading. Cheers, Lynn
Link didn't seem to show up so I've just typed in the address.

Increasing your word count

Hello all,
School holidays are over and many of us are back to the routine that school terms bring. Whilst I was still working during the hols I did find there was some extra time to spend on writing, which in my case meant an edit of a mid-grade chapter book manuscript, which included adding 1500 words. I added an extra chapter, and extended another, because I felt the manuscript might suit a particular series, which required 10,000 words.
Having to bump up your word count presents certain problems. If not given sufficient thought it is easy to simply 'pad' your present manuscript, meaning the extra words add little to the story. However, in this case I was able to go back to ideas which had been swirling around in my head about the story but didn't end up making it into the manuscript. After sleeeping on the problem and cogitating while driving etc, I found that the original ideas would meld in nicely to the story, and, more importantly, 'add' something to it.
How do others feel about having to add (or subtract) from their stories? I'd love to hear from you.
Happy writing
Lynn

Happy New Year

Hi, best wishes to all for the new year. May 2010 be productive, profitable and pleasurable.
I sent off a number of submissions in November 09, and have already had a couple of rejections. Receiving a rejection for one's work  doesn't seem to get any easier, even though I have been in this field for a number of years now. I go through down periods after a few rejections and assume that all my work is unworthy, but I have to remind myself that I have had some great feedback on some of my writing, including one picture book manuscript which made it as far as an aquisitions meeting at a very well-known and highly respected publishing house. The feedback from competition wins is also a great boost. I am still trying to learn that because a manuscript doesn't appeal to one publisher it doesn't mean it won't fit perfectly with another.
For all those who may be just starting out, or have dreams of writing, (be it for children, YA or adults) keep learning, keep up-to-date with what is going on in the industry, keep track of what is being published and KEEP WRITING :)
Best wishes
Lynn