by Bethany | Jun 21, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
I signed with the amazing agent, Liz Nealon, of Great Dog Literary!
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the Courage to Create program/tools served you in reaching this milestone?
I wrote my first picture book in 2016 (sort of by accident, and then very much on purpose) and then I was hooked. I took classes and found groups like 12×12 and SCBWI. I briefly worked with a project-by-project agent and quickly sold a book to Chronicle in 2020. When I decided the best fit for me would be a career agent, I thought the process would be just as quick and easy, but it wasn’t. In 2022 I joined CTC right about when I was feeling the exhaustion from querying. Several interested agents had asked for more work and then never responded again, even after nudges, and the silence was harder than the rejections. I was taking a lot of time from my home and family to pursue this dream and I felt my life was not balanced. I held tight to “believing my books into being” and trusted that the vision I saw for myself was inevitable. I did some soul searching to rediscover why I started writing in the first place, and returned to joy. From that place, the waiting wasn’t as exhausting.
When we reach a milestone, it means we may encounter new fears and challenges, as well as joys along the journey. How has being a part of the CTC community prepared you for both enjoying the celebration of a milestone reached and the work that is next to come?
The support of the CTC community has shown me that there is no magic leveling up that erases insecurities or disappointments, but that sticking together through all the ups and downs makes them easier. I am celebrating this milestone with my whole being, and the time it took me to get here only sweetens the prize. I’m a little nervous about each new step, but I feel supported.
In the Courage to Create, we call on our Big Why as we engage in the ups and downs of the literary life? What’s your BIG WHY and how does it keep you motivated to keep working towards new milestones?
I write to help children feel seen, heard, and understood. I do this for the child I was and the adult I am, and every person who connects with my writing.
It’s not easy to keep creating courage when it comes to our literary lives. Did you ever encounter a low point or period and did you lean on any of the CTC tools or practices? What did the no/not yets, or near misses/champagne rejections teach you in hindsight not that your YES is here?
Yes, I felt invisible for a while. It helped that Bethany told me I wasn’t. My beloved critique partners kept me emotionally afloat and focused on my craft. I connected with so many CTC beliefs, particularly, “It takes the time it takes, I believe my books and career into being, and Rest is a radical act.” I returned to those over and over again. The near misses told me I was close so I kept putting my work out there, because my stories weren’t reaching anyone if they just stayed in my computer.
As we celebrate your milestone reached, what thoughts can you share with other writers who may doubt they will reach their first or next milestone?
My advice is to let go of limiting beliefs. I realize now that I limited myself by thinking I knew how each next step would look. When I let go of that narrow focus and allowed myself to open up to opportunities that brought me joy (even if they didn’t seem like they were leading me to my writing goals), those opportunities, shockingly, led me directly to more joy and more opportunities that were very much in line with my writing goals, and more importantly they made my life feel lighter and more exciting.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
We BELIEVE our book and careers into BEING.
Christina Shawn is a reading specialist, literacy coach, and author who writes about magical moments in our everyday lives. She lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and three kiddos, who provide a constant supply of support, humor, and inspiration. She has a regular meditation and yoga practice, and enjoys beach bike rides, mountain hikes, and adventuring to new places. Mostly, Christina loves the spark of learning something new and passing it along. Her picture book, THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE, illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani, about a growing family, releases in March 2025. Keep an eye out for some more exciting book news – coming soon!
by Bethany | Jun 7, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
I have sold my first picture book biography! IT BELONGS TO THE WORLD is a biography of Frederick Banting who discovered insulin. It will be illustrated by Janina Gaudin, known online as Miss Diabetes, and published by Clarion.
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the Courage to Create program/tools served you in reaching this milestone?
I’ve been writing for kids for about seven years now. The Courage to Create community has helped me have patience when things were going slow, and I always remind myself “It Takes the Time it Takes.”
When we reach a milestone, it means we may encounter new fears and challenges, as well as joys along the journey. How has being a part of the CTC community prepared you for both enjoying the celebration of a milestone reached and the work that is next to come?
As a fiction writer, I’m very nervous about how my first nonfiction work will be received. But CTC has helped me remember to have pride in my work.
It’s not easy to keep creating courage when it comes to our literary lives. Did you ever encounter a low point or period and did you lean on any of the CTC tools or practices? What did the no/not yets, or near misses/champagne rejections teach you in hindsight now that your YES is here?
Oh, what a low point I was having! I was actually lying in bed, a bit depressed in the middle of the afternoon, certain my writing career was over, when my agent called with this offer. I had been struggling with a couple R&Rs and I had to remember that It Only Takes One Yes!
As we celebrate your milestone reached, what thoughts can you share with other writers who may doubt they will reach their first or next milestone?
Just keep doing the work. I wrote this manuscript during the pandemic and I really pushed myself to keep going on hard days as I knew I needed to keep the creative juices flowing. As Bethany has taught me, you can’t control if someone will publish your book, but you can control if you write a good one.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
“Focus on the GOALS. Milestones happen on their own.”
Lisa Katzenberger is the author of IT WILL BE OK and NATIONAL REGULAR AVERAGE ORDINARY DAY. She is a Writing Barn instructor and serves on the Board of Trustees of her local public library. Connect with Lisa at www.lisakatzenberger.com.
by Bethany | Jun 7, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
In September, I signed with my agent, Laurel Symonds, at The Bent Agency!
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the Courage to Create program/tools served you in reaching this milestone?
I’ve been writing children’s books since 2013. I started querying agents in 2015 and found an editor instead in 2016. I published two books at Lerner Publishing with editorial director Domenica Di Piazza. I only queried a handful of agents before February 2021. With each rejection, I felt there was something wrong with my work. Or really, something wrong with me. I worked hard on my craft through critique groups, SCBWI, 12×12 and, starting in 2019, Writing Barn courses online.
Courage to Create came along in 2020 at the perfect time: I was ready to get myself out of my way in my writing and my submissions to agents. I knew I needed an agent to move fully into the trade market. I made the commitment in February 2021 to have a query out with at least four agents. When a rejection came in, I would consider it, learn from it, and send out another query. I received several champagne rejections (e.g. your writing and this topic is fabulous, amazing, innovative, beautiful, etc., but it’s not a fit for us.). So many that I asked the CTC community if it was possible to get drunk on these rejections. The laughter helped, but when these champagne rejections continued, I started interpreting them as I would have in my previous life as an innovator of educational technologies: the market is saturated. My work is good but there’s no room for it. Bethany, kindly but firmly, told me no, that’s not it. Keep going. She even asked my question (If I’m receiving lots of champagne rejections, does it mean the market is saturated?) of a panel of agents. I felt Bethany’s gaze on me across the virtual space. The agents looked surprised and unanimously said No! It means you are on the right track. Keep going!
So I did.
When we reach a milestone, it means we may encounter new fears and challenges, as well as joys along the journey. How has being a part of the CTC community prepared you for both enjoying the celebration of a milestone reached and the work that is next to come?
When people ask me if I’m worried about selling my books, the market, sales… fill in the blank about something to worry about in writing and publishing, I can honestly say no. That doesn’t mean I won’t be down the road, but I’ve promised myself that I’m going to savor this honeymoon time of a milestone reached. I’m going to savor the next honeymoon time, too.
In the Courage to Create, we call on our Big Why as we engage in the ups and downs of the literary life? What’s your Big Why and how does it keep you motivated to keep working towards new milestones?
I struggled with this one: the BIG WHY. It’s like asking why am I who I am? There are many reasons. But the real reason underneath it all: I write to learn and to share what I’ve learned with readers (who are really learners).
It’s not easy to keep creating courage when it comes to our literary lives. Did you ever encounter a low point or period and did you lean on any of the CTC tools or practices? What did the no/not yets, or near misses/champagne rejections teach you in hindsight now that your YES is here?
Yes, I was going to quit trying to publish my books because I had about 10 champagne rejections. I went back and counted all my rejections from agents and it’s 23. That’s not a lot. Even if it were a lot, so what? IT TAKES THE TIME IT TAKES. I’m a goal-oriented person. When I focus, nothing has ever stopped me. What does stop me is me. I’m finding a lot of power in coupling the CTC beliefs of FOCUS ON THE GOALS. Forget the noise (that’s my addition) with IT TAKES THE TIME IT TAKES. I’m not patient with myself naturally, but I am learning to be. Also, when I posted in the CTC FB group that I was consider quitting, I received encouragement from many CTCers to keep going. Brenda Panella-Dominguez specifically reached out to tell me that I could not quit because my writing was too good and that she would be my critique partner to make sure that I kept going. Thank you, CTC, Brenda, Bethany, and my CTC critique group for all of your encouragement.
As we celebrate your milestone reached, what thoughts can you share with other writers who may doubt they will reach their first or next milestone?
Check in about your work — is it the best it can be? Who can help you make it better? When it’s your best, persist. Persist. PERSIST to achieve your next goal.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
“Focus on the GOALS. Milestones happen on their own.”
Melissa Koch writes nonfiction children’s books (PB to YA) that focus on making science and social justice personal and valuable to kids. Her recent publications for young adults include 3D Printing: The Revolution in Personalized Manufacturing (2017) and Forest Talk: How Trees Communicate (2019). For young adults exploring education careers and current educators, she co-authored “Gender Bias: Past, Present, and Future” in Multicultural Education, 10th edition (2019) and Teachers, Schools, and Society, 6th edition (2021). She has also designed award-winning learning technologies and out-of-school learning experiences that encourage women and youth from diverse backgrounds to pursue their dreams in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
by Bethany | Jun 7, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
My debut picture book has been announced! Animals in Surprising Shades: Poems About Earth’s Colorful Creatures releases in 2023 (my first trade book).
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the Courage to Create program/tools served you in reaching this milestone?
Since 2017. CTC helped me build and maintain the grit that I needed to keep going after setbacks and believe my book into being.
When we reach a milestone, it means we may encounter new fears and challenges, as well as joys along the journey. How has being a part of the CTC community prepared you for both enjoying the celebration of a milestone reached and the work that is next to come?
I know from interacting with other creators in the community that the work has just begun and that imposter syndrome can strike even when you have a book deal or multiple book deals.
In the Courage to Create, we call on our Big Why as we engage in the ups and downs of the literary life? What’s your Big Why and how does it keep you motivated to keep working towards new milestones?
My big why is to explore my curiosities and spark curiosity in children. I have loads of ideas I want to explore in writing, so that keeps me working on new projects and pushing ahead on my existing projects.
It’s not easy to keep creating courage when it comes to our literary lives. Did you ever encounter a low point or period and did you lean on any of the CTC tools or practices? What did the no/not yets, or near misses/champagne rejections teach you in hindsight now that your YES is here?
I kept having near misses with agents (two requests for more manuscripts, a revise and resubmit and several champagne passes). Several agents said they loved my writing but were unsure if they could sell another poetry book. I submitted to a few editors via SCBWI opportunities (one sent a champagne pass and one never responded) but I was hoping to land an agent so I didn’t submit this project widely in case an agent wanted me to do another revision before submitting to editors. In fall 2020, my critique partners and I still believed in this project but I was afraid I’d run out of agents to query, because some agents say not to send poetry or rhyme, some want author-illustrators, one didn’t want picture books about birds (mine has several), etc. Towards the end of 2020, I decided that if I didn’t have an agent by January 1, I’d start submitting directly to editors in the new year. Even though several agents warned me that poetry is a hard sell, I wound up getting offers from two editors.
As we celebrate your milestone reached, what thoughts can you share with other writers who may doubt they will reach their first or next milestone?
Your path may look different from what you expect, and that’s OK. Most of my critique partners got an agent then a book deal, but I got a book deal on my own. I’m hoping to land an agent for future projects, but I’m glad I decided to forge ahead with editor submissions instead of waiting for permission.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
“It takes the TIME IT TAKES.”
Susan Johnston Taylor is a Writing Barn fellow and the author of over a dozen recent or forthcoming books for the educational market. In addition to writing for kids’ and teen magazines including Highlights Magazine and Scout Life, she’s contributed to mainstream publications including The Boston Globe, Entrepreneur, and Fast Company. Learn more www.susan-johnston.com.
by Bethany | Jun 7, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
I signed with a new agent, Elisa Houot of The Seymour Agency.
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the Courage to Create program/tools served you in reaching this milestone?
I started checking into writing and illustrating seriously towards the end of 2018. I signed up for SCBWI, 12×12, Storyteller Academy, SVSLearn, and any and all classes that I could afford to join and learn from. My critique partners encouraged me to join a Writing Barn class, and I did. I took Writing with Authenticity with Jessixa Bagley in 2021 where one of my best stories was hatched. I also was a finalist in PBParty 2021 for illustration which gave me extra confidence in my craft. I found my agent through a Twitter Pitch Perfect Live event.
When we reach a milestone, it means we may encounter new fears and challenges, as well as joys along the journey. How has being a part of the CTC community prepared you for both enjoying the celebration of a milestone reached and the work that is next to come?
I love to read when members post Monday Motivations, midweek struggles, and Friday Ta-Das. It gives you a glimpse into the life of an author both new and experienced, and everyone goes through the same issues but at a different stage of their career.
In the Courage to Create, we call on our Big Why as we engage in the ups and downs of the literary life? What’s your Big Why and how does it keep you motivated to keep working towards new milestones?
After being left-brained for most of my career, I love the creative aspects of being an author-illustrator by using my right-brain. Creativity bring so much joy. Also, I would like to see more diversity and STEM in kidlit.
It’s not easy to keep creating courage when it comes to our literary lives. Did you ever encounter a low point or period and did you lean on any of the CTC tools or practices? What did the no/not yets, or near misses/champagne rejections teach you in hindsight now that your YES is here?
I am relatively new to CTC. I just know from other authors posting in the CTC group that everyone is on their own journey. It is not a competition and not to compare your progress with others. Don’t let the negativity pull you down. I have encountered low points and doubts just like everyone else. I always turned to meditation and painting to lift myself up. Nos on the way to the yes, reiterated that I have to keep searching for that agent that loves my work as much as I do. That will be my dream agent. Until then, I had to keep myself occupied and keep learning the craft and keep improving.
As we celebrate your milestone reached, what thoughts can you share with other writers who may doubt they will reach their first or next milestone?
I am at the first stage of my career, so I take this with a grain of salt. If you are looking for your agent, don’t limit yourself to traditional ways of querying. I found my chance on Twitter during an event called Pitch Perfect Live. Just keep going! Don’t give up! Think of your aspirations to become published as your inner child. If you truly love your inner child, you won’t give up. That would be bad parenting. Look at that face! How could you give up? Use all your critique partners’ help. It takes a village to raise a child.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
“CREATIVITY is not a competition.”
Ramya Spaulding (R.G. Spaulding) is an Indian-American. She loves to draw and frequently got into trouble as a kid for daydreaming too much. Art was encouraged to be pursued only as a hobby and not as a primary profession growing up. When she quit her engineering job in 2017, she decided to establish her second career as an author/illustrator. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. She wants to see more interracial kids like hers represented in picture books. She also loves to include a hint of STEM into picture books. You can find out more by visiting https://rgspaulding.com/.
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