by Bethany | Jul 26, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
A River of Dust: The Life-Giving Link Between North Africa and the Amazon Rainforest released on July 25th from Chronicle Books! And a new book contract is currently being negotiated with another publisher.
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?
The book took eight years, from idea to publication. I’m not sure I would have made it the distance without the CtC and this community. It’s a marathon, and we need people along the way to give us an occasional energy bar or a long, cold drink of persistence.
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 sold A RIVER OF DUST in mid-2020, and then three long years passed before I sold another book, despite having an agent. I’d gotten close, with several R&Rs or eventually losing out during acquisition phase. Without CtC, I think I may have given in to despair. But the community kept me going, kept feeding me energy bars and long, cold drinks.
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 for the up and coming generation, the kids who are curious, who want to help save our planet, the kids who want to laugh and learn, and love the beauty that surrounds us. I want to feed their curiosity and empathy and awe. I want them to become good stewards of Earth. And I want them to be compassionate toward each other. Writing books that helps them become the best people they can be is my primary goal.
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?
During the three long years between my debut picture book going to auction and then selling another, I leaned on the belief that my “yes” would come, and that it takes the time it takes, if only I didn’t give up. And also that it’s not helpful to waste time or mental energy (don’t waste those energy bars!!) comparing my journey with others who are more prolific. I will do my work in my time. Everyone’s marathon is a different distance and is run at a different speed. The only speed or finish time that matters is your own.
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 have ADHD, so I have trouble staying focused. And WHAT to focus on is key. Firstly, NOT focusing on others progress or milestones, unless it is to celebrate their successes, is crucial to staying sane. Stay focused on your own journey. Stay focused on projects that feed your heart. Stay focused on improving and creating your best work for the most important audience in the world: kids. And if you stay focused, your “YES” will come.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
It takes THE TIME IT TAKES.
Jilanne Hoffmann has a degree in Industrial Engineering, and an MFA in Creative Writing. Her debut picture book, A RIVER OF DUST: THE LIFE-GIVING LINK BETWEEN NORTH AFRICA AND THE AMAZON, illustrated by Eugenia Mello, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, and earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Jilanne is also the author of two board books for young explorers, THE HONEY BEAR HIVE and HAPPY CAMPER, both illustrated by Erica Harrison. She’s a member of 12×12, the Courage to Create Community, and is a San Francisco coordinator for the SCBWI South Bay Region. She’s also a member of PBSpree, STEAMTeam, and StoryJammers kidlit book groups and reviews children’s books on her website. You can also find her on Twitter and Instagram. She lives in San Francisco with her family.
by Bethany | Jul 26, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
Lauri Hornik at Rocky Pond Books has acquired world rights to my book Free Museum Day, illustrated by Tatiana Gardel. Publication is set for spring 2025!
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 about 7 years. I got my agent in 2021 and went on submission a few months later. I was given a scholarship for courage to create a few months before I got offered an editor call. Which was 10 months after going on submission. Once I joined, CTC was a great way for me to stay accountable and be in community with others who were going through the same things I was. They were a community that kept me accountable for when I needed to finish edits on deadline, and a sounding board when I was struggling after a rejection. I was able to hear from industry professionals on meditation and mindfulness. It’s especially a great space for early career writers immediately after getting a deal.
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?
My biggest fear after I sold my books in the two-book-deal was that this was it. The manuscripts I had spent years revising and working on to get me to this point were the only things that I would be able to sell. I had convinced myself that those books were my best work. I wouldn’t even give myself a chance to explore the adventure of what was to come. CTC gave me the outlet to share those fears, and learn that I was not alone in those feelings. They helped me understand how common they were, and were encouraging when I needed motivation to let go of the books I had sold, celebrating where they had got me, and gave me “permission” to get lost in a new manuscript and find my passion again.
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 showing that the Black experience in America is not a monolith. It’s a huge ask, and not something I can accomplish on my own, but keeping this mantra in mind is a way that I can cement my work within the greater genre of children’s literature. I am telling a few stories, a few moments, a few glimpses into a culture thats goes beyond what anyone can imagine. I’m not trying to represent everything, just a piece.
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?
Expectations are hard and when you get to the point of having a book deal, the “career” in “writing career” becomes real. It makes you put so many expectations on yourself that you burn out. I did that, I expected so much from myself, and didn’t let myself rest or breathe or even celebrate and it caused a strain on my creativity for a time. I appreciated the space of saying that in the open forum. My check-in’s weren’t always industry related, the no’s weren’t editors, they were a testament to whether or not I wrote words that day or week. My celebrations were as simple as watching a documentary for research, and my goals were to get a few words down. But that space and the encouragement I received for those small things made it possible for me to work up to setting realistic writing goals without pressure.
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?
People are like trains. We start at our first city and begin a long journey with no clear destination in sight. There are stops along the way where we pick up travellers, and drop others off. Sometimes when we’ve been going so long we even have to stop, rest, and refuel. So, when you feel like your tank’s running low– stop, rest, refuel, and start again. Only you can drive this train, and there is always a destination.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
REST is a radical act. For the work. For ourselves.
Ariel Vanece is a Black-American author who writes picture books, chapter books, and middle grade. Her stories are described as heartwarming and adventurous. She obtained an MFA/MA in Writing for Children and Children’s Literature from Simmons University, and holds a BA in English from The University Of Kansas. When they aren’t writing, Ariel is watching the latest Korean Drama, trying out random art projects, reading romance, and taking a road trip.
by Bethany | Jul 26, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
Book sale! My MG novel, Sunchild, has been acquired by Taylor Norman at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books.
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?
Ever since I turned in my second novel two years ago, I’ve been hoping that the publishing world would let me write a third. This may seem like a given, but it’s not. Sales numbers, reviews, and awards all play a roll in whether a two-time author gets to be a three-time author. In 2021, I started working on a pitch to my agent and writing the first ten chapters of Sunchild. CTC played a big role in helping me stay centered, focused on the right things, and gracefully patient as my agent submitted our proposal, wrangled over the advance, and nudged the contract through multiple delays.
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 mix of sweat and stardust in CTC content and the beautiful community of writers at every phase of literary life has given me a healthier perspective on my work. As I wrote my BIG WHY and worked with several of the beliefs, I realized that my creative life needs nurturing — I can’t run on empty. Being among writers, “talking shop,” and taking deep doses of mindfulness fills me up!
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 affirm the bright core of all of us.” This is my BIG WHY, and it is saving my sanity! I received a challenging edit letter on the book, so I have a thorough revision to do. It can be discouraging to dive back into a manuscript on which you’ve already worked so hard, but I’m making it through by focusing on my BIG WHY and breaking the task into smaller chunks.
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?
I signed up for CTC during a low time. I was “living the dream” with two novels out, but I was hitting a lack of motivation and a fatigue with pounding out a first draft. I was also having trouble “keeping my eyes on my own paper,” that is, not comparing myself to more prolific or more decorated authors. The CTC beliefs of “Compare/Despair” and “Creativity is not a competition” helped me so much! I’m finishing up this CTC cycle with a more playful approach to my writing and more joy about my creative life overall.
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?
Enjoy the words, the characters, and the worlds you create — the part you can control. Keep that joy alive even as you learn about the business of publishing and even as you reach milestones. Savor the milestones, but when the streamers come down, get back to the words; they can be your well of joy. Write the next project even as previous ones are coming to fruition, going on submission, or sitting on the back burner.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
Compare/despair is a sign WE CARE. Acknowledge it. Work with it. Let it LEAD US FORWARD.
Rebecca Balcárcel is the award-winning author of MG novels SHINE ON, LUZ VÉLIZ! and THE OTHER HALF OF HAPPY. She also co-edited and contributed to BOUNDLESS, a short story anthology by multi-racial/multi-cultural authors, now out. A Guatemalan-Anglo American, Rebecca loves popcorn, her kitty, and teaching her students as Associate Professor of English at Tarrant County College. Find Rebecca on YouTube as the SixMinuteScholar.
by Bethany | Jul 26, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
I released two books in 2023 — my picture book, Sparrow’s Prayer (Beaming Books, February 2023) and The Art of Calm: Spiritual Exercises for the Anxious Soul (Morehouse, April 2023).
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 have been writing all of my life, but it wasn’t until 2012/2013 when I submitted something to a publisher. Much to my shock and surprise, it was published! In early 2020, while stuck at home during Covid, I started attending online workshops through The Writing Barn. Literally changed my life. Since then, I gained an agent, and published several more books. Courage to Create has continued to provide me with support, feedback, and inspiration I’ve needed to keep writing.
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 have a hard time not moving on to the next project. I fail to celebrate what is happening – in the present moment. Courage to Create has helped me to take special note of each and every milestone… and not let them pass me by.
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 mission is to use art, color, and poetic language to communicate love and promote healing and hope in today’s hurting world. This is why I do what I do.
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?
I wish I could say that there is one low point. I have highs and lows every day when it comes to my writing. I’ll be soaring at one point, and drowning in another. I am my own worst enemy. I remember getting nine rejections in one day. I went from tears to laughter – and maybe some anger. From this rollercoaster ride, I have learned to keep writing – no matter what.
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?
They have already reached a milestone! They are writing! In all seriousness, my advice is to rest, listen, read, go for walks, see the world around you, journal, dream… and write. Keep going – even on the days it’s extra challenging. And on those days… it’s okay to turn the computer off or put your pen away. Give yourself grace and space.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
REST is a radical act. For the work. For ourselves.
Roger Hutchison is the author and illustrator of nine books for children and adults including, The Painting Table, My Favorite Color is Blue. Sometimes., Faces: A Love Story, Sparrow’s Prayer, and The Art of Calm: Spiritual Exercises for the Anxious Soul. There is prayerful poetry woven through Roger’s work, a gentle reverence in his tone and posture toward the heartbroken. Roger’s mission is to use art, color, and poetic language to communicate love and promote healing and hope in today’s hurting world. Roger serves as the Director of Christian Formation and Parish Life at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston, TX, and is a member of the National Alliance of Grieving Children and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. He lives with his wife Kristin just outside of Houston.
by Bethany | Jul 26, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
I recently signed with literary agent Sean McCarthy of Sean McCarthy Literary Agency; I may also have more news (wink, wink) that I can’t quite share yet.
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 written funny stories and poems ever since I was a kid, but I’d say I “officially” started taking my writing seriously in November of 2019 when I became an SCBWI member and began to put my whole heart into it. I only joined Courage to Create this year–after hearing so many positive things about it from critique group members. Still, even before that, I attended many of the Writing Barn webinars and confabs, and have always been impressed by the supportive atmosphere that Bethany and her teams have nurtured. One thing I particularly love about CtC is the Manifesto—it’s like one of those masterly paintings where you notice something new each time you look at it. Because, of course, the creative journey never ends if we’re doing it right!
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?
Being agented is still so new to me that I’m not even sure I’ve woken up from the (happy) shock enough to put my thoughts together on this! However, one of the nicest aspects of the CtC community is how warm and engaged it is; it’s a very easy place to connect and make friends—even if you tend to be a nerdy, introverted hermit like me! (All hail Zoom!)
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 create “friendly books for loner children.” In my experience as one, books become the default companions for many loner kids, and their relationships with them are profound. I want my books to hold up their end of that relationship and be welcoming, long-term companions. Of course, like all important things, there are also a ton of other reasons I write! You can see those here.
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?
Here’s something that may be a hot take, related to the Manifesto’s ambition aspect: I am genuinely glad I submitted so early. That I queried so early. All of that. I’m not saying everyone should do it (at least not on purpose), only that when I hear people say that they are embarrassed at what they sent out at the beginning, yadda yadda, like they are apologizing for having hopes and dreams and ambitions and putting themselves out there before maybe their craft was ready—it honestly makes me sad. Because what’s the bigger mistake—to do that, or to never know? I mean, how else DO you know if your craft is ready? After all, these things are so subjective! What I do know is that, for me, each rejection was a kick in the pants—and sometimes, I was fortunate and got specific advice on what I needed to improve, which definitely helped me level up more quickly than I would have. Now, this way of doing things requires you to be okay with constructive and even negative feedback (which, truthfully—many people aren’t)! But for me, putting my stories out there, time and (after revision) time again kept me going. Gradually the form rejections started turning into “no because,” and then “I love this but,”…and then silence and genuine consideration…and then, eventually, my yes. It’s just the process; IMHO, waiting to start it only prolongs the inevitable. In short, don’t be scared to send your stories out there and see what shakes out—after all, what’s the worst that could happen? You have to write another story? (LOL, the horror!)
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?
You know, it’s hard to know what will help others most when they are feeling frustrated, but something that’s always stuck with me is Ursula Nordstrom’s famous quip, “I am a former child, and I haven’t forgotten a thing.” Related, if you believe Anders Ericsson’s “10,000-hour rule”—the idea that once you spend 10,000 hours on something, you are an expert—guess what? We were all expert children, many times over! We may be feeling our way through craft, connection, or so many things, but that fact remains: childhood, at least our own, is something we KNOW. We can do this—write the kinds of stories that would have helped us as children—if only we let ourselves truly remember.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
The only STAMP OF APPROVAL we need is our own.
Elayne Crain writes childish things, following a lifelong passion for children’s literature. She mostly writes humor picture books, though she is also working on two middle-grade novels, a collection of children’s poetry, and other equally laughable things.
by Bethany | Jul 26, 2023 | blog, Courage to Create, Milestones Met
A Milestones Met Interview
Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)!
I recently signed with an agent!
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 seriously since early 2016 and submitting to agents almost as long. Courage to Create has been the most fantastic support system at a point when I was losing faith in myself and my creative abilities. It taught me to stay the course, to find joy in the journey, and to share my successes and setbacks with this incredibly supportive community. The behind-the-scenes webinars with editors and agents increased my industry knowledge and allowed me to form opinions about where (and with whom) my work might be a good fit. CTC kept me sane and motivated and helped put everything in perspective. It’s been powerful to learn that much of what we creators experience is universal. We are not alone. Thank you, CTC!
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?
CTC has helped prepare me for the reality that celebrating a milestone will most certainly bring new challenges, new concerns, and lots more work! The rejections will keep coming. The ups and downs will continue. But now I know that’s the norm and I won’t be taken by surprise. With continued support from the CTC community, I will be able to face these new situations with grace and determination.
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?
For a long time my BIG WHY has been: “I want to make a kid laugh.” That has expanded over the last few years to include: “I’d like to make a kid feel delight, amazement, wonder.” But perhaps the person whose BIG WHY I aspire to most is that of author Alastair Heim, who said: “I don’t want to win a Newbery or a Caldecott. I just want to win bedtime.” The idea that a kid might request a book I wrote at bedtime is enough to keep me motivated for a lifetime!
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?
I hit so many low points on my journey I thought I’d end up at the Earth’s core. At every CTC webinar or gathering I would re-read the Beliefs and cling to each and every one of them like a lifeline. At various times, “Creativity is not a competition” and “Compare/Despair is a sign we care” were my life rafts; at others “It takes the time it takes” and “We believe our books into being.” But with the benefit of hindsight, I think the most important practice I learned from CTC is to focus on the goals — my own goals, my own craft — and to let them take me where they would. And like so often in life, once I focused on internal goals (becoming a better writer) and let go of external ones that were mostly out of my control (finding an industry partner), something finally happened.
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?
Stay the course. Focus on goals you can control, like improving craft. Seek out compatible critique partners (I found great ones in classes where we shared and critiqued each other’s work) and really listen to their feedback. Take every opportunity to share your work. And even though it may feel like an eternity, there is someone out there who will truly believe in your stories — written, visual, or both. Wait for that person. You deserve a champion.
What is your favorite Courage to Create Belief?
Focus on the GOALS. Milestones happen on their own.
A former landscape architect, Claire Bobrow lives in San Francisco, CA, where she works part time at a local independent bookstore and volunteers with several organizations, including 826 Valencia, helping kids with creative writing projects. Claire started her own creative writing journey in 2016 and, to her surprise and delight, won the SCBWI Work-In-Progress award for picture books in 2020. When not word-wrangling, working, or volunteering, Claire loves to garden, hang out in bookstores and museums, listen to opera, and spend time with friends, family, and her adorable senior dog, Zuzu.
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