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.
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