Seeing how this blog is technically about my journey on becoming a published picture book writer, I guess I ought to get back to posting about writing. I had a break through (I thought) on a story I entitled THE BRAVEST GIRL. I've been thinking about this story for a almost a year, and finally sat down and typed it out. It was brilliant! I called my dad read it to him....LOVED IT. Called my sister, read it to her...LOVED IT! Called my mother, read it to her...LOVED IT. Read it to my kids, and husband...you guessed it...LOVED IT! "This is your best yet!" Hubby said. So, do to the fact that I am not in a critique group (which I'm finding would be helpful) I decided to take this masterpiece and have it professionally critiqued by none other than Rob Sanders. Incidentally you can find a link to Rob's blog and website in the right hand column of this post.
Very nervous and excited I clicked the little "Send" button on my e-mail and wished my story well. Who knows, perhaps Mr. Sanders would love it so much he would send it off to his publisher and demand they buy this story!
Well...that's not exactly what happened. About seven days later I received an e-mail back from Mr. Sanders. He gives you a list of things he loves and then a list of concerns.
THINGS HE LOVED:
1. Action 2. Short Word Count 3. Structure
CONCERNS:
1. Age-appropriateness 2. Plot 3. Characters 4. Pacing 5. Overuse of repetition
Notice the concerns list is a bit longer than the love list...
I tried to be a grown up about it. I tried to take the constructive criticism with grace and dignity. But I will confess I almost cried. Now I've read in other authors blogs similar reactions to rejections (not that this was a rejection) so I was semi prepared, but there was certainly a grieving process that took place for a couple of days. But that process is done and I've decided to take up the challenge and get to work!
First thing is first, why is my story not age appropriate? Well apparently the market for pic books is younger than it used to be, so a story about two young girls sneaking off in the middle of the night into the forest is a little too alarming for a five to seven year old. Okay...got it!
Secondly, the main character is usually introduced in the beginning and the problem presented in the first few lines. In my story the main character is the narrator who is never even named...again a bit too complex for a pic book.
Mr. Sanders also mentioned that the "obstacles" the two girls face throughout the story are too easily resolved. I can explain this...I was trying to keep the word count down and the real problem was supposed to be the main character discovering there are different kinds of bravery...well...again this concept is a bit heavy for five to seven year olds.
So where does this leave me? SIMPLIFY SIMPLIFY SIMPLIFY! He gave me two stories I should read that reminded him of my story: WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury, and THE CITY KID & THE SUBURB KID by Deb Piluth and LInda Bleck.
So it's time to start my home work! I headed down this morning to the school library and have borrowed WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT. I have my paper, my pen, and my book - HAPPY REVISING!
No comments:
Post a Comment