This month, I had the great pleasure of attending my first SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) conference. It was a regional meeting for the Midwest held in Davenport, Iowa – a 3-day affair featuring presentations by outstanding published children’s authors, literary agents, and publishers. Attending all the informative sessions made me feel like I was back in college again. I felt invigorated by each speaker’s insights and messages. Equally beneficial was meeting many wonderful writers from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Indiana who share the same love for children and the power of children’s literature. I have to say, children’s writers are perhaps the friendliest people on earth. I’ve attended many other conferences, but this one was different. Everyone was an instant friend and kindred spirit.
In the days before I went, I was battling with that dreaded beast writers fight – Imposter Syndrome. Though I’ve been writing for five years, taking tons of courses, participating in critique groups, paying for professional critiques, and even experimenting with self-publishing some of my stories, I’ve struggled to feel like a “real writer.” I thought I was on my way to feeling “real” last year when I landed a contract with a literary agent. But alas, she could not sell my manuscript within six months, so my contract was not renewed. Opportunity had slipped through my fingers so quickly. This is one of many harsh realities of the writer’s journey.
I learned from the conference and visits with others that this is all part of the writing experience. There are many obstacles for writers before they become published, just as there are for agents. One agent told of how she must wade through 5000 queries per year, and of those 5000, she may sign on only two new clients. Also, 80% of her attention is devoted to serving her older clients, so the time she must consider new manuscripts is minimal. It’s a wonder anyone can get traditionally published.
The other great struggle for me is being prolific in developing new ideas. Though I spend time writing, revising, and studying the craft daily, I can go for long periods without new ideas. At the conference, I met a lovely woman from Wisconsin who also struggles with writer’s block. She admitted it was tough to come up with ideas for new stories because she’d lost her husband a year ago and was still adjusting. She lives on a farm in Wisconsin and struggles to hold it together, yet doesn’t want to leave. She mentioned chickens. I understood. I lived in the country for many years and raised chickens. I’ve grieved over leaving rural life and have missed my little feathered friends for years. They were a great delight for me – therapy really when I became my parents’ caretaker toward the end of their lives. While this discussion was taking place, another woman sat beside us and chimed in. She turned to me and said, “You should write about your chickens. There’s a book in there.”
You could have knocked me over with a feather. It was so obvious. Why hadn’t I thought about writing about my love for chickens? I came home and did just that as soon as the conference ended. I was amazed at how quickly the story poured out of me, and my critique members praised it. Perhaps that’s because it’s a story from my heart.
I’m reminded of my precocious granddaughter, who is now twelve but has said insightful things for her entire life. Once, she told me a tale of something she imagined, and I asked her what would happen. She responded, “We don’t know what we don’t know, Grandma.” Her straightforward, profound statement took my breath away. She was right. We don’t know what we don’t know. So why not just take a chance, a risk, and put our words – our thoughts – our efforts out there for the world to consider? Maybe something will resonate, and we will grow from it.
So that is now my mantra whenever I’m feeling writer’s block. I don’t know what I don’t know, but I’ll never find out if I don’t try.
Because April makes me think of Spring Chickens, under Recommended Reads, you can learn more about Chicken Talk, a picture book by Patricia Maclachlan, illustrated by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Published by Katherine Tegen Books, 2019.
And under Activities, you’ll find a “Scrambled Eggs” chicken-themed worksheet.
Little Seeds Read 