Finished the course!  Learned lots.

www.picturebookacademy.com

A Worthwhile Course

Dr. Mira Reisberg offered a valuable course in picture book writing, which featured lots of useful information and videos that introduced me to wonderful authors and books. www.picturebookacademy.com

Felt Like a Writer Today!

   I got three e-mails that made me feel like a writer today.  I got the contract from Spellbound and a request for a short biography to go with my dragon poem that will appear in their summer issue.  I got a sneak peek at the artwork that will accompany my poem for Hello magazine--and found out my great writing buddy Kathy Doherty will have a poem in the same issue!  And finally I got a No from the 12x12 editor for this month, Susan Hawk, so that was discouraging.  But that's all part of the life of a writer!

Sold my first long poem!

  On Monday I decided, after finding out what my tax refund would be, to treat myself to David L. Harrison's poetry workshop at the Highlights Barn in September, as my birthday gift to myself.  On Wednesday, I got the e-mail from Spellbound that they loved my dragon poem and would be sending me a contract soon! That made me feel better about commiting to the workshop, which will include Skype visits from Renee LaTulippe, who I've "met" on David Harrison's blog and in March Madness.

Well, rats

  Again this month, my submission didn't impress the agent:

I took a look at MOM DOT COM and appreciate what you are trying to do here. Unfortunately, this just didn't have the spark I need for me to request more. 

As you know, this business is so subjective. I am hopeful you'll find the agent/editor to love this very soon!

   Very nice rejection, but a rejection nonetheless!

   Maybe the third time will be the charm!  I'm waiting for Miranda Paul of Rate Your Story to review my pirate story before I submit it to this month's agent.  Sigh, feeling a little discouraged.