JOY

JOY! Such a short statement for a large order. Wanting to create giggles, smiles and joy take a dream, dedication, lots of work, and a few prayers to becoming a picture book writer and illustrator.

Dreaming

Declaring that I was an artist from the very first moments of conscious memory was the start. Combine my love of creating with the fact that I adore getting a laugh, created a dream that “Someday I would like to write and illustrate picture books”.  That is a very COMMON statement I have heard it countless times from countless people. I was dreaming like so many others. It could be compared to dreaming of being a Rock star or Movie star, because many dream, some try, few transcend and most important unless you try you will never succeed in achieving. Therefore it is just dreaming.

Dedication

Puttering and stuttering to a start writing and illustrating, searching the internet, reading, joining, conferencing, paying for critiques,  and working at developing talent into craft. Rinse with tears. Repeat.

Lots of Work

Journeying into the unknown is not an easy task and always full of pitfalls, wonderful surprises and a lot of hard work.

A Few Prayers

I remember a few prayers that I have made along the way: First I prayed for a critique group to help me grow my craft; Secondly I prayed that I would be able to get my work made into actual books. 

The first prayer was answered shortly after when a small Picture Book critique group formed close to home.  Putting my work in front of other writers was scary but I met some great writers who critiqued and praised helping me develop not only craft but confidence.

Prayer two is in the home stretch of being delivered as I finish final illustrations for my debut picture book.

JOY is the first three letters in the delivery of those prayers.  Thank you Joyce Shore Johnson for forming that critique group and then asking me to be part of Kid Lit Publishing. Let’s spread JOY!

The Beauty and the Beast: The story of two professional critiques

I was granted a special learning opportunity having my work critiqued by both the beauty and the beast.

As I checked in for my first professional critique nerves took hold and tears tumbled out. Sally and Cindy, the gate keepers, calmed me and bolstered my spirit. When the bell rang twice I walked in and sat across from the very calm presence of Linda Camacho from the Prospect Agency.

•  Nice sparse illustrations that children will like (Check, she saw and identified my style choice)
•   Nice sparse wording (Check, identified the writing style I am working at.)
•   Cute story with marketable qualities (Check, I am trying to choose marketable topics)
•   BUT (ok)
• The page turns need improvement in places (ok)
• The story needs more adversity and the rule of three (Hmmm, I saw it more as a straightforward growth theme, but ok)
• “What you have done is not a waste of time.” (Nice to hear)
•   Brainstorming a fix, I pitch an idea. “Intriguing” she said.

I walked out feeling good and within 15 minutes great about being coaxed into working towards a stronger story. This wonderful experience allowed me to calmly walk into my second critique with dry eyes and walk out knowing that the critique method of agent X was abominable.

It was like a blind date with a very off putting man who at the end said, “If your boobs were bigger and your butt was smaller I would date you again. “

•   “You’re obviously not an illustrator.”  ( A kick to the face would have left me less stunned)
•   A missed opportunity (Still stunned)
•   Overused theme  (Can’t think)
•   Passive aggressive voice (feeling kind of aggressive myself)
•    Main character creatively stifled by mother  (the book is about creative imagination)
•    I don’t know what is going on in your drawings (WOW)
•   Negative  (you sure are)
•   Clean = good art / messy = bad art   not a marketable message ( not my message)
  
  I could not have felt more shredded up and spit out. This was exactly the critique that has frightened me for so long. I am proud to say I never cried or became unwound during the critique. The tears and frustration came later, thanks to anyone who commiserated with me and to Super Hero Sally, who informed me this critique was inappropriate and not a standalone incident for this Agent. 
  
  
  
  Knowing I can survive a horrible critique has given me the courage to facing future criticism. Linda’s critique left me inspired to grow and with a new agent on my wish list.

#NESCBWI14 - Meeting My Picture Book Hero and Making A New One

Often in life we go in to an adventure with a clear goal and sometimes when fortune smiles on us we attain the goal and  surpass our expectations when wonderfulness unfolds, like it did for me on Saturday.

My #1 goal was to say hello to Peter Hamilton Reynolds, my PB creating hero. I discovered his work while doing a massive amount of research, checking out hundreds of Picture Books out of the library each week. The Librarians loved me because I pushed their numbers way up for a few months! I loved the first book I read so much I gobbled up everything the library had. For me every book he has written is an inspiration and they all make me cry (not that that is difficult). A big giant fan is what I am, so I fully expected his workshop to be the highlight of the show for me. It was awesome and inspiring and I did meet him although I forgot my planned something to say to him, which is "My maiden name is Hamilton that is the second H in the HH". Oh well no matter, it was great to meet him and listen to his stories and see him tear up at the thought of something he was speaking of. Check that off the list and onto the rest of the conference.

Little did I know that I was about to meet a new Hero. As I walked into "Pacing a Picture Book" I take a glance at the table displaying the books of the presenters. My eye shoots to the "Blue Chicken" book. In all that research I did, this book stood out, although I had only read through it once over a year ago. AWESOME! The presentation starts and I am blown away by Deborah Freedman and the analytical dissection of picture books and the way she loves what I gather are among her favorites as she pets and caresses them as she opens my eyes and fills my head. I tell her my little story and she seemed genuinely touched by it. WOW!

Exhausted I get dinner to go and head to my room for a little rest before the evening events ...

Never made it out of bed slept 12 hours, all that Saturday fantastic wore this Early bird DOWN.

Sunday however proved to be just as magical as I ran in to Deborah Freedman while on my way to my room and being brave I said hi and was rewarded with a warm chat with my new hero. Why is she a hero? I can now see something has been nagging me about my work and I have a powerful tool now to fix fatal flaws and I just love her work. While browsing the book store I saw a book cover "Fish and Snail"  that pulled me straight in and as I panned out I noticed it was sitting above "Blue Chicken". I bought both and will treasure them not only because I think they are absolutely adorable  but they will forever remind me of this first experience at a NESCBWI conference.

#NESCBWI14 - My Voice part 1 - On time and only one year and an hour late

As a first time attendee to the New England Society of Children's book writers and illustrators  (NESCBWI) I particularly excited because I was among the disappointed last year  who faced the tiny words "Sold Out" when attempting to register so I start this story one year late. 

In my true scatter brained approach the trip started a bit rocky, so when I hopped in the jeep I was 12 minutes late before I started and then a mad dash to find the GPS, long story short, Martin found it in the back seat. A quick marital spat, and I am off 18 minutes late.

The evening prior Martin asked "Do you have Fuel in the tank?"
"I will be ok." Famous last words. 30 minutes late for my first #NESCBWI14 volunteering spot.

As a side note: Martin is my solid rock who keeps me on schedule as much as I will allow.  If he was with me on this trip we would have been on I 495 settling into the two hour drive.

So I have arrived found a parking space. 45 minutes late.  "Checking in Heather Steffens" I said confirmation in hand.
"You have already checked in." the trainee said
A little annoyed, but room key in hand, I am ready to start the weekends adventures.

The room is beautiful, I am unpacked and about to run late for the second volunteer commitment I made. The elevators were packed and slow so I decide I will take the stairs from the 10th floor. Quick sprint down to the second floor.... the door is LOCKED. I go all the way down where the last door say "emergency exit only alarms will sound" I contemplated if this was truly an emergency. I try other doors ... LOCKED   LOCKED ... "OH SHIT".  A thin film a sweat is suddenly covering me.  I calm myself and think.  I will call the front desk. The battery is dead. "Double Oh Shit" Now I am using my imagination in a most terrifying way, I am going to spend my weekend in the stairwell. "Oh tripple F&^%". Finally, I did manage to find the one door that opened, which was kind of down a little hall and brought me to the lobby.

I managed to be on time and only one year and an hour late.

I later heard the woes of the Check-In and parking, so I  know how very luck I was.

One Step Ahead

I am one step ahead in 2014. Last year I missed the boat and was shut out of the NESCBWI conference because I waited a few days to sign up.  Today I registered for the 2014 conference, I jumped on that worm and gobbled it up and feel so much further ahead. Not only am I attending but I have signed up to put my work out there in front of professionals. Honestly I am scared but it is the next step so here I go. I have until May to put together a kick butt portfolio :)