I have just returned from my first meeting with the San Antonio chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and I am PUMPED! This group is so accomplished. I thought I was a big-shot being a finalist in this book contest, but one lady had just come back from the Ukraine where she shared her published book with school-kids there because her book is set there. Another has just had her second book published and is having a book signing in October. The leader of the group is a full-time jewelery-maker and write articles for Beads magazine. On, and on, and on...
This is good. It lets me see that there are people in my immediate surroundings who are making it as writers and illustrators, and inspires me to keep trying. I've signed up to be in a critique group that meets once a month, so I must produce!
We had a critique session at the meeting today, and got such good feedback, that I've good new ideas and a new direction to take Dillon and Blue that will make it more marketable, I'm sure of it! I had gotten bogged down and disappointed with the rejection letters.
Writing and illustrating can be lonely pursuits. Everything I've read says not to show rough drafts to family and friends because they'll be too kind, and immediately like it. Now I have an objective group of peers to share my ideas with, and it gives me new energy. I even met a women from Puerto Rico whom I might collaborate with on an idea that I've stored away for a year or two. She could be invaluable at filling in Hispanic traditions and cultures that I don't even pretend to know enough to write about, but would like to include in the story.
Refreshing. New vitality. I can't wait to get started!
