Writing for publication is a long and arduous journey. It's also incredibly rewarding. Today our expert, Rebecca Petruck shares her publishing journey for her debut novel, STEERING TOWARD NORMAL. (We're giving away a copy in the sidebar!) And we're also giving away an ARC of CRAZY by Linda Vigen Phillips, a powerful novel in verse that debuts in October.
This issue features an illustration by Constance Lombardo whose first book will debut next fall. Our teen writer, Skyler McNeely introduces us to several books published by young people and one about a woman who secretly published books at a time in American history when women were not allowed to.
Lots of inspiration here!
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by Rebecca Petruck 
As a writer on the path to publication, you need three things: Perseverance. Determination. Fortitude. Notice talent is not on the list. Skill can be learned.
Pursuing publication is like gambling with your soul, losses guaranteed. I queried 47 agents, received three revise and resubmits, and one offer. After I signed with Kate Testerman in December 2010, eleven editors passed. One took it to acquisitions, then passed. The first hint of an offer came in February, the actual offer in May 2012. Even knowing it is part of the game, it chips away at you. Every new email could be The One but probably isn’t. Waiting. More waiting. Writers. Are. Rejected. It’s not personal, though there will be days that’s hard to believe.
Steering Toward Normal was my MFA thesis, and I graduated May 2007. The novel was released May 2014. Though press outlets like the Cinderella stories, my slow journey is more typical, and I say that to reassure writers. Publication is only a dot on the timeline—a big, star-shaped, glowing dot of awesome, but a dot.
STN changed my life not because I was published, but because of the path I traveled. I met generous, articulate 4-H’ers; animals chock-full of personality; experienced county and state fairs from the inside; got away with practical jokes because they were “research”; and formed deep friendships with a wide range of writers. STN doesn’t exist because I got an MFA or found an agent, it exists because I missed my family in Minnesota. Because I watched a kid show a steer that won Grand Champion. Because a dairy farmer told me to let a weaning calf suck my fingers. And a thousand other experiences that grew my heart and made it possible to write the story.
If you want to publish: Grow your heart. Put it on paper. Brace yourself, and trust that your heart has grown strong and resilient. Then go out in the world and grow your heart some more.
Rebecca Petruck is a Minnesota girl, though she also has lived in Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, England, Connecticut and currently, North Carolina. A former member of 4-H, she was also a Girl Scout, a cheerleader, and competed in MathCounts. She reads National Geographic cover to cover. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing, Fiction, from UNC Wilmington, and is represented by Kate Testerman of kt literary. |
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Illustration by Constance Lombardo
Constance Lombardo had been writing, drawing and submitting picture books and novels for over ten years which led to a sizeable rejection letter folder. She decided to try writing and illustrating a graphic novel, which turned out to be the project that finally caught an agent's eye.
She signed a contract with her wonderful agent, Lori Nowicki of Painted Words, in 2013 and signed a three-book contract with Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins later that year. Her first middle grade graphic novel, Mr. Puffball: Stunt Cat to the Stars! will release fall 2015. Yay!
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by Carol
Young and old, people like to see their name in print. Knowing their work will have an audience encourages students to polish their work before publishing it. As a teacher, librarian, or home school educator you are like a midwife--in a great position to assist with the "birthing" process. Here are some ideas to make that possible:
creativity at less then a price of a greeting card."
mail-in content.
* Pinterest board with super-creative classroom ideas.
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by Skyler McNeely
by Alec Greven (9 years old at time of writing)
For boys who want to know how to get a girl to like you, this is the book for you. This book goes from having crushes to asking girls out. The humorous book is from a nine year-old's perspective on all there is to know about liking someone.
by S.E Hinton (when she was in high school)
Ponyboy, a young greaser, lives with his two older brothers. They hang out with the gang and are all good friends. One night when Ponyboy gets home after curfew, his brother gets mad which sends Ponyboy running with his best friend, Johnny. Will Ponyboy and his friend stay running, or will they ever go to the place they call home?
The Secret Life of Mercy Otis Warren
(who lived during the Revolutionary era when women were not supposed to be writing for publication)
by Gretchen Woelfle
Mercy Otis Warren was a young girl who learned all the things a girl was supposed to. Her father believed girls should learn what boys were taught. Mercy grew up, got married and had five sons. She kept writing and spoke her mind at meetings. Then Mercy's brother Jemmy died. She wrote stories making fun of everyone. Some people knew about her and told her to write on. So she did. Finally at the age of seventy seven, Mercy signed her name on some of the books she had written.
Skyler Wen McNeely came to the United States at age one and now attends a public Language Immersion School, Waddell Language Academy. She has been studying Mandarin Chinese for 8 years, is 12 years old and in 7th grade. She is fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese and is now in her second year of Spanish. Her favorite subject is Language Arts and she loves to read. Skyler will be traveling to China in October as part of an education exchange program through Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
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Want to explore a
Writer-in-Residence Workshop or Author Visit?
We'd love to hear from you!
We each offer our own author visits or we'll conduct writer residencies together. Contact us to design a program that meets your needs.
Joyce Hostetter
Carol Baldwin
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We Welcome Young Reviewers!
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Do you know a young person who loves to read? We'd love to hear from you with name and contact information. We ask reviewers to read three books and write brief introductions.
This is a great opportunity for young people to gain experience in writing for publication.
Please email us if you know someone who would be interested! Thanks. |
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For best results,
"View as Webpage"
(on pale yellow bar at the top.)
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Send us an
and we'll enter your name to win one of the three books below. Each of them will intrigue a young reader in your life.
If you have a book preference please mention that.
We will try to honor requests.
Enter before
September 22
(Or better yet, enter right now!)
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A Debut Novel
by Rebecca Petruck
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A Debut Novel in Verse
by Linda Phillips
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A Picture Book for ages 8 -18
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Recommended Books By or About Young Writers
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BOOKS FOR YOUNG
READERS
by Gordon Korman.
(written by Korman for a 7th grade assignment!)
MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS
by Sarah Durkee
by
Nancy Yi Fan
Lisa Kline
YOUNG ADULT BOOKS
by
Kathy Henderson
by
Nujood Ali
A Teen's Guide to Publishing for Profit and Academic Success.
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Here's a list of books published by authors before they were 20.
Nice blog geared towards teen writers.
Young Writers Program
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Teaching the Story:
Fiction Writing in Grades 4-8
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Packed with mini-lessons on writing short stories, this resource will strengthen your students' writing skills and help them on their road to publication.
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Congratulations to our winners from our
May issue.
Kristen Kitscher won The Enchanted Toilet
Carol Harding won If You Were a Chocolate Mustache
Debbie Allmand won The Sweetheart of Prosper County
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Joyce now has a Common Core related curriculum guides for Blue and Comfort.
(Comfort is the
sequel to Blue)
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* Rebecca Petruck for
sharing her publishing
journey.
* Constance Lombardo
for our featured
illustration.
* Skyler McNeely for
introducing 3 books
* Joanne Hunsberger for
proofreading.
* Boyds Mills Press,
Carol Baldwin, and
Linda Vigen Phillips for
donating books.
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Create a "Talking Story" folder where you file old issues. Then you'll have them handy when you've got time to read, and you'll always be able to view past issues.
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