20 Questions: 'Dear Younger Me...'

By Elisa Boxer and Kjersten Hayes

Welcome back to our series, 20 QUESTIONS!

This is the place where we here at the Soaring ’20s answer questions about our debut picture book process.

We’re one month into 2020 (gasp!), looking ahead to all that awaits us during our debut year.

But we’re also looking back, taking stock of what we wish we’d known before this whole journey began.

Today’s question:

“What’s your best piece of advice for your younger author/illustrator self? “

Rajani LaRocca

Rajani LaRocca, author of the picture book SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS and the middle-grade book MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM: “Lean into the stuff that makes you weird. It’s also what makes you and your writing interesting! Also, just when you’re thinking of giving up on something is when the breakthrough comes.”

Kjersten Hayes

Kjersten Hayes, author of THE ELEPHANTS’ GUIDE TO HIDE-AND-SEEK: “Please, younger self, stop sabotaging by rarely submitting. It can be just as painful to hide as it is to share. Also, make a fool of yourself more often — boldly saying YES to your adventurous, risky, beautiful efforts, even when they fall horribly short. Those failures are likely the exact opportunities you need to build on to make your work better. Stop being scared of your mistakes.”

Mary Wagley Copp

Mary Wagley Copp, author of WHEREVER I GO: “Keep at it! It is a roller coaster of a ride, and while the lows ARE low, the highs ARE high — and worth working toward. It is okay to feel discouraged, but don’t stay in that place. Get up, dust off, and write!”

Lindsay H. Metcalf

Lindsay H. Metcalf, author of BEATRIX POTTER, SCIENTIST and FARMERS UNITE!, and co-editor of NO VOICE TOO SMALL: “Patience, young Padawan. Don’t submit work that’s not the best thing you’ve ever written. Would you want to make a mediocre book? No. So don’t send mediocre submissions just because you’re tired of futzing with them.”

Kelly Baptist

Kelly Baptist, author of THE ELECTRIC SLIDE AND KAI: “Don’t wait! Don’t let life get in the way of your passion. No matter how busy or complicated life becomes, you MUST make space for writing. Dreams are great, but you have to wake up and work to achieve them. Time doesn’t wait, so you shouldn’t either!”

Hope Lim

Hope Lim, author of I AM A BIRD: “Your best story ideas come from personal experiences, described and retold from your own unique perspective.”

Kirsten W. Larson

Kirsten W. Larson, author of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: EMMA LILIAN TODD INVENTS AN AIRPLANE: “It’s OK to write what you love. For me, that’s true stories. There is tremendous creativity and craft in writing nonfiction, and lots of challenge too, because you have to stick to the facts.”

Anna Crowley Redding

Anna Crowley Redding, author of RESCUING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: “Keep going. Don’t give up! Go to as many workshops and classes as possible!”

Abi Cushman

Abi Cushman, author/illustrator of SOAKED!: “Put in the work and then put it (and yourself) out there. Doing the work is the only thing you can control in this industry, plus you’ll gradually improve as you build and build upon your skillset over time. Putting yourself and your work out there allows you to develop lots of long-lasting kidlit friendships, in addition to a nice thick skin.”

Qing Zhuang

Qing Zhuang, illustrator of HOW LONG IS FOREVER: “Invest in craft-based art classes and trust your instincts on which medium to focus on. Don’t give yourself so much pressure — You have the right to practice art in a joyful, carefree way as much as anyone else. Take care of your mental and physical health, and try not to take on too much in student loans!

Vicky Fang

Vicky Fang, author of INVENT-A-PET: “Write lots of stuff! Experiment, push, and find great partners.”

Melanie Ellsworth

Melanie Ellsworth, author of CLARINET AND TRUMPET: “Just go for it! And stick with it. Listen to the critiques and edit — a lot! But don’t change your story so much that it loses its heart.”

Susan Kusel

Susan Kusel, author of THE PASSOVER GUEST: “Somebody really is going to want to publish your story based on an obscure Yiddish folktale. It will take about a decade, but don’t give up. One day you’ll see it in print. No kidding.”

Kelly Carey

Kelly Carey, author of HOW LONG IS FOREVER?: “Be patient and trust that the hard work and tentative steps outside of your comfort zone are going to bring you rewards beyond that published book proudly clutched in your hands. You’ll enjoy the long road to publication and you’ll find like-minded friends who will enrich your journey more than you can know.”

Candy Wellins

Candy Wellins, author of SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA: “‘Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never…’ It comes from a speech Winston Churchill made during World War II, but it’s the best encouragement I’ve ever heard for doing anything that’s tough. You want to be a writer, but are scared of rejection. Ideas come easily, but you struggle plotting them. Your story has been on submission for months and you still haven’t heard anything. It’s so easy to give in. But if writing is your passion, you have to stick with it and weather all the storms.”

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Now . . . over to you! What’s your best piece of advice for your younger author/illustrator self? Let us know in the comments below.

20 Questions: Publishing Surprises

By Elisa Boxer and Kjersten Hayes

Welcome back to our series, 20 QUESTIONS!

This is the place where we here at the Soaring ‘20s answer questions about our picture-book process.

With just two months to go until our debut year, today’s question is:

What’s been the most surprising part of your pre-publication journey?

Melanie Ellsworth

Melanie Ellsworth, author of CLARINET AND TRUMPET: “I think it’s the fact that it’s actually possible to write a picture book and get it published. Years ago, I thought that was just a dream — a possibility only for the very lucky and the inordinately talented. But somewhere along the journey, I figured out that while luck and talent are factors, commitment to your craft, perseverance in the face of continual rejection, and support from your peers are far more important.”

Susan Kusel

Susan Kusel, author of THE PASSOVER GUEST: “Crying. I have cried a lot. They’re happy tears but they keep catching me off guard. I’ve been working on this project for so long. Every time I see it get a step closer to an actual book, it’s a very emotional experience. I cried when I first saw a piece of art from the professional illustrator of something I had made up in my head. I cried when I signed my contract. I even cried when I saw the book had an actual ISBN. I’m going to need tissues when I see the final book!”

Kelly Baptist

Kelly Baptist, author of THE ELECTRIC SLIDE AND KAI: “My patience! Since this is a picture book, I imagined that I would be chomping at the bit to see the illustrations. Instead, (while I have been eagerly awaiting the draft pictures) I have made it a point to stay busy with next projects, etc., so that when there are updates, they are pleasant surprises!”

Kelly Carey

Kelly Carey, author of HOW LONG IS FOREVER: “I never thought that what seemed like such a solitary, stay-at-home career, would offer so much comradery. The long journey to publication has given me time to gather an amazing circle of writing friends and colleagues. I have always loved writing, but now I love my writing community too!”

Kjersten Hayes, author of THE ELEPHANTS’ GUIDE TO HIDE-AND-SEEK: “After years of experiencing all the roller coaster hard parts of the industry, I am constantly surprised and amazed that none of it has yet seemed to affect my love of actually making the work. I just love making stories and art for kids. Despite all the hard stuff, the work delights me.“

Rob Justus

Rob Justus, author/illustrator of KID COACH: “I guess my biggest surprise since getting my first book contract has been how much freedom I’ve had in crafting my story, especially with my illustrations and layout. I was expecting so many more comments and critiques. I guess I was lucky in providing the editor and art director with what they were looking for.”

Mary Wagley Copp

Mary Wagley Copp, author of WHEREVER I GO: “The most surprising part has been how much work I feel I have to put into getting ready for publication: business cards, website, planning a launch party and bookstore launch, staying up to date with debut group postings, thinking about school visits! On and on. But I realize that this is all part of getting the book into the world and supporting the work of fellow authors!”

Rajani LaRocca

Rajani LaRocca, author of SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS: “The most surprising part has been REALLY internalizing that a book needs to find the right home, that rejections are not a reflection on me or my writing, and that patience is the best quality to have in the world of publishing.”

Hope Lim

Hope Lim, author of I AM A BIRD: “Every part of the journey requires more waiting and patience than I had imagined.”

Angela Burke Kunkel

Angela Burke Kunkel, author of DIGGING FOR WORDS: JOSE ALBERTO GUTIERREZ AND THE LIBRARY HE BUILT: “The most surprising part has been a new understanding of time! There are long stretches between the offer, signing the contract, different rounds of edits, and just about every other benchmark. I’ve tried to give in to how time moves in the publishing industry and relish the process, from big moments to small.”

Julie Rowan-Zoch

Julie Rowan-Zoch, illustrator of LOUIS: “I suppose the biggest surprise for me has been that recognizing a great (or bestselling) manuscript is as much a shot-in-the-dark calculation for myself and my critique partners as it is for an editor or agent. Starting out, I imagined editors would just know what would sell at first sight. But they have no more super powers than we do!”

Qing Zhuang

Qing Zhuang, illustrator of HOW LONG IS FOREVER: “It was a pleasant surprise to work with such kind editors. It took me several years to break into publishing and I had imagined that editors would be rather cold and ruthless. My editors expect high quality and professionalism but they are also supportive, warm and wise.”

Vicky Fang

Vicky Fang, author of INVENT-A-PET: “I’m surprised (and excited!) every time I see updates on my book! It’s such a treat and I’m always re-invigorated when I see the amazing work my editor/illustrator/designer/team have done.”

Kirsten W. Larson

Kirsten W. Larson, author of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: EMMA LILIAN TODD INVENTS AN AIRPLANE: “It takes many hands to make a book! Creating picture books isn’t solitary, but involves working with critique partners, agents, editor, art director, book designer, and marketing staff. Every person helps make the book the best it can be and helps it reach a reader who can fall in love with it.”

NoNieqa Ramos

NoNieqa Ramos, author of BEAUTY WOKE: “One surprise for me was how much I have been included in the artistic decisions for illustrations. I am grateful, but find it a tiny bit terrifying. All my years at conferences taught me I would have no input into the process. I even heard illustrators say they found author input to be an infringement on their interpretation of the work. It’s a new learning curve for me.”

Lindsay H. Metcalf

Lindsay H. Metcalf, author of FARMERS UNITE! and co-editor of NO VOICE TOO SMALL: “I never imagined how connected I would feel to the publishing industry, living in rural Kansas, but even my agent and one of my editors work from home. There’s so much opportunity to learn and collaborate online. And I’ve formed true friendships with people I’ve never met in person.”

Joana Pastro

Joana Pastro, author of LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS: “No publishing experience is the same. There’s no use in trying to compare timelines, order of events, or milestones. A Publishers Weekly deal announcement might come in three, nine, or twenty-two months. Some learn their illustrators before a contract is even signed, while others don’t know for over a year.“

Carrie Finison

Carrie Finison, author of DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS: “One surprise for me is how incredibly humbling it is to realize the hours and hours that an illustrator has lavished upon my story to bring it to life. I was thrilled when my publisher selected Brianne Farley, and even though we didn’t communicate directly, I was lucky enough to get some glimpses into her process through posts on Instagram. It hadn’t occurred to me just how many details an illustrator would have to think through about my story that I didn’t have to consider as a writer.”

Candy Wellens

Candy Wellins, author of SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA: “I’ve heard other authors express disappointment with how the art turned out for their books. As a writer, it can be challenging when your vision does not match the illustrator’s. And even authors who like the end result are dismayed with how different it is from what they had imagined. So the most surprising part of my journey so far is how pleased I am with the art for my book.”

Abi Cushman

Abi Cushman, author/illustrator of SOAKED!: “The warm welcome of the kidlit community. Four years ago, when I first started, I viewed publication as an individual pursuit. I never would have imagined the strong kinship I now share with other authors and illustrators. We really do bolster each other up.”

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Now… Over to you! Wherever you are on the picture book journey, what’s been the most surprising part for you? Leave a comment and let us know!