How It All Started VS. How It’s All Going—My Road to Publication

I’ve learned so much over the last two years on my road to publication, but one thing remains constant—the hope to be a published kidlit author!

Yes, I’m still full of hope and determination. My road to publication to be a published children’s book author is paved in persistence, determination, and failing forward.

How it all started

Two years ago, I started this road to publication(again) when inspiration hit, and I wrote a picture book manuscript. Thirty years earlier, I wrote four PB stories, queried once, received a rejection, and filed them away. Along with my dreams.

But this time, I was serious, and I had confidence in my writing, and this time, I knew I wouldn’t quit. What I didn’t know? That two years later, I would still be unagented and unpublished.

Two years ago, I was naïve and unaware of the time it would take to get published, even when I had read about other author’s long road to publication.

Right after I wrote the manuscript in October 2018, I participated in a Twitter pitch event where publishers and agents like your Twitter pitch and invite you to submit your manuscript to them. I received a like from a publisher, and it shocked and excited me into thinking this was it, and that was fast!

How naïve was I? I thought I was going to get a book deal. And, I’ll go ahead and state that this was not only naïve; it was plain stupid.

I learned soon enough on my road to publication; my manuscript was not ready. And I was not ready. A mistake many authors make.

I didn’t start querying that manuscript until January 2019, but that was still way too early.

And I’ve learned from my mistakes. Every writer does. We learn through reading, we learn through studying the craft, and we learn from rejections. And unfortunately, we learn through time.

I fail forward daily.

I’ll repeat—I’ve learned so much over the last two years, but what I knew then, and what I still know now—I want to be published, and I am still full of hope and determination.

How It’s All Going

Today, I sent out query number 202, and still, I have hope. I have a dream, and it will be a reality. Yes, I will fail forward until it becomes my truth. And then I’ll fail forward again because I know that’s my future as a writer. Writers, even after publication, continue to receive rejections.

Rejections

Because I am a writer, therefore I get rejections.

In the last year, I wrote my way through all the Covid stress. I now have 16 polished picture book manuscripts. And that, my reader, makes me proud. I revised old manuscripts, and I wrote 12 new manuscripts this year. Yes, I wrote my little stay-at-home-and-be-safe little heart out.

And that makes me proud of me.

I fail forward daily.

In March, a manuscript of mine went to acquisitions but was eventually a pass. But that, as hard as it was to get so excited and get slammed down so hard, made me proud. And I failed forward.

I’ve had silent rejections, form rejections, champagne rejections, and a few R&R’s (revise and resubmit). And I’ve failed forward.

Time

Time is hard to swallow. I feel the ticking clock because I started late; I am not in my twenties like I was when I first attempted this dream thirty years ago.

The fear is in time, not in failure. -Dedra Davis

But I fear how much longer it will take to get published and see my dreams become a reality. But, I do not fear never getting published. I will be published! It will happen as long as I continue to be persistent and determined. Quitting is not an option.

I’ve never wanted anything this much or worked at anything so hard. And that makes me proud of myself. That is a win in itself.

Still, I am hopeful.

My books aren’t in bookshops—yet. But I am still hopeful.

I might not be a published children’s book author yet, but you can find my quotes published in Hello Day Planners for the fourth year in a row. This wow’s me every time I see my words in these beautiful planners. My quotes can be found in between amazing people like Oprah and Nathanial Hawthorn!

Another thing I am proud of and excited about—The Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Waco! I am serving on the board, promoting literacy and kindergarten readiness to Waco’s children alongside some pretty amazing people.

What’s good in my journey?

My husband continues to believe in me and support me. And that means the world to me. Support can make or break a writer or any creative.

I also receive invaluable support from my Critique Sisters and other writerly friends. We lift up each other when we need it the most. And we learn from each other.

I continue to research agents and learn my craft. And I’ll continue to write, revise, and query.

That won’t change in 2021. January will be two years since I started querying. This summer, in an SCBWI virtual conference, Judy Bloom said, “I collected two years of rejection letters.” Wow! Did that give me hope?

I love to read about other author’s roads to publication stories. Most are long and winding, like mine. And that gives me so much hope—hope to fail forward!

I hope other writers will find inspiration from my story someday.

Amanda Davis featured my journey on her blog. Honored and blessed!

I hope for you something to dream about and something to work towards, and I hope for you a passion that drives you to fail forward!

love and blessings~dd

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