"If
our readers don't like the first line then they'll never read the
second."-Richard Peck
Signing with a publisher, that’s a big, gargantuan, colossal
deal for a writer. It’s woohoo, chocolate-dance
time. So what’s next? The answer depends on the editor and the manuscript. The
editor is enthusiastic or the contract would not have been offered, but a
writer may sometimes question the degree of enthusiasm when receiving the notes
for a rewrite.
My two latest books were produced by two different
publishers. FORTY WINKS, a bedtime picture book, required a minimal
amount of revision. The first line, the hardest part of a book to write, didn’t
resonate with the editor so I had to rewrite it, along with a few other tweaks.
Within several exchanges guided by the editor, the book grew in complexity and
the word choice upped the rhythm of the narrative.
My latest chapter book, THE RIDDLERS, required not a mere
tune-up but a major overhall. The last five chapters were a no-go, so I wrote a
brand new ending, all at the suggestion and guidance of my editor. One
secondary character now has a minor role, and the relationship between the girl
and her grandfather, who slowly succumbs to Alzheimer’s disease, became the
primary focus of the book, making it a more emotionally satisfying story.
I respect and appreciate profession feedback. With both of
these books, I’ve experience true collaborative editorial relationships, and
with each, my writer wings widened. After all, my editors and I want the same
thing: a polished manuscript.
Call
for submissions for Young Writers:
Forest for the Trees. For submissions, enter Submission – Fiction, Submission – CNF, Submission
– Poetry, or Submission – Art in the subject line. If you are a
writer between the ages of 13 and 19, please indicate that you are submitting
your work for publication in the Leaves section of FFTT. You may
also want to include information about any awards you have won or
encouragements you have been given by your teachers. If you are a writer
over the age of 19, please indicate in the body of your email that you are
submitting your work for publication in the Branches category.
Submission text should be attached as a Word or compatible document which
is titled Your Name – Poems – or whatever your title or genre may be.For
Poetry, you may submit up to 5 poems in a single document.
For Fiction and Creative Nonfiction, you may submit one piece
that is up to 6,000 words, or three flash pieces that do not exceed 1,000 words
each. All three should be in a single document.
Call
for submissions for Adult Writers:
Stories about Teachers and Teaching. There isn’t a single one of us who doesn’t owe something to a
teacher. They are the unheralded heroes of society. Tell us your stories about
the great teachers who changed your life. And if you’re a teacher, tell us
about the kids who changed yours, who motivated you to keep on teaching, who
showed you that it was all worth it. We’d love to share your best advice with
other teachers as well—what works, what doesn’t, how you stay enthusiastic
about your jobs. What advice do you have for your colleagues? Tell us the funny
stories too—we know you have lots of those. The deadline date for story and
poem submissions has been extended to October 30, 2016. Deadline: October 30, 2016
Nancy Kelly Allen has written 40+ children’s books and a cookbook,
SPIRIT OF KENTUCKY: BOURBON COOKBOOK.
