Wednesday, August 18, 2010

I'm dreaming of tee-shirt weather...

I went visiting on Tuesday up to Murray's Bay School on the North Shore. With my trusty sidekick, new author Elena De Roo (her gorgeous picture book The Rain Train, illustrated by Brian Lovelock was launched on August 7th) by my side for some school visit observations, I talked to all the middle and senior classes and gave a workshop to a group of budding writers in the afternoon. The children were attentive and enthusiastic and I love how they continue to embrace books. Books rock. Where there are books, there is hope.

Today I'm starting a series of writing workshops with some older budding writers at the local intermediate school and tomorrow morning I'm off to chat with some fabostory enthusiasts at Maungawhau School. Whew. Its a busy week. On Sunday its the Auckland Storylines Family Day and I will be there (Aotea Centre, on level 3 I think?) on the Kiwiwritekidz table if you want to come and say hi, ask questions or pick up any fabostory writing tips.

I've recently had some good news (sorry this is embargoed till the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed) and some bad news - a 'no' on something that I thought was looking pretty good. I am allowing myself some grieving time and then I'm going to put this result in my past where it belongs and move forward with new submissions, and new writing, because really, what else can you do when you're a writer. I hate the no's. I hate that sinking feeling as you read the rejection and the sinking plummets from a greater height when its been a long wait. In rational moments I will remind myself that a longer consideration means the writing/story was in the ball park. And I will send this story out to another publisher to start the whole process all over again.

I am ready for some uninterrupted sunshine and some warmth. The first of September isn't far away. Bring on Spring I say...

3 comments:

Fifi Colston said...

ah good- summet teeshirts forever! A change of clothes and climate for each of our writing projects gives them a bit of a Vitamin B injection too. Have a great time at Storylines- i wish i was there to catch up- but that will have to wait until summer methinks x
PS now intrigued as to embargoed thingy...

Old Kitty said...

My goodness I was tripping up on the names here: Maugawhau, Aotea, kiwiwrite (I read it as kiwiwiwiwiwite!!LOL) and love the name Elena De Roo!! What a lovely name.

Books so rock!!! Good luck with your busy week! And boooo to your no BUT BUT BUT!!Good news!??!? Yay!!!!! Please dot the i's and cross the t's!! :-)

Take care
x

Anonymous said...

Ditto to anticipating Spring (my favourite season!!)Bring it on....
It's so nice to hear of success stories, that's great Melinda. As to the 'no' I'm just as interested to hear how a successful author deals with this side of things also. I have just had another rejection recently, but it was a small project. However I sit nail-biting to the quick, awaiting a publisher's response to my big project....Phew!
And what about the fate of 'The Bottle Opener'?? Any news?