Journey of an Author Part 2

So yesterday I blogged about querying and rejections for six years. Today I’m posting about how one idea changed everything for me, and how inspiration can hit in the strangest places….


So April of last year I was sitting in Starbucks with my thick textbook studying for my Business Law exam because I wanted to promote at work. Okay, I didn’t WANT to, but I felt like I had to if I wanted my career to go anywhere. Next to me I had my notebook and pen in case inspiration struck, which it likely did at unlikely times.

And of course this was one of those unlikely times.

And the weirdest part is where I got my inspiration from.

Wait for it….

The Bathroom!

I put two and two together (my notebook + the bathroom) and came up with a story idea of a girl who listens to gossip in the girls room, then jots it down with funny doodles in her notebook. Hmmmm. Story sounds kind of familiar though, right? A diary/notebook and doodles. Kind of like Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Well, so much for that idea. Back to reading Business Law.

But…

Writers don’t give up. They take an idea and twist it into something new, right? Because everything has already been written about before. There are no “new” ideas. So I pushed my Business Law book to the side once more and thought a little harder. I love the concept of a notebook with doodle type drawings. But no diary. Just a notebook. And gossip. Lots of gossip. Girls always go to the girls room in groups. And they talk. Plenty of opportunites for gossip there. So….why would this girl carry around a notebook if it wasn’t her diary?

Got it! Lets take the diary concept one step further and make it a blog. Kids are big into electronics and texting and computers, so why not blogging? But then I had to ask myself, why would she carry the notebook? Simple. Because she can’t necessarily blog whenever she wants to at school. And what 12yr old girl is going to remember all that fabulous juicy gossip by the end of a school day. Of course, by writing it down! And no kid can resist writing in their notebook without doodling and mentioning other total dramatic and life changing things.

So there you go. I had my concept. And I called my book BATHROOM BLOG. I start writing (yes, handwriting and drawing) everything in my notebook. I spent several hours at the coffee shop and by the time I got home I was still so amped up about this story I want to share it with anyone who would listen. In all the stories I had ever written, I had never felt this excited. CONFESSION: I never laughed so much writing a story either. I wasn’t sure if I was just acting crazy, or if my story was really funny.

I wrote and wrote and wrote. It was like I couldn’t write quickly enough. This was actually the first time I ever handwrote a story. Or had drawings to go with it. The drawings were more of a punchline to the actual story itself. As soon as I was done, I typed it up, scanned half the pictures in (because I really didn’t think anyone would care to see the images. They were only there to give them an idea of where I was going with this).

TWO WEEKS.

That’s how long it took me to write and draw this story out. I lived and breathed this story. I sent a query to the agent at the top of my list: Rosemary Stimola. She responded in less than a half hour asking for the first 15 pages. YAY! I sent them. It seemed just as quickly as I sent them off, she emailed back asking if there was more. I emailed the rest, up to the point of the images I had already scanned. She was going out of town for a few weeks, told me to get the rest of the images together then email her the full when she got back.

Those two weeks could not go back quick enough. In fact, they were the longest two weeks of my life.

To Be Continued…

Journey of an Author Part 1

I've always been one of those writers who love reading authors blogs--epecially when they share their stories about making it. Or tell about their journey along the way. It inspired me and I usually put these authors on a higher pedestal, because they did something I always dreamed of--they were a published author. The more I read their blogs, the more I realized "hey, they are regular people too!" and funny thing is, that inspired me even more. Because I had an even better shot of making my dream come true, because just like them, I was a regular person. And just like them, I was starting off in the same place they once had. And just like them, their dream was my dream. I just hadn't reached mine. Yet.


So for the first time, I am telling my story online with the hopes of encouraging or inspiring or even relating to other writers out there. Having only been agented for a year, everything is still very fresh for me and I want to share my experience and Journey of an Author...

SIX YEARS.

That's how long it took me. From the time I completed my very first book to the time I signed with my agent. (I had a habit of not completing projects I started, so completing my first was a HUGE accomplishment).

Did I ever think my work was brilliant and the agents were wrong for rejecting me? Yes. Did I ever cry and pout and feel sorry for myself? Of course. Did I ever feel like giving up? Absolutely.

So what happened in those six years that kept me wanting to come up with ideas for new stories, write and rewrite, and query so much that the keypad had been permanently etched into my fingertips?

Simple.

I refused to give up.

Someone told me my work wasn't strong enough? Fine. I'd make it stronger.

The voice isn't there? I'll write until it's there.

The plot isn't believeable? I'll twist it around until it is.

I received more rejections than you'd probably care to know. But if I had to go back and do it all over again, would I? I absolutely would. Why would I? It made me stronger. I can take critiques. I have tough skin. In the beginning I would cry if someone didn't like my work. So imagine if I had an editor back then and they suggested revisions and even sent copyedits my way. I would've been a mess trying to handle such a thing!

I've also found an online critique group since then, and I cannot stress enough the importance of having a critique group. In those six years, I've had time to do research on agents, publishers, and make such wonderful friends. But best of all? I became a better writer. And of course with time (and practice) everyone becomes a better writer, but how great is it to say that my debut novel will be that much better than it would've been six years ago? And of course when I look at my writing from that long ago, I can honestly say, "um, yeah. I DO understand what those agents were telling me."

And then it was last April that my dream would come true. And then some.

To Be Continued...

Not Good News. Great News!

Good News: I got a fabulous news from my agent!

Bad News:  I don't think I can actually share the news yet.

But, I just wanted to share the good news even though I can't exactly say what the goods news is. Just that there IS good news. so...Yay!

From the Mixed-Up Files

If you haven't already been to the site From the Mixed-Up Files...what are you waiting for? Book giveaways, interviews, tons of information...and it's all about middle grade books and authors. There's something here for everyone.



Mission Statement
From the Mixed-Up Files is the group blog of middle-grade authors celebrating books for middle-grade readers. For anyone with a passion for children’s literature—teachers, librarians, parents, kids, writers, industry professionals— we offer regularly updated book lists organized by unique categories, author interviews, market news, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a children's book from writing to publishing to promoting.

Contest Anyone?

So...this is what I'm thinking. I haven't had this blog for very long and since I have my new website up and running (Yay!) I'm thinking of doing a contest to help promote my blog/site. I have a couple ideas in mind, but if anyone has an idea of their own, I'd love to hear! Just leave a comment and I promise to read. I'm thinking I'll announce this Friday.

BTW, check out my new up and running site at http://www.rose-cooper.com/. I still have a lot more to add, but I'm having fun with it for now.

In the next day or so I will also be posting about the event at EAST BAY OPEN STUDIOS complete with pics (you don't wanna miss!) and a post about my experience talking to my son's 6th grade class (66 kids!)about how to become an author/illustrator. Yeah, I was sooo nervous since I had never talked in front of a group before, PLUS I had lost my voice the day before at the art event and I was given a microphone. Confession: I've never, ever talked in a microphone before. Karaoke excluded.  So I was sweating bullets just thinking about how well I was going to do with my whisper amplified in front of a crowd of kids who may or may not be bored with what I was prepared to say.

So in the meantime, lemme know if have any ideas for a contest to help promote my blog/site!