I hate writing. There...I said it. Now, I absolutely love revising and polishing. But first drafts absolutely suck. And guess what! I’m still working on my first draft for Book 2, which means I’m feeling a whole lotta suckage right now. But I’m cool with that. Why? Cuz you make me happy!
I’m happy because Stephanie Blake signed with an agent. A mere three weeks before signing, Ms. Blake won our SCBWI conference scholarship. Her entry was written with so much personality that we knew she was going to take off eventually. We just didn’t know it was gonna happen before the conference.
I’m happy because Gail Maki Wilson won an Honorable Mention in the SmartWriters.com W-I-N picture book category. And if you’ll recall the post where we told you to enter that contest (ah shucks, there’s no need to make you recall it…just click here), we told you we’d give anyone who left a comment in that post and won an award an advance reading copy of Thirteen Reasons Why. So, Ms. Wilson…it’s on its way!
I’m happy because Charlie Perryess won First Place in the SmartWriters.com W-I-N young adult category. That’s a particularly special category to me because I won that very same award four years ago with Thirteen Reasons Why. And Mr. Perryess is a particularly special person to me because we’re in the very same critique group. I know! Charlie even came to my party celebrating the sale of my book and can be seen in this post (he’s a little fuzzy, so look for the happy head under the first blue balloon in the photo marked "The Guests"). Chris Crutcher was the judge when I won, and happens to be buds with Terry Trueman, who was the judge this year.
It’s like one big happy family…and I’m happy to be part of it!
- Jay
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Congratulations to Stephanie, Gail and Charlie. And I'm congratulating on behalf of Eve, too, since she is in the middle of a hiking and biking trek somewhere in British Columbia. (She will be missed.)
I was so thrilled to see that Charlie, a hometown hero and member of our writing group, was given the award. He's also an 8th grade teacher at our local middle school...so those kiddoes will be very proud!
And so are we!! Congrats!
Robin
Isn't Eve just the jetsetter lately? Lucky girl.
Jay, here's to a breakthrough on the book!
Robin, here's to an end to the waiting.
Let's all sing..."We. Are. Family. I got all my sisters with me..."
It helps to know I'm not the only one who struggles and finds the first draft a sucky experience.
Congratz to all!
Stephanie, you don't want to hear me sing...really!
Glad I entered the contest again! Can't beat placing two years in a row. OK, you can, so I'll have to just keep entering! I can't wait to get THE book in the mail. Thanks Jay!! I bet some days you say you love writing. It's a love-hate relationship.
Thanks Robin!
gail
Congratulations to the three of you!
And thanks, Jay, for the link to your book-sale-celebration post ... somehow I'd never seen that one before. Loved Eve and Robin's 13 reasons why bit!
Best of luck with your first draft! (I hate first drafts too. Nice to hear I'm not the only one.)
Congrats to Stephanie, Gail, and Charlie!
Jay,
It cracksme up that the composition part of all this doesn't tickle your proverbial fancy. That's what I love most. I edit because I have to. I write 'em in the first palce because that's my little bit of heaven.
Jay, good luck with your first draft! You can do it!!
Congrats to everyone with all their wonderful achievements!
Post a Comment