StoryGodmother Newsletter #12
Hello!
Hello! Hope your Summer is going well.
EVENTS & COURSES
It was absolutely lovely to be involved with the SCBWI Picture Book Retreat 2023 last weekend. A wonderful opportunity to spend time with like-minded creatives. Thanks again to Clare Helen Welsh and Paul Morton for inviting me along.
Summer One-Weekers on Wednesdays
That doesn't work as well as in the Winter does it?
I thought I'd run a few extra sessions over the summer, for anyone who would like to keep up momentum or missed them last time around! If you haven’t done this kind of micro-course before, they focus on the finer details of writing rather than the typical ‘character, plot, structure’ overview. They use a fine-toothed comb to help make stories stronger, and writers more confident.
Courses are usually a bit quieter as it’s summer, so they’re ideal for a bit more interaction and a chance to ask questions. Currently planned are:
Make 'em laugh
Wednesday 2nd August, 7.30PM
How to write funny fiction or sprinkle comedy into your story.
How to unquiet your text
Wednesday 9th August, 7.30PM
Avoid the dreaded ‘it’s a bit quiet’ feedback with these tips.
The power of why?
Wednesday 16th August, 7.30PM
The crucial questions writers often forget to ask.
Scene sense
Wednesday 23rd August, 7.30PM
Get the most out of every single scene you write.
Ticket sales will be up shortly, and there will be more brand new courses coming in the autumn, so keep your eyes open, or follow me on Eventbrite.
Chapter Book evening course
Six weeks from Tuesday 5th September, 7:30pm
Thank you to everyone who has booked on this course. There are only FIVE places left. It runs Tuesday 5th, 7.30pm as a six-week course, but with a week’s break (for writing) in the middle, finishing on Tuesday 17th October.
For more info, or to book, check it out on Eventbrite.
Write Mentor WOWCON 2023
Friday 22nd September, 5pm-7pm 
I’m excited to be kicking off the Write Mentor WOWCON 2023 writing festival for the second year running. This year I’m running a 2-hour workshop to help you ‘Create A Chapter Book Series’.
For more information and to book a ticket, check out the link on write-mentor.com
Writing Magazine ‘How To Write A Picture Book’ webinar.
Thursday 5th October, 6.30pm
I’ll be running a webinar for Writing Magazine in early October about picture books, so if you’d like to find out more about constructing a brilliant, outstanding picture book, please do come along.
Tickets are now available for the webinar from Writers Online. Recordings will be available for seven days after the event.
WRITING CRITIQUE SERVICE
Thank you to everyone who has booked a critique. I have ONE August slot left for picture book, chapter book or middle grade books up to three chapters. Details of the pre-built packages I offer are on my website but you can also contact me with any bespoke requirements. If you’d like to grab a slot or would like to find out more: sparkles@storygodmother.co.uk
UPCOMING EVENTS
#SummerWritingCheer
Every year I aim to give writers a special boost and provide extra opportunities in both winter and summer. Writing Cheer runs on Mondays in both January and August. You can find out more about it here.
Although some Writing Cheer events are free, the programme also raises money for charity and has supported various charities over the years. We have raised thousands of pounds together, thanks to your generosity – I couldn’t do it alone! At the moment, I’m aiming to raise at least £1000 a year for Alzheimers Research UK. You may have seen that there have been some exciting breakthroughs in research recently. Let’s keep going and raising funds, and hopefully one day Alzheimer’s Disease will no longer have the devastating grip it currently has.
We raised a stonking £890 during Winter Writing Cheer 2023 alone, so hopefully we'll smash the £1000 donation target this year.
#SummerWritingCheer runs every Monday in August, currently via social media to help raise awareness of the charity as well as raising funds. You can use the hashtag #SummerWritingCheer on social media or keep an eye out for posts. You can follow me at:
Facebook: AmySparkesAuthor
Instagram: sparkes_amy
Twitter: AmySparkes
Mastodon: @storygodmother@wandering.shop
RESOURCES & IDEAS
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be adding to my online article library, which covers various aspects of writing for children.
Rating Reviews
I was feeling rather curious this week (and also needed an excuse to procrastinate a bit because I couldn’t concentrate on my writing) so I popped over to a well-known online book review website to check out some reviews on my book, which I hadn’t done for ages. As a general rule, I wouldn’t recommend this to authors – it’s usually where Writer Confidence goes to die a very sad and agonising death. However, I’m quite thick-skinned having been in the industry for a while, and so I visited the page.
Writers don’t usually talk about the 2* reviews (sssh-sssh, nothing to see here!), but most writers get a handful, especially if they are doing something a little more divisive or niche, or their writing is aimed more at a certain type of reader. Almost always there are going to be some negative reviews. As long as you’re getting some positive reviews (preferably more than the negative,) that’s great – you’re connecting with the intended readership. What I was struck by was how nice the not-so-good reviews were, with the vast majority saying, ‘This just wasn’t my style.’
This is great, and pleasantly surprising. For a start, any member of the public assessing the merit of a book by looking up unfavourable reviews, this is useful – the reviews are subjective, and the reviewers are admitting that. Secondly, I love this idea of ‘style’. Readers know what kind of thing appeals to them – but in truth, it may not always be what they think it is. How many times have you picked up a book, thinking it would appeal to you, only to find a few chapters in that you’re really not sure you can finish it? I’ve definitely done this. And I’ve usually put the book down.
The other thing I love about the idea of ‘style’, is that if the reviewer can appreciate that the book isn’t their kind of style, they understand that the book has a style. Just not a compatible one. It has a voice, a personality, a method of delivery... but it just doesn’t click. Again, this is fine. The vast majority of the reviews were really positive, showing that the writer style for this particular book does connect with many readers. And that is perfectly enough. A book doesn’t have to be for everyone. Just like when we meet new people – sometimes there’s a great chemistry instantly, sometimes it can develop over time, sometimes the spark just isn’t there. A genuine friendship doesn’t really develop... the book goes back on the shelf.
‘Reviewer mood’ is another important factor, one which writers can usually do nothing about. One of the reviewers of my story admitted they really weren’t in the mood to read this kind of book, but they had borrowed it from the library so had to read it now. They explained it probably affected the review they were about to give (and I really appreciated that thoughtful comment). But, it’s so true! How well we receive a text as readers can indeed depend on the mood we’re in. Reading something silly when you’re in a thoughtful or emotional mood may not hit the spot. Reading something intense and deep when you’re in a restless or light mood may also not work.
If I’ve not clicked with a book I’ve bought (as opposed to borrowed), I’ll often put it back on the shelf, with the hope of giving it another go when I’m perhaps ‘more in the mood’. If that moment doesn’t come after a while, or I keep finding myself reluctant to pick it up, I’ll pass it on to someone or somewhere else, in the hope it will find a better-suited reader to enjoy it.
So, why am I saying all this? Many reasons, but ultimately to say A PASS IS ABSOLUTELY NORMAL. ‘Rejection’ (if I may use the ‘R’ word) does not stop when you are a published, agented author, not even if you’ve been writing for years. It is simply a part of the job. Not everyone will love your work, and that’s fine. It’s more about finding and connecting with the people who do. Learning to deal with rejection or passes and keep going despite them is an essential skill for every writer. So, with every pass letter or deadly silence from a submission, find your own way to keep going. With every (hopefully) constructive criticism from a writing buddy or industry professional, find your own way to keep going. Rejection isn’t going to stop... but it doesn’t have to stop YOU.
And who knows? Maybe when an agent asks to see the full manuscript, it turns out it’s just not the book they thought it was and it goes back on the shelf. Maybe an agent or publisher just doesn’t click with your style – but someone else might. Maybe they just weren’t in the mood for, say, something bleak or emotional at the time which happened to be next in the inbox, so the spark didn’t ignite enough. Sometimes it just comes down to luck. Who knows. We cannot please everyone all of the time, nor should we be expected to. Find your voice, find your style, find your readers. And find your own way to keep going.
END NOTES
I hope you found this newsletter helpful. Thank you for reading and all the best with your writing. Have a lovely Summer!
If there’s anything you’d like covered in the newsletter in the Resources section, please do let me know at sparkles@storygodmother.co.uk and I’ll see what I can do.
Thanks very much!
Story Godmother.