StoryGodmother Newsletter #22
Hello!
Hello! Hope you’re having a lovely summer. It’s amazing to think we’re halfway through the year. Despite the busyness of summer activities, it’s a good time to stop and reflect and celebrate what you’ve achieved and plan for what comes next.
It’s been a crazy six months for me so far – I’ve written an adult novel, a children’s novel and written, produced and directed two short films this year! For the second time this year, I have a book and a film released within a couple of days of each other! (See BOOK NEWS and FILM NEWS!)
But however busy things get, I’m a big believer in taking time out to live and breathe, have adventures and observe the world. Apart from being good for our wellbeing, regular time out does wonders for our creativity. I home educate four of our children, and every Friday, we have Adventure Day, which is always refreshing. I also make sure I schedule my own reflective Quiet Times, usually involving a solo walk. However hard you’re working now to make your dreams come true, remember to schedule your own regular Adventure Days and Quiet Times – your mind, body and creativity will thank you for it!
RESOURCES
Why We Need To Persevere
In just the last week, I have had three writers who I’ve worked with get in touch and share good news about texts we have worked on together. I am always absolutely over the moon to receive emails like this. I know how hard and long these writers have worked, and how much they have sacrificed and persevered to make this happen. I cannot share any of the details at this point but will of course be celebrating very loudly with these talented writers as things unfold. I’m very excited and I know a lot of other writers will be, too.
However, there can sometimes be a sprinkle of sadness and frustration if we ourselves aren’t in the position we would love to be in with our writing. This is normal and human, so don’t beat yourself up about it. But yes – of course you want this for yourself. How do you get that magical, elusive agent or publishing deal?
Perseverance.
And that is because it takes time.
To land an agent or a publishing deal, your work does need to be of a certain quality, and developing the craft doesn’t usually happen overnight, or even in a year or two. Depending on the time available to invest in your writing, it can take years to develop a deep understanding of the craft. And once you have confidence in the building blocks, it can take years more for you to have confidence in your voice. If you’re trying to do this across many different disciplines (e.g. picture books, non-fiction, middle-grade, etc.), then this can take even longer because there’s more to cover.
Try not to rush this stage of developing your craft but enjoy it. I’ve known so many writers who have come to me saying they realised they submitted stories way too early – and the knockdowns can be discouraging to our sensitive souls. It can be tricky to recognise when you’re submitting too early, especially if you’re very enthusiastic, or when you’re completely oblivious about what isn’t working in your story. Devour information about storytelling craft and really enjoy this part of the process. Storytelling is why you want to be a writer, right?
Even when your craft is honed, your writing is strong, and your voice is loud, it can still take ages to get that breakthrough. This can be one of the most frustrating times. Your writing is good, your contemporaries are starting to breakthrough... when is it YOUR turn? There’s undoubtedly an element of luck in this business – and you have to keep pushing that luck, even when you’re fed up. Find your own coping strategies (internally and externally!) that work for getting through the tough times. Commiseration treats, sharing with writing buddies, writing yourself pep talks – whatever it takes. Keep your eyes on the goal – and remind yourself regularly why this is important to you.
And if the story you love doesn’t seem to get anywhere and you finally decide to place it lovingly in the bottom drawer? What then? Write something else. Keep writing, keep writing, keep writing. Because every time you write, you exercise a muscle, and you get stronger. It brings you one story closer to achieving your dream. And repeat the process as many times as you can.
Because that’s what those three writers did. They found out what they needed to keep going and they kept going. And that determination, that perseverance despite whatever obstacles they faced, that is how they got their agent or publishing deal.
Perseverance in developing their talent.
Perseverance in submitting their work.
Perseverance in overcoming the internal or external obstacles they faced.
Good luck to you all – and keep going!
CHARACTER CORNER
Check in with every single one of your characters as you write. Every character who features in a scene. Ask them what they want in this scene, what they want in this story. This can change as the plot unfolds, so it’s important to keep returning to this question.
When you know and understand what your character wants (and why they want it), you understand character motivation. And when you understand character motivation, you understand the action they will take. And when you understand that, slowly the plot begins to work, whether you plot in advance or not. Conflict occurs. Wants collide. Your characters will have agency because they have identified their wants, and they will be active and interesting.
If you don’t check in regularly with your characters, they can sometimes start to feel dusty, stale and unfocussed. Even they may have forgotten why they wanted something in the first place. But keep talking to them, and keep listening to them, and they will become your best friends in creating the story.
Try creating it with them, rather than for them.
BOOK NEWS
Very excited that the final picture book in THE REPAIR SHOP STORIES is out this Thursday 4th July. The Birthday Bike is a happy and heart-warming tale based on a real story, featured on best-loved BBC TV show The Repair Shop. Brothers Matthew and Ben were blown away when a kid from the other side of the village turned up one day on a brand-new Chopper bike! It was all the brothers could talk about and they dreamed of having their very own bike, but they knew their family would never be able to afford it.
Unbeknownst to Matthew and Ben, their parents both got secret jobs so that they could make their boys’ dream come true...
These books have been a real pleasure to write and are beautifully and warmly illustrated by the talented Katie Hickey. If you’d like to order a copy, you can do so at your local indie bookshop or they are available at: Bookshop.org, Amazon or Waterstones
FILM NEWS
I’m also very excited that on Tuesday 2nd July at 11am, Sword and Fiddle Productions will be releasing our first narrative short film. Things We Do For Love is a cheeky micro-short comedy about Laura and Jon, who have sought counselling to try and deal with an insurmountable problem in their relationship.
I wanted the filmmaking challenge of telling a story in under 2 minutes and was very privileged to work with three very talented actors to bring it to life. It's also the first film I've directed to be released!
It will be available on all our Sword and Fiddle Production social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Mastodon/Fediverse) and on our website later on in the day.
If you enjoy it, please do share it.
TEACHING
A quick reminder about these two courses starting this week. Thank you to everyone who has booked already – looking forward to working with you!
Emotional Connection – Tuesday 2nd & 9th July, 7pm, £35
I’ve just finished writing draft 1 of my middle-grade novel, and it made me both laugh and cry, and my hope is that readers will experience that emotion, too. Emotional connection is incredibly important because if you make a reader feel something, they won’t forget it. On the course we’re looking at:
• Personal investment
• Emotional honesty
• Emotional tracking
• Emotional growth
• Mood and pacing
• Thinking and feeling
Rhyming Masterclass – Wednesday 3rd & 10th July, 7pm, £35
Whip your rhyming texts into shape and learn how to master scansion and create an enjoyable, appealing and marketable rhyming story.
COMPETITIONS
FREE COACHING COMPETITION
You know, I am absolutely loving running these free one-off sessions! It’s so lovely to meet with writers (some I know, some I don’t). As it’s a lucky dip, I have no idea who I will be working with until the winner is drawn, and that’s great fun.
For those of you who are new to this, as a thank you for subscribing to the newsletter and to help coaching become accessible to all, I offer a FREE 30-minute coaching session over Zoom (worth £30 – no strings attached) via a lucky draw every newsletter, for anyone who would like to take part.
For more on the coaching sessions, please see my Coaching page.
If you would like to enter, please email comps@storygodmother.co.uk with COACHING 30.6.24 in the subject line and you will be entered into the draw. All entries must be received by the Wednesday after the newsletter is sent out. So, in this case, please get your entries in by Wednesday 3rd July 23:59BST.
I will contact the lucky winner directly, so if you haven’t heard anything, please assume you’ve not won this time, but please do try again next time! If you’ve already won a free coaching competition, please can you refrain from entering again this year to give other people a chance to win. Thank you.
Writing Magazine Children’s Book Prize
Just a reminder that the submission window for this is just TWO MONTHS away. The competition will be open for submissions from 1st September 2024 to 31st October 2024 and has a picture book and chapter book category. This year, it looks like we will be asking for the WHOLE chapter book manuscript to be submitted at the beginning, so please don’t only write a chapter or three and think there will be time to complete or edit the book later! Submission details will be available nearer the time, but in the meantime, get writing those books!
END NOTES
Lastly, just a reminder, if you’re interested in critiques, feedback on opening chapters, or coaching, do check out my website: www.storygodmother.co.uk
Good luck if you’re entering the coaching competition. Speak to you soon and 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.