Today, The Times/ Chicken House Children’s Fiction shortlist is announced both in the paper and on the Chicken House site [Press Here], and I'm not on it. So here is a little blog about NOT making the shortlist.
Back in 2011 I submitted my first ever piece of writing to my first ever –ANYTHING – the SCBWI Undiscovered Voice Anthology. To my absolute shock and joy, my entry (an extract from my first novel a YA fantasy Fairy Tale yarn ‘Through Mortal Eyes), was longlisted. Then after an agonising wait I found, not unsurprisingly, that I didn't make the anthology, however I did receive an Honorary Mention, which was great. The Honorary Mention really helped my confidence giving me the assurance I needed to persevere, but also gave me something to put in covering letters having a positive impact in various slush piles.
In 2012 after several re-writes with the input of both my great writer buddies and professionals (you know who you are and a BIG thank you to you if you’re reading this) I submitted the same story to The Times/ Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition, and to my amazement and jubilation it was long-listed for the 2013 competition. Sadly, Through Mortal Eyes, didn't make the shortlist. This got me worrying that maybe I was a 'not quite' one book wonder. A One Horned Unicorn!
However, having fabulous friends and a supportive family, I started writing again, and produced in ten months another YA manuscript, this time a SCI-FI adventure called 'Journey to the Bone Factory', which I sent it off for the 2014 The Times/ Chicken House Children’s Fiction competition. As the book was written so much quicker than my first book, I wasn't expecting it to do well. Then I received the an unexpected and gleeful news that Journey to the Bone Factory, had made it on to the longlist. Overjoyed, and much relieved, I saw this as a sign that I can stop worrying about being a one horned unicorn, and promptly gave myself that second horn.
So this brings us around to today, and The Times/ Chicken House Children’s Fiction 2014 shortlist announcement, which I’m not in. What does this mean? Well this obviously is disappointing, (anyone who has had a rejection will know just how much of an understatement that is) but it's more than that! Three long-listings; UV 2012, Chicken House 2013 and Chicken House 2014. No improvement?! No escalation?! Stagnation?!
So, what does that make me? A Two horned unicorn, that’s destined to always be the bridesmaid, never the bride? How do I take my craft from the bridesmaid level, to being the bride?
So after sometime licking my wounds, it’ll be back to writing, planning and plotting with a new goal; how I make the jump from bridesmaid to bride? Fortunately I've been accepted into the much praised Golden Egg Academy, so here’s hoping that out of a golden egg, a phoenix-multi-horned-unicorn-bride will be born.
So this brings us around to today, and The Times/ Chicken House Children’s Fiction 2014 shortlist announcement, which I’m not in. What does this mean? Well this obviously is disappointing, (anyone who has had a rejection will know just how much of an understatement that is) but it's more than that! Three long-listings; UV 2012, Chicken House 2013 and Chicken House 2014. No improvement?! No escalation?! Stagnation?!
So, what does that make me? A Two horned unicorn, that’s destined to always be the bridesmaid, never the bride? How do I take my craft from the bridesmaid level, to being the bride?
So after sometime licking my wounds, it’ll be back to writing, planning and plotting with a new goal; how I make the jump from bridesmaid to bride? Fortunately I've been accepted into the much praised Golden Egg Academy, so here’s hoping that out of a golden egg, a phoenix-multi-horned-unicorn-bride will be born.
Sally - v sorry to hear about the shortlist - BUT the fact that you've broken through straight to three long-lists, no hanging about, in such a short space of time surely shows that your writing will shine through! All the very best, Nancy Saunders (a fellow writer who read your post on SCBWI's facebook page)
ReplyDeleteHello Nancy, Nice to meet you and thank you for stopping by and reading this post! Thank you for your kind words and enthusiasm too, much appreciated! Hopefully we'll meet at a SCBWI event!
ReplyDeleteIt's all so subjective isn't it Sally? I agree with Nancy, to get onto the lists initially is so much more than many of us have ever done - so well done for that alone! There's more waiting for you out there.
ReplyDeleteHelen x
Thank You Helen.
DeleteNo improvement? How do you know? Maybe this time you only *just* missed out on the short list. All you see is a "yes" or "no" but there could be a huge difference between the first story to be rejected and the last judges-debated-it-for-hours-but-reluctantly-had-to-let-it-go story.
ReplyDeleteThree out of three looks pretty darn impressive to me - keep at it!
Hi Alice, Thanks for your supportive words, I like the thought that it could have been a case of judges-debated-it-for-hours-but-reluctantly-had-to-let-it-go story!
DeleteI know *exactly* how you feel - and you have my support. The reason why you have done so well - and it truly is an achievement - is because you've kept writing. You keep on because you have stories to tell - let that be the focus.
ReplyDelete"If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same; " - Kipling had it right.
Hi Philippa, Thank you so much for your encouraging words, it means a lot as i know that your journey is travelling along a similar trajectory!
DeleteI know what you mean. But I'm at the stage where I envy you getting on the list. Sounds like you are SO close! Good luck girl!
ReplyDeleteHi Pippa,
DeleteThank you for stopping buy and being supportive and honest.
LOL - I think that may have been a metaphor too far at the end!
ReplyDeleteAs something of a "one hit wonder" myself, I know exactly how you feel. It seems like the doors of publishing are opening for you, only to find them slamming in your face. But if there's anything I've learnt from other writers, it's that at some point it will just happen for you, probably with little in the way of warning or fanfare. Competitions, by their very nature, are a tough way to get discovered, and you may find you have more luck through honing your writing with Golden Egg, making more publishing contacts and then getting your work out to them.
Good luck!
Thank Nick, you are so NOT a one book wonder! Thanks for your support, and it make it even more reassuring coming from someone who is going through a similar experience.
DeleteI agree with all the other comments, Sally. You're doing brilliantly to keep getting longlisted: to have it happen three times is a great sign, because it means many different professionals are valuing your writing. Keeping going is the only thing to do at this stage - and I feel qualified to say that as it took me ten years to get my first book to the stage where it was ready to be published! It will happen for you, but the tough thing is that, as Nick says, you just don't know when. But if you keep putting your work out there, as you're doing, you make things much more likely to happen. Good luck and well done on making the long list!
ReplyDeleteHI Helen, Thank you so much, and from you being an Undiscovered Voice Honorary Mention to published makes it even more inspiring.
DeleteThree long lists is a fantastic achievement, so hurrah for that! But I know what you mean. It is disappointing to go so far and then stall. I think Golden Egg will be a brilliant thing for you to do and I wish you lots and lots of luck. Anyway, I can't wait to see the phoenix-unicorn thing!
ReplyDelete