Reporting In on the CCBC's Get Published! Panel

When I was a student, I remember my favourite classes were always a mix of learning and FUN. Later, when I became a teacher at Marianopolis College in Montreal, that was my goal -- to make sure my students learned a lot, but that we also had fun together. Of course, this wasn't possible every day (think tests!), but I believe that overall, I succeeded. I should also explain that I seem to have a higher need for FUN than the average person!!

All this to say that the Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC)'s fundraising webinar yesterday Get Published! let participants learn a lot -- while having fun. I know because, even though I was one of the presenters, I learned and had fun too!

Today's pic is a screenshot of the presenters -- first meet Meghan Howe, top right corner, director of operations for the CCBC; and Carol-Ann Hoyte (biggest smile in the photo), events and program manager for the CCBC. Meghan and Carol-Ann were there to get things organized. Thanks, Carol-Ann, for keeping us on track and on time and for handling the Q&A afterwards.

My fellow presenters were Khary Mathurin (he's at the bottom of the photo), an editor at Annick Books; and Tanya Kyi, a Vancouver- based author and prof, whom I had never met in person, but whose work I have long admired. Her middle-grade novel City of Lost Cats happens to be at the top of my reading pile!

Tanya and I were asked to speak about our writing process and working with an editor. Khary gave particpants his inside scoop on the children's publishing industry.

I figure there's no need to tell you what I had to say -- let me get right to what I learned from the other panelists.

Tanya began by telling us that like me (I had talked about my dad and his influence on me), she also had a dad who could be tough, but who supported her 100 per cent! She explained that he sold hundreds of her books at his restaurant. I love that picture in my head of Tanya's proud dad!

She focused on what she considers three requirements for those hoping to publish a book for kids: perseverance, flexibility and community. Tanya explained that for her, perseverance means not giving up in the face of obstacles and rejection; and flexibility means, in part, being open to an agent or editor's comments (she also provided a great example of a manuscript she had written about the history of underwear, which she had pretty much given up on, but which, several years later, she managed to re-jig and publish!). And then she talked about community, which I have to admit isn't something that comes up in my own talks. Tanya told us that for many years she has been part of a writers' group that meets once a month. At their meetings, they critique the work of one or two members, and they also discuss the business and support each other through the ups and downs of the writing life. 

Khary had many interesting things to say! He explained that many of the manuscripts he receives are unsolicited, meaning that the authors do not have agents who submit their work. He told us that Annick is especially interested in character-based stories -- that means stories with strong characters who will appeal to young readers. And he talked about Annick's mentorship program -- an annual program which helps emerging, under-reperesented writers get access to children's publishing. 

Although I think Tanya and I made a great team and covered a lot of ground, most of the questions in the Q&A were for Khary. (I had predicted that since I think most of the people who signed up are close to submitting their manuscripts for publication and eager for practical tips for how to improve their chances.) 

But at the end, we all had a chance to sum up, and what was interesting is that we all basically had the same message: WRITE WRITE WRITE! I managed to slip in a quote from one of my heroes, American fantasy writer Tamora Pierce, whom I once had the good fortune of interviewing. She told me, "No word a writer writes is ever wasted!" Ohhhhh, how I loved that line when she told it to me, and how I still love it every single day when I sit down at my computer.

Thanks to all the participants yesterday. We weren't with you in person, but we felt your enthusiasm and interest -- and that you were having FUN. And thanks to the CCBC for making the webinar happen. You guys ROCK!