Author Interviews,  Writing Journey

Meet the #MidWeekCritique Team

#MidWeekCritique is a monthly initiative started by children’s writer Lori M. Keating to giveaway 3 – non-rhyming PB critiques of up to 700 words. It’s gone over wonderfully, and Lori felt called to build a team to reach more writers each month. This past month I joined the #MidWeekCritique team along with April Berry and Elizabeth James. Learn more about the group and its founder, Lori M. Keating.

To enter the weekly contest, follow the #MidWeekCritique hashtag each week on Twitter and comment with your favorite GIF!

Lori M. Keating

How long have you been writing picture books?

The very first picture book I wrote (and illustrated) was for a contest my elementary school held for the 3rd-5th grade students. I was in the 4th grade, and I ended up winning the contest. Over the years, I would jot down stories or ideas in a notebook, but I didn’t get serious about writing/querying/publishing until two years ago.

Do you have a writing schedule?

I don’t have a schedule. I write when inspiration comes to me. It could be at six in the morning or six at night. For me, if I try to schedule writing, it feels forced and I end up staring at a blank page or hitting the delete button constantly. But if I write when the story comes, then it seems to flow easily.

Could you share a little bit of your process with us?

My writing process starts with something simple like a title or premise. Then I think about it for days or sometimes even weeks. When the story forms in my head, then I write it down. 

What advice would you like to share with aspiring writers?

My advice to aspiring writers would simply be to have patience with themselves, to have confidence in themselves as a creator, and to find joy in the process. 

What inspired you to start #MidWeekCritique? 

I was inspired to start #MidWeekCritique to connect with and help other writers. My passion is to come alongside those that need a helping hand to get started, only need a little tweaking for their stories, or just need cheering on as their polished manuscripts enter the querying world.  

You can connect with Lori on social media at:

Twitter: @LoriMKeating
Instagram: @LoriMKeating

April Berry

Most days, April Berry can be found sitting at home with her trusty sheepadoodle dog by her side as she writes children’s picture books, daydreams about new picture book ideas, or critiques picture book manuscripts for others. It’s a good life!

How long have you been writing picture books?

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember but I didn’t turn my writing focus to children’s picture books until a couple of years ago. I workshopped a couple of picture book manuscripts, and they turned out to be pretty decent. Plus, I love the added challenge of writing for a dual audience. Writing books for children that parents want to purchase? Yes, please!

Do you have a writing schedule?

I write a little almost every weekday during the school year. It’s more difficult to maintain a regular writing schedule when my children are off school for the summer though.

Could you share a little bit of your process with us?

Daydream, outline, write, revise, revise, revise, revise… 

When an idea comes to me, I jot down a quick outline of the story. Sometime over the next couple of days, I sit down and write a really bad first draft. I let that sit for about a week and then come back to it with a fresh set of eyes and start revising. After my revisions, I send it out to a critique partner. I make revisions based on his/her comments that resonated with me. Then, I workshop the new draft with another writing group or critique partner. Revise again. I just keep workshopping and revising until it feels as polished as I can get it. Each of my manuscripts typically goes through 5-10 rounds of revisions, and I often let it sit a week or more in-between revision periods.

What advice would you like to share with aspiring writers?

Don’t be afraid to write poorly in your first draft. If you are anything like me, all the magic happens during the revisions: themes start to emerge and shine, text is tightened, prose is enhanced, word choice is finetuned, voice becomes clearly defined, etc.

If you get stuck, either ship your manuscript off to a critique partner or let it sit for a while until you are able to read it with fresh eyes again.

Connect, connect, connect. Find other picture book writers to connect with, to become critique partners with, to brainstorm with, to run an idea by, to commiserate with… Good writing friends are priceless!

You can connect with April in all of the following places:

Website: https://AprilBerryBooks.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AprilBerryBooks

Instagram: https://instagram.com/AprilBerryBooks

Facebook: https://facebook.com/AprilBerryBooks

Email List: https://AprilBerryBooks.com/subscribe

Christine Alemshah

How long have you been writing picture books?

I wrote, illustrated, and bound my first picture book in the 4th grade about a girl who created a time machine. That experience inspired me to take a children’s book writing course in college while I pursued a degree in Psychology and a career in early childhood education. In the back of my mind, I always knew writing picture books was my passion. In 2010 I decided to make my dream a reality and joined The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, followed by Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 in 2012 in its inaugural year. It’s been a long, winding road, but I still have the same passion for writing picture books as I did when I was ten. I recently became agented and am inching towards my goal of publication!

Do you have a writing schedule?

I try to maintain one; however, my muse tends to live in the wee hours of the morning. New drafts usually enter the world between 3 and 5 am. Since I’m a busy mom of two, I revise in 10-20 minute “pockets” of time — at my desk when I can manage it, on my phone, or in the school pick-up line. Thank goodness for synced devices so wherever I am, I can write when I feel inspired.

Could you share a little bit of your process with us?

I keep a #Storystorm idea file on my phone and constantly add to it. I like using the Notes app along with the little bubble/list function to check off when an idea has become a draft! I browse my list often and move an idea to its own file when I’m ready to brainstorm. Usually, ideas spend weeks in a brainstorming file where I add links, quotes, research, and bits of writing. When I’m ready to turn it into a draft, I create a Pages doc and format it like a proper manuscript with a title and byline.

What advice would you like to share with aspiring writers?

Don’t be afraid of revision; that is where the magic happens.

If you believe in a story, pursue it! No matter how long it takes. It may sit in an idea file for years. It may go through hundreds of revisions (some of my stories have!) You might percolate on it when you are in the shower or taking a walk, but those ideas that stick with us, our heart stories, are worth the time and effort and will find their place in the world.

Find a place where you can interact with other kidlit creators. If it’s early in your journey and you’re not feeling ready for a large community, just one or two solid critique partners can help you stay connected.

Remember that every writer grows in their own time, and no two journeys look alike. Take your time to cultivate your path. If you are looking for low to no cost ideas and fun, motivational badges, you might be interested in my self-paced #growyourwriting challenge.

You can connect with Christine on social media at:

Twitter: @C_Alemshah
Instagram: @C_Alemshah

Sign up for her mailing list to receive your FREE pitch event resource.

Elizabeth James

How long have you been writing picture books?

I’ve been writing professionally for the past twenty years, first as a magazine editor and then as a publicist for a Christian book publisher. I’ve been writing for kids for a little over two years now, focusing on picture books, chapter books and children’s curriculum.

Do you have a writing schedule?

I have three kids at home, so my writing schedule revolves around when they are in school. I don’t do any writing while they’re home, which has been a good boundary because otherwise I would probably work all the time! While they’re in school, I generally do some kind of writing, editing or querying/applying every day, but the time varies depending on what else is on my to-do list.

Could you share a little bit of your process with us?

I use the Notes app on my phone all the time (even now, while I’m responding to these questions!). It allows me to write down any idea that comes to mind and record them. Then generally, I let them sit for a while until one doesn’t let me go. Then I brainstorm and if I can get a handle on the entire story arc, then I’ll write it and send it out for various critiques until I feel good about it.

What advice would you like to share with aspiring writers?

You don’t have to do it all. There’s so much advice out there about what you should be doing (start a website, enter this writing contest, write a book every X weeks, etc.) that you can run yourself ragged to where it stops being fun. Yes, perseverance is essential in this industry. It will take most of us years of work before we have anything in our hands to show the world. But, in order to have that kind of perseverance, we must first give ourselves grace: grace to know when to take a break, grace to know when we don’t have to enter a contest, grace to know when it’s better for us to go for a walk rather than stare at a computer screen. (I am also the worst at this, so I’m preaching to myself here!) 

You can connect with Elizabeth in all of the following places:

Twitter: @elizjameswrites
Instagram: @elizabethjameswrites

www.elizabethjameswrites.com

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