Balancing Act-Thoughts from a Beginning Writer

I've been thinking lately, about how becoming a good writer requires balance. There are many components to growing as a writer. Each with it's own importance and benefit.

1. Reading published work: This opens my mind and creative nature to the vast places my writing can take my stories. I observe how Bonny Becker's use of onomatopoeia words in A Visitor for Bear bring this wonderful tale to life. I learn to use this technique in my own stories. Rather than describe that my character banged on some drums, I write "BANG, BANG, CLANG. He beat on the drums." Recently I read Buffalo Music by Tracy Fern. Fern brilliantly told a fictional story about the history of the captive breeding of buffalo in the 1800's, while creating a most convincing voice for her main character. A story within a story that stirred my emotions. I am attempting to capture this same magic in my own historical fiction picture book.

2. Critiquing: Much like reading published work, reading the work of my colleagues is very refreshing. As I encourage others and give sound advice, I learn about my own strengths and weaknesses as a writer. I look for action, emotion, flow, and so forth-and I am reminded to look for these same things in my own work.

3. Reading articles, blogs and books on writing: This is something that I do not do often enough. I have learned a great deal about the writing process by reading the advice of others. Whether it's technique, publication, query letter writing, critiquing advice, it's all at my fingertips. Some sites and blogs I've stumbled on to:
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators-http://www.scbwi.org/
Harold Underdown's blog- http://www.underdown.org/blog.htm
Query shark-http://queryshark.blogspot.com
Lill Pluta (articles on poetry writing)-http://www.lillpluta.com/articles.html
Alice Pope, Editor of Childrens Writer's and Illustrator's Market:http://www.cwim.blogspot.com/

4.Visiting Publishers Websites: There is much to learn from visiting a publisher's website. Study their list. Read their mission statement or "about us" information. After visiting www.barefootbooks.com I was inspired to write a bilingual picture book, which introduces the German language and culture to readers. It is one of my best manuscripts yet. Writing stories that "fit" a publisher's list may better your chances of becoming a published author.

5.Write, the revise, revise, revise....and revise again: I think this is one of the most important skills I've learned as a writer. Anyone can write, but it takes a skilled writer to convey a story in a concise way while still writing a compelling picture book. This often requires hacking at words that I spent precious time creating. I remind myself that if I were writing for myself alone, these stories would simply be memoirs. I strive to become a published children's book author and so my work is not merely about a few clever words, but rather telling the best- most satisfying story.

There are of course other components to writing well. But these are just a few that have been on my mind lately, and I thought I might share them with those who are newer to this adventure than I myself am.

Best of luck in your writing!