| The journey to having my first novel for | | | | surrender.Over the course of several months, |
| children published has been riddled with road | | | | I sent my manuscript to every agent in the |
| blocks and shonky bridges. The good news? At | | | | country. They all rejected until I was |
| every rickety stage I've picked up tips (and | | | | dejected. So I directly targeted publishers |
| anti-tips) which I'm happy to share with | | | | instead. I almost fell out of my computer |
| everyone...ReadFor me, this was the easy | | | | chair when the second one immediately |
| stage! Aspiring writers need to read like | | | | replied. The wonderful Ibis Publishing of |
| maniacs to be aware of other writers' work, | | | | Melbourne liked my story so much, they asked |
| both locally and internationally. There is no | | | | me to commit to writing two more in the same |
| point writing a killer story if it resembles | | | | series. Truth is, to be published, I would |
| something already published. Sadly, that | | | | have committed to writing a sequel naked in a |
| means no scar-faced teen wizards named | | | | bubble in the middle of Pitt Street. Luckily, |
| Barry.WriteHere's a simple equation: the more | | | | they didn't. But I still have my |
| you write, the better you become at writing. | | | | bubble.Pre-publicationOver a year has gone by |
| By the time I was ready to be born I'd | | | | since my book was accepted. My patient editor |
| already completed my first three manuscripts | | | | Belinda Bolliger has driven me through two |
| (spent most of the time looking around for | | | | more rewrites to add backstory, cull my |
| somewhere to plug in my laptop). When the | | | | ellipsis fever and tone down my more extreme |
| doctor smacked me on the backside I squinted | | | | jokes. My major character has become less |
| at him and went, 'Waaah!' Which of course | | | | obnoxious and had a sex change from girl to |
| meant, 'Ah, you must be my agent!' I went on | | | | boy. Why? Apparently, girls will read about |
| to scrawl home-made comics throughout my | | | | boys; but boys aren't happy reading about |
| childhood before I began writing for surf | | | | girls.I originally named my book after the |
| magazines at age 17. Since then, I've had | | | | planet of talking horses and mutant chooks at |
| thousands of articles and pieces of fiction | | | | the centre of my story. However, Uponia (too |
| published. A lot were 'hack' stories; a few | | | | strange) was changed to Planet Horse Fart |
| won me awards and contests. All helped build | | | | (too rude) to ZAPP to Planet Horse (too |
| my writing skills and voice.FeedbackA local | | | | horsey) to Raz James and The Amazing ZAPP |
| teacher read my first manuscript to his class | | | | Discovery (too vague) to Erasmus James and |
| (thank you, Bob Swoope). The feedback was | | | | the Galactic ZAPP Machine (too... wait, |
| terrific. One kid enthused, "It's just like | | | | that's it!).The cover art has changed almost |
| Harry Potter, only funnier!" I dined off that | | | | as many times while the date of publication |
| compliment for a month.I'm lucky ten year | | | | has been put back from last Christmas to May |
| olds believe payment in Paddle Pops is the | | | | to June to September. Fingers crossed on that |
| industry standard for editors, else I'd be | | | | last one!It is vital to remain flexible and |
| broke by now (well, actually I am broke). I | | | | positive through such changes and delays. |
| read all my stories to my daughter, her | | | | Yoga helps. Better to get everything right |
| friends, and any young relatives I can bail | | | | than to rush out an inferior product. The |
| up. Whenever my juvenile focus groups wander | | | | extra time has also given me time to set up a |
| off to the nearest TV, I know the chapter I'm | | | | website, work out a battle plan with the Ibis |
| reading needs major reconstruction. Whenever | | | | marketing team Anthony and Paola and watch my |
| the kids sit glued to their chairs and demand | | | | hair turn even more grey. Meanwhile, my bank |
| more, I know my story is heading in the right | | | | account has nose-dived, but who really needs |
| direction (and I've bought the right glue and | | | | fancy mod-cons like electricity and food?On |
| Paddle Pops).It's useful to let adults rip | | | | the roadLast month I drove to Sydney to |
| into your story as well. Adult writers, that | | | | psyche up the Pan Macmillan sales team. I |
| is. I've learned it's best to avoid family | | | | delivered a ten minute standup comedy routine |
| members and friends, unless you enjoy making | | | | and was as surprised as anyone when the |
| these people flee whenever they see you. Join | | | | friendly team laughed at my feeble jokes and |
| a local or online critique group instead. | | | | seemed enthused about selling my book. On the |
| Growing elephant-thick skin will also help | | | | long drive home, I realised this would be but |
| you through this stage.RewriteFinally, you | | | | the first of many such promotional trips: to |
| think your book is ready. It isn't. Time to | | | | schools, book signings, anything and |
| let the manuscript breathe for a month, | | | | everything that will help me sell a few more |
| before revising it with fresh eyes. Be | | | | copies and keep doing what I love so much. |
| ruthless. Hack those excess adjectives that | | | | Then the rain began to bucket and my front |
| editors loathe. Delete every scene that does | | | | tyre blew out. As I bounced into the bush, I |
| not sparkle, advance the plot on multiple | | | | realised I was about to experience another |
| levels and compel the reader to keep | | | | first on the scenic detour known as |
| reading.Rewrite againAs a writer for | | | | Publication Road.DC GREEN BIODC Green is the |
| children, you're not only competing against | | | | author of the soon-to-be-published 'Erasmus |
| the mutant slush pile from Hell and other | | | | James and the Galactic ZAPP Machine', a funny |
| kid's books, but against the internet, | | | | and action-packed tale of friendship, |
| computer games and 24 hour cartoon networks. | | | | intergalactic zapping, flatulent horses, |
| Remember: the modern kid is smarter, more | | | | environmental havoc and bus-sized chooks. An |
| savvy and easily bored than any generation | | | | award-winning fiction and non-fiction writer, |
| before.SubmittingCrunch time. When you submit | | | | DC used to travel the world for surf |
| your first manuscript, get stuck straight | | | | magazines, mainly because he couldn't afford |
| into writing the second. When your manuscript | | | | his own air tickets. He lives on the NSW |
| returns unloved, send another submission out | | | | South Coast of Australia with one slightly |
| on the same day (or even better, send two). | | | | crazy daughter and three very crazy cats. |
| For every five rejections, rewrite. Never | | | | |