Publication Road

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