Laura Purdie Salas

Small Reads for Brighters Days

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Laura’s Books
  • Poetry
    • Poems Published Elsewhere
    • My Poetry–a Sampler
    • Poetry Videos
    • How To Write Poetry
      • Poetic Pursuits
  • For Teachers
  • Presentations
  • Freelancer
  • About
    • Press Kit
      • Short Bios
      • Awards & Honors
      • Author Photos
      • Book Covers
      • Book Reviews
      • In the Press
    • Who Am I?
    • How I Became a Writer
  • Blog
    • Review Policy
  • For Writers
You are here: Home / Writing for Children / Good Thing I Wasn’t Holding My Breath!

Good Thing I Wasn’t Holding My Breath!

February 24, 2009 By Laura

As a children’s writer, I’ve definitely had to become a more patient person. As we all know, this industry is not for speed demons!

Still, a couple of weeks ago, when I opened my mailbox, I was surprised to see a reply postcard. Since I haven’t sent out my own submissions in more than two years, I haven’t sent any reply postcards. What the…?

Turns out, the reply postcard was for a manuscript I sent out on May 24, 2006.  Yes, 2006. And the reply postcard was postmarked February 4, 2009. So, I waited a mere 2-1/2 years to get a postcard back that simply had an X by "No, your manuscript does not meet our needs."

And the worst thing of all? I had sent this manuscript to an editor I had worked with before, on one of my first books. I enjoyed our working process, and thought she did, too. She had moved to a new, smaller press, and I had a manuscript I thought might fit there, so I sent her the project with a personal note and got back–well, nothing, for 2-1/2 years.

I tell ya, I just had to shake my head. It’s a strange, sometimes confounding industry that we’re part of. Thank goodness the good outweighs the bad!

P.S. I’m in Albert Lea, MN, for two days of school visits this week. Wish me luck! (And given that there’s a forecast of 6" of snow tonight/tomorrow, I could end up stranded an extra night here–but I’m sure I could put it to good writing use.)

Tagged With: publishing process, the business side

Share:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related

« Poetry Friday: A couple of sijo
Poetry Friday: Evasive Maneuvers (by Billy Collins) »

FEBRUARY NEWS

My first 2023 book is storming onto bookstore shelves this month. I'm so excited about ZAP! CLAP! BOOM!

Zap! Clap! Boom! Book Trailer

https://youtu.be/kKVsDo8r0aw

Click the cover for more info–thanks!

I'm also creating promo materials, working on two board book manuscripts, and doing some work for hire to pay off Christmas bills! And I'm enjoying the lovely, snowy Minnesota winter. <3

Are You Looking For…?

  • Poems for the Classroom
  • Poetryactions
  • 15 Words or Less Poems
  • Poetry Activities for Teachers

Tags

15 Words or Less Poems 30 Painless Classroom Poems anthologies A Rock Can Be... BookSpeak! Can Be... books classroom connections conferences and conventions equation poems events free verse haiku imagepoems image poems J. Patrick Lewis Kidlit Combos Laura's books Laura's poems my writing process National Poetry Month 2014 (riddle-ku) National Poetry Month 2016 nifty news nonfiction books personal photopoetry poems poemsketch Poetry 7 poetryactions poetry books Poetry Friday Poetry Princesses poetry prompts poetry sisters Putrid rhyming nonfiction rhyming poems Riddle-ku school visits snowman-cold student poems teen/adult poems the business side videos Water Can Be...

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Copyright © 2009–2023 · Laura Purdie Salas · WordPress · Log in