First I want to recognize the day… symbolic for what was arguably the worst day in the history of this country. My heart still goes out for those who lost their lives or loved ones on 9/11.
Today I head to my first critique group’s meeting… this is a pre-existing group that I was fortunate enough to find. Am I nervous? You betcha. But I’m also psyched to get the perspective (and enjoy the camaraderie) of others who have the same goals that I do– that is, to get published. And I DO want them to be honest.. No, I really do. Uh, yeah.
As I wrote here last week, I’ve pretty much put the concept book manuscript to bed (in a good way)– so I’m probably going to bring that one along today. Yikes! Is it good enough? Is it too much of the same rhythm? Will they hate the rhyme? (For the record, it should be noted that my dear hubby HATED reading rhyming books to Ian when he was younger. Despised it, in fact. Come to think of it, Ian was never too crazy about them either.)
This is the same manuscript that I’m going to send off to my SCBWI/Southern Breeze critics for a one-on-one critique at the conference in October. I’ll be honest– that thought terrifies me. I mean… my little ol’ manuscript will actually be in the hands of REAL editors with REAL children’s book publishers like Viking and Charlesbridge and Disney. Good Lord, what have I done?!
I can hear the voice of my yogi (if I had one)– “Now take a DEEEP breath…”
So to calm myself down (and you do realize I AM exaggerating, right?), I decided to draw a character from my pure-prose, in-the-works manuscript #3… and also because I always feel I need to add a pic to every post! So here’s my quick pencil and ink drawing for today:
Yes, it’s cartoon-ish, but I’m realizing that’s the style that comes most easily to me. I really only have 10-15 minutes to draw, and I simply don’t have the ability to do a realistic sketch in that time. I’m remembering how when I was growing up, I’d do caricatures of people– family, friends, pets.
So I present to you here my caricature of… an oyster.
Next week– amoeba!! 😉
Kid Lit Dish 
Good luck with your critiques, I’m sure they’ll go well and you’re bound to learn a lot. Love your oyster and can’t wait to see the amoeba 🙂
Thank you SO much, Susanna! That means a lot coming from you!