Ollerina

The Party Page.

The party page for Ollerina's Adventures, book one, second draft.

Rewrite underway

Since my rejections I  have decided to write in prose.  A lot of publishers don't like rhyming text. The story had originally been in prose and I rhymed it trying to make a less than perfect plot more interesting the process helped to tighten the story though. The latest rewrite is now underway, everyone I know has come up with at least one brilliant idea for this story. I have adopted Jenni as my new muse,  never had one before but having someone to bounce ideas off is ace. (you never know who you might meet at the local mother and baby group)

Centre fold for Ollerina's Adventures, book one, second draft.

A turning point

At the same time as sending my book to publishers I also sent a copy to my friend Jenny who is a writer and is also working on her first children's book (very intriguing plot, hush, hush, under wraps.) I wasn't sure if I should keep mine that way but I can't stay a secret forever. This was a great turning point for my story. Jenny wrote back saying she loved the illustrations but the writing was just not good enough
(then she picks apart the whole thing) she knows everything I need to know about writing and had rewritten the first part of my story making it much better.  It sparked a chain reaction of ideas batted back and forth. Writing may be a solitary occupation but it is so much better with someone to bounce ideas off and steal a few brilliant ones from. ( with her permission of course.)

Page one and two of Ollerina's adventures, book one, second version.

A bit of advice

Just before the summer holidays, (apparently the worst time to submit) I sent away six copies of my dummy book to agents and publishers. I got a fairly rapid response, all rejections but nice and polite. One of the rejections had a scribbled note with it, saying they enjoyed the book but thought the text was to young for the illustrations, (an invaluable bit of advice.) I was very surprised with the rapid response so my next submission with be on a one at a time basis.

The back cover of my dummy book.

The beginning

Welcome to my ramblings I am not quite sure where to start because I have been working on this project for quite some time. This is going to be where I can write a story about writing my story get my work out there and hopefully get some feedback. I shall start at the point of my first rejection letters which were not as depressing as I thought they would be. I am glad now because the book was not ready and has changed loads since.

I made ten dummy books and only sent six, a costly time consuming process, next time I will only be making one to send and one for me but you live and learn.

The  front cover to my first Dummy book, all ready to go.