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Waiting is a huge component of a writer's life. We always seem to be waiting for something -- rejections and acceptances of queries and manuscripts; to hear from editors, agents, experts, and critiquers; and then, once a manuscript is accepted, even more waiting -- for contracts, revisions, artwork, layouts, publication, author copies, and reviews.

Most of the time, the publishing industry moseys along at a glacial pace, so it's always a treat when a publisher takes the time to send a status report during a long consideration process. It's especially welcome if the notice is an indication that a submission has passed through some hoops on a possible trajectory to acceptance.

Today, I'm tipping my goblet of sparkly apple juice (hey, it's before noon, here!) to celebrate receiving what is fondly referred to in the biz as a "bear card" from Highlights for Children. It's a simple postcard with a line drawing of a cute family of bears cuddled together reading, and it says, "Thank you for 'bearing' with us while we review your manuscript." It means the first reader liked my manuscript enough to pass it along to the rest of the editors for further consideration. Woohoo! First hoop cleared.

A "bear card" in the mail is the equivalent of getting a tiny nibble of the carrot on the stick while still on the long journey. Yum. It makes the journey so much more (sorry, can't resist) "bearable". Thank you, Highlights.
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I turned in two magazine articles yesterday, right under the wire. One was easy to write. The other one drove me nuts because I couldn't come up with a good hook to start it off. Usually I don't begin writing an article until I have what I think is a fabbo intro, but this time the catchy first sentence was eluding me, and had for almost two weeks.

When I get an assignment with a deadline a few weeks away, I do a flurry of research right away, and then let it rest for a day or two while my subconscious chews it over. At some point, it usually spits out a great first line---something that takes the very essence of the subject and shapes it in a cool way that will intrigue readers and hook them into reading more. But this time it just wasn't happening. My deadline was fast approaching and I had nada.

The article was a shortie, and I knew what I wanted to include in it, so I went ahead and wrote it without a first line to hang onto. Still nothing. I can't turn it in without a first line; it's unfinished.

By the end of deadline day, I'd tried all the idea-generating tricks I knew: physical exercise, fresh air, writing something else, doing dishes (usually a good bet), and a hot shower (another good bet. What is it with soap and hot water that pries ideas from the brain?). I had brainstormed every which way I knew how.

Still nada.

So. There I am, playing mindless solitaire. My brain is whirring away, searching, searching, when my husband comes along. He knows I'm behind the eight ball on this assignment and makes a good-natured Hmm-working-hard-I-see type comment. I tell him I'm in desperate need of a hook for my wolf article. He responds with something really far-fetched about sharks and predators and teeth, complete with hand gestures and facial expressions (hey, we're a theatre family dontchaknow). He does that---offers silly suggestions in an effort to make me smile when he knows I'm tense about something. He's used to me giving him the dipped head, looking-over-my-glasses, "Yeah. Right. I-love-you-dear-thanks-but-no-thanks" look in response. Much to his surprise, that's not what he gets this time. Instead, I say,

"Eureka! Thankyouthankyouthankyou! You're brilliant!"

In the next instant, I'm pounding away at the keyboard with renewed vigor, and hubby's walking away shaking his head. (Smart man. He knows to wait for an explanation when the keyboard clicks are that loud.)

I didn't use hubby's idea (it really was way out in left field), but his idea made me think of another one that incorporated the surprising overlap between shark and wolf. Now I just have to wait and see if my editor likes the hard-fought idea as much as I do.

Sometimes ya just need a little help to get outside the box.
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Children's Book Spread Project for Illustrator Group Soup

I am pleased to announce a new illustrator group website —
www.illustratorgroupsoup.com
I am very excited to be a part of this wonderful and talented group and would like to thank the Group Soup Gang for all their hardwork in putting the site together. Illustrator Group Soup features eight illustrators: Astrid, Courtney, Diandra, Johanna, Leeza, Rebecca, Tricia and Me! Come and take a look at our blog, helpful links, and super cool artworks! Enjoy!