Congratulations, Kathy. You will love your prize. Happy for you! Keep giving away those terrific critiques, Joan.

Dear Linda,
Thanks for writing to congratulate, Kathy. I appreciate your compliment saying she will love her prize. How sweet of you!

Celebrate your gift of encouraging others,
Never Give Up
Joan

That is great! Thank you Joan. I definitely do love my prize! Looking forward to getting in touch about this critique.

Dear Kathleen,
Thanks for writing. I am glad you love your prize. Send me your manuscript to me at [email protected].

Celebrate you
Never Give Up
Joan.

CONGRATS to Kathleen!

Dear Susanne,
How sweet of you to drop by to congratulate Kathleen. I appreciate it. I know she does, too. Celebrate you.

Never Give Up
Joan

Every writer has faced rejection, and this is a great reminder. But really I came by to say happy blogaversary, it’s been great watching your journey.

Dear Dianna,
Thank you for writing. I have enjoyed having you with me on my journey! Thanks for being there with me.

Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan

Happy 5th Blog-O-versary! :)

Dear Widdershins,
It is great to hear from you! I hope you are doing well. I didn’t spell Blog-0-versary like you. That looks pretty neat. Thanks.

Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan

Joan, thank you for continuing to inspire and support writers.

As your motto states, “Never give up!”
:)
Bob

Dear Dr. Bob,
It is good to hear from you. Thank you for saying that I inspire and support writers. I enjoy encouraging others to find ways to keep on going. I appreciate you for writing me.

Celebrate you
Never Give Up
Joan

Dear Joan,
I just got another rejection last week, so this post is quite encouraging to read. You always are a bundle of encouragement, in fact! Happy 5th blogaversary!
Megan

Dear Megan,
Thank you for writing. I am sorry that a publisher or agent rejected your work. What a bummer! Don’t let the dust settle. Send it out again. Thank you for wishing me a Happy Blogaversary! Thanks for riding along with me.

Celebrate your courage.
Never Give Up!
Joan

Happy Happy 5th Blogaversary!!!! Thank YOU for sharing such wonderful knowledge and inspiration in all your posts! Love your posts and love you :)

Dear Kathleen,
Thank you for writing. Thanks for sharing in my excitement about the 5th Blogaversary of my Never Give Up blog! I appreciate your good wishes. I bow humbly and proudly that you believe I share wonderful knowledge and inspiration in all of my posts!

I love you, Kathleen Burkinshaw! You are a blessing to me.

Never Give Up
Joan

Congratulations, Janis. Enjoy your prize!

Excellent, Janis. Now, make Joan work hard!
:)

Dear Linda,
Thanks for writing to congratulate, Janis. You are a great encourager.
Joan

Dear Dr. Bob,
Thank you for writing to congratulate, Janis, and to tell her to make me work hard. LOL.

Joan

Thank you! I will try to get that to you very soon.

Love,

Janis

Dear Janis,
You’re welcome. I look forward to seeing your manuscript.

…Joan

Joan,
Thanks for sharing your stories. They were fun and full of surprise. I’ve never experienced surprises quite like these. I did plan a surprise party for my husband’s birthday one year. I invited his and my family. It came together without a hitch, but I’m sure I could create some fictional ones for retelling.

The story you shared about the friend reminded me that we often don’t have to leave home to find what we’re looking for.

What a nice gift for those who have stories of their own to tell.

Dear Linda,
Thanks for writing. I’m glad you liked the stories and that they surprised you. The only thing I changed to fiction was the name of the friend and anything when my memory might have forgotten the exact details. I hope they do encourage others to share stories of their own. I remember one surprise party that was planned for a person and he went out of town that day, so the people partied on without him.

Live, Write, Laugh, Love,
Never Give Up
Joan

Hi, Joan,

This is a very helpful blog post. I especially liked your story examples. I enjoyed your surprise visits to family .

I think you were the most surprised. Joan, you could have been shot as an intruder!

Thanks for this post.

Love,

Janis

Dear Janis,
Thanks for reading my post and writing your sweet note. I’m glad you liked my story examples. You are right; I was definitely the most surprised person in my stories. Funny how times change and some things are no longer acceptable or possible.

I hope these tips help you add surprise to your stories.

Love, Joan

Hi Joan,

Thank you for sharing your stories! I remember paying a surprise visit to one of my cousins in childhood, but everyone in the house was out, so we just came back :( Needless to say, haven’t tried surprising relatives after that.

I read ‘Gone Girl’ recently and thought that it had a very well executed twist. I think the best surprises in a novel are when they make you look at everything you’ve read up-to that point in a completely different light.

Well Joan you’ve done it again…..You have amazed me with the way you bring ‘surprise’ into a story. Each of your short stories kept me wondering what was happening and why on earth didn’t someone tell you about the changes taking place.

And, by the way….speaking of surprises, what a nice surprise to have met you at the SCBWI conference in Charlotte, NC last weekend. One never knows who they might be sitting beside until they speak. It was indeed a pleasure to have met you.

I’ll never give up thanks to you!
Carole

Dear Nishi,
Thank you for writing and sharing your own “surprise” story with me. I like the way you defined a surprise as something in a novel that makes you look at everything you’ve read up to that point in a completely different light. That is an awesome explanation. I hope you’ll come back and read more of my blog articles and leave other comments. I enjoyed talking with you.

Celebrate you today.
Never Give Up
Joan

Nice! Congratulations, Karen.

Congratulations, Karen. Enjoy!

Dear Mona,
Thanks for writing to congratulate Karen. You are a jewel.

Never Give Up
Joan

Dear Linda,
Thanks for taking the time to stop and congratulate Karen. You are very thoughtful. I appreciate you.

Never Give Up
Joan

Hey All, Thanks for the congrats! And, thanks Joan and Annie for this great offer. I’m thrilled I won!!!. I’ll contact Annie.

Dear Karen,
Thanks for writing. I am excited that you won the free critique. Good that you’ll contact Annie. She was excited to have the opportunity to share about her writing journey and a free critique with those who are kind enough to leave her a comment.

Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan

Always interesting reading about a writer’s journey. Thanks Joan and Anne for sharing.

Great interview ladies. Anne, I can relate to slow and steady writers, although I don’t image you’re too slow since you met the contest word count as well as other commitments.

Great interview! Didn’t know you were a national journalist. Thanks for the link in #6. I also started with the seat-of-the-pants method and have pretty much stayed with it.

Joan, Thank you for this interview with Anne. It is chock full of great information that I will keep for reference! Anne, I have a love of historical mysteries as well-thank you for telling us your story and sharing you advice! I hope someday you find an escape route for your poor elf :)

Thanks for dropping by, Mona and pleased you found it interesting.

Very slow, Linda, considering how many years I have taken to try to write fiction. But thanks for the encouraging comment :-)

National journalism was fun–met loads of celebrity’s mothers :-)–but writing for local papers can be just as much fun. Interesting that you managed to stay writing by the seat of your pants. I just made such a hash of it. This was my first strictly planned book and I was so glad of the back up.

Joan’s questions were wonderful and made me think a bit. She has a knack of ferreting out information and insisting on helpful answers :-)
And your concern for the elf did make me laugh –maybe I’ll do that one day, Kathleen lol

Dear Joan,

Thanks so much for inviting me to guest on your blog and to meet your readers. Mona, Linda, Karen and Kathleen–thanks for your encouraging and positive responses to this interview.
Teachers always worry that they’re being boring. Once we start talking, it’s pretty hard to stop us.

Dear Mona,
Thanks for writing. You are right. It is always interesting reading about a writer’s journey. You’re welcome for our sharing.

Never Give Up
Joan

Dear Linda,
Thanks for writing. Thanks for your compliment about the interview with Anne. I am thankful she allowed me to interview her. She is delightful.

Never Give Up
Joan

Dear Karen,
Thanks for writing. I’m glad you’re successful in using the seat-of-the-pants method of writing. You have a built-in sense of story!

Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan

Dear Kathleen,
Thanks for writing. You’re welcome for the interview with Anne. I admire her being an editor and writer with a good sense of humor. That’s why I asked her if I could interview her. I’m glad you liked her, too. You are right, she is chock full of great information.

Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan

Dear Anne,
Thanks for saying my questions were good and made you think a bit. I am honored that you think I have a knack of ferreting out information and insisting on helpful answers. Funny!

Celebrate your sense of humor,
Never Give Up
Joan

Dear Anne,
Thanks for writing a note to the readers. It gives them a chance to get to know you a little better. You’re welcome for my inviting you to be a guest on my blog. I am very lucky. I have smart, fun, and exciting readers who leave encouraging and positive comments that help me and my guests “Never Give Up!” I have generous guests who share great ideas with me and my readers. It’s a winning combination! Thanks for being a guest on my blog.

Never Give Up
Joan

Joan,
Can you even image a publisher saying, “For your own good do not publish______?” That probably only made the writer more determined to do it.

Very recently, I wrote an agent. At that time she was accepting queries. Now, she is closed to submissions. When I discovered the change on the agency’s website, I moaned. Almost in the same breath, I resubmitted and asked if the agent would read my submission since it was sent before the guidelines changed. I’m awaiting her reply.

This just goes to show you that if YOU don’t believe in your manuscript, no one else will.

Perseverance is the word.

Trust you gut. If you’ve done your homework, had it critiqued by writers and readers you trust, edited the heck out of it and made the changes that make sense to YOU, then keep sending it out until you find that connection. It only takes one!

Writers have to be super sensitive to write a great story and tough as nails to get it published. This, finding an agent or publisher, is the tough as nails part.

Keep on keeping on!

Dear Linda,
Thanks for writing. I can’t imagine a publisher saying that in a note today. They don’t even write notes most of the time. No response is the “No” of today’s time.

I do hope the agent will honor your query because it was sent before the agency changed it on its website.

Good luck.

Never Give Up
Joan

Dear Sandra,
Thanks for writing and sharing your words of wisdom about writing and believing in yourself and your stories. Good advice. many times it does seem “tough as nails” to find that wonderful connection to get our work published.

Celebrate you and all the stories you have written and will write,
Joan

Joan, I submitted to a magazine once and they accepted my story, but wanted revisions. They kept up the revisions for three long days. A constant demand to rewrite the story. Each editor that it had to pass through an approval, would decide to have it rewritten a different way.

After three editors it was accepted to go to the head editor. There she said,”why would you take this approach?” She then had me change it again. It was finally published, and became my unrecognizable story “destroyed”,

To add injury to insult, they illustrated it with raccoons when the story was about a little girl of about three or four years old. I was embarrassed to have it published with my name on it, and must say I learned a good lesson that day.

We must all make adjustments and bend for editors, but when it comes to ruining your entire story, it’s time to put your foot down. I will never submit to an editor just for the sake of getting published again.

It became an embarrassment to me and made me feel bad about my self, not to mention they worked me really hard for what I thought was garbage in the end.

Just saying believe in yourself. Be flexible, but know your objective and don’t let any one destroy your work.

Joan I have had a number of notes sent to me by editors of a publications. Sometimes they like what you have written, but can’t find a place for it, or have other concerns and comments. I’ve gotten letter/notes from Pauline, Hopscotch, and few others. It is true we don’t have much contact anymore, but they do send notes on occasion.

Joan, Wow you put a lot of research into this blog post. Thank you for the encouragement!
Megan

Dear Susan, Thank you for writing. I am glad that you received notes from editors. That is so great. You are right. Magazine publishers are good about sending notes. Small publishers may send them, too. The submission guidelines usually let you know.

Celebrate you.
Joan

Dear Susan, I am so sorry that you had that experience! We don’t know these things at first. Hopefully, our faith in ourselves and our stories grows. Keep on writing. I wish you much success with your new book. I am very proud of you.

Never Give Up
Joan

Dear Megan, Thank you for writing. You are welcome. I am very glad that these stories encouraged you.

Good luck with your new book. Are your edits finished?

Never Give Up
Joan

Joan,
Following up with people after meeting them at a conference is one of my favorite post-conference activities. It has led to long-lasting friendships. Thanks for the helpful post.

Dear Linda,
Thank you for writing. You always have something nice to say to people when you leave comments. I’ve noticed that on other people’s blogs, too. I appreciate you for reading all of my blog posts. Glad you like the idea of following up with people you meet at a conference. We first met in person at the SCBWI-Carolina conference in 2005. Hurray for meeting new people and becoming friends for a lifetime.

Celebrate.
Never Give Up
Joan
Joan

Barbara Lunow asks; How od you do it, Joan? Every time I have a question/need regarding my writing, sure enough, you have a page /definition about my topic. This time is no exception and I am thankful for your thoughts on going to conferences. I needed them. Thank you, Barbara

Joan, so very helpful! This is in perfect timing to prep us for the September SCBWI Carolinas conference! I really like how you wrote about balancing all that we are absorbing while remembering to rest our mind and bodies as well-very important!

Reblogged this on KRISTINA STANLEY and commented:
If you’re planning on attending a writing conference this year, this is the blog for you to read. Lots of great advice by Joan.

Dear Barbara,
Thank you for writing. I am so glad that I seemed to read your mind and wrote a blog that meets your needs. Hurray! I look forward to seeing you at either the SCBWI-Carolinas conference or the SCWW conference or both!

Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan

Dear Kathleen,
Thank you for writing. I am glad that this is perfect timing to prepare for the September SCBWI-Carolinas conference. I’m glad that remembering to balance all that you are absorbing and making sure you rest your mind and body seems like it will help you remain at your optimum energy level. Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!

I look forward to seeing you at the conference!

Never Give Up
Joan

Dear Kristina,
Thank you for writing. I really appreciate that you reblogged this article. I am honored. I hope you’re still enjoying your cross-country tour of Canada.

Never Give Up
Joan

The trip is great. Lots too see. We are in BC now enjoying the beauty of the mountains. I couldn’t help reposting all the useful information. You clearly put a lot of thought into the article.

Dear Kristina,
So glad your trip is going great and you’re seeing lots of wonderful things. I know Farley is enjoying himself, too, being with you and your hubby in all the beautiful places. Thanks again for reposting the article about conferences.

Celebrate you
Never Give Up
Joan

Joan,

These ideas are fabulous! I don’t know if I will live long enough to try them all, but this laid a plan for me. I Will get ready for the Sept. SCBWI conference in Charlotte. Thanks!

Love,

Janis

Dear Janis,
Thanks for writing. I’m glad you like the conference ideas and that they are helping you design a plan that will work for you for the SCBWI-Carolinas conference in Charlotte in September. I hope to see you there.

Love, Joan

Hi, Joan. Lots of great tips and information for getting the most out of a writing conference. I’m bookmarking this post.

Dear Susanne,
Thank you for writing. I’m glad you believe there are a lot of great tips and information here for getting the most out of a writing conference. I am honored that you bookmarked it.

Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan

As usual, you are a font of great ideas and inspiration, Joan! Thanks so much for this!

Dear Becky,
Thank you very much for writing. I appreciate your reading my blog. I’m glad it filled you with great ideas and inspiration for the conference. I look forward to seeing you at the SCBWI-Carolinas Conference in September.

Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan

Joan,
What a great start to an inspiring series. Thanks for tackling the topic. I especially liked Barbara Kingsolver’s advice. Clever look at rejections.

Joan,
These authors have inspired me to keep going! Thank you for taking the time to research this list!

Dear Linda,
Thank you for writing. I’m glad you think this post is a great way to start a series. You’re welcome for my tackling the topic. I loved Barbara Kingsolver’s advice, too. Excellent prospective!

Never Give Up
Joan

Dear June,
Thank you for writing. I am so thankful that these authors have inspired you to keep on going. Good luck. You’re welcome for my taking the time to research this list.

Never Give Up
Joan

Just goes to show, don’t ever give up! Keep creating!!!!

And that’s not including other new time bestsellers, such as J.K. Rowling, rejected twelve times, til a child of a president in the company demanded to read the rest of the book.

Stephanie Meyer, a book I would have rejected. (Yes, I read all three of them, my wife made me >.>) but it took off like a rocket!

Dear Riley,
Thank you for writing. You’re right, these ten do not include J.K. Rowling or Stephanie Meyer. They come later in alphabetical order. They will be in a later post.
I am proud that you read these books. Keep on creating new work and submit them! Submit them…submit them.

Never Give Up
Joan

Dear Riley,
Thanks for writing. We should never give up. We should keep on creating one story after another. Celebrate you and your writing now. Submit them.

Never Give Up
Joan

I like to look up how many times an author has been rejected, especially as my list grows and grows. There’s somebody for everything, I simply haven’t found her yet. Thanks!

Thank you for the motivating post!

Dear Angela, Thank you for writing. Keep looking for the right publisher. The right publisher is looking for you. Good luck.

Never Give Up
Joan