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What a lovely list, just lovely.

<i>Who&#39;s for Dinner?</i> What a great title!

Wonderful post, slushies. It had the effect of making me wish I did picture books - then I remembered I&#39;m far too cynical to be let loose there.

Makes me wish I&#39;d gone into publishing - what a wonderful job!

I still desperately want to do picture books. Just waiting for a lull between novels.

Thanks, Jude: I now have elephant snot indelibly etched in my imagination! Not sure I can fit it into my current story...<br /><br />And thanks, also, for all the encouragement along the way. For those who don&#39;t know, Jude is a regular runner of inspiring workshops at the annual Winchester Writers Conference, and Little Tiger Press and associated Stripes sponsor the childrens&#39; writing

I&#39;m loving this series, thank you ever so much, and Merry Christmas!

this is such an inspirational list, Jude! Thanks!

and the trail continues - (thanks for the Slushpile Note) - Great page on the &#39;Lifecycle of a picture book&#39;. Hooray for soppy picture book publishers!

I love Little Tiger, and think the smaller publishers contribute enormously to the books we get to read. Great list!

Love Jude&#39;s number three; it&#39;s a fabulous feeling when someone is moved by what you&#39;ve created.<br /><br />Like Teri, I&#39;ve benefitted from Jude&#39;s wisdom at Winchester Writers. Her workshop&#39;s are excellent.

OK. That&#39;s it. Next year, I&#39;m going to Winchester!<br /><br />Obviously I&#39;ve not come as far as you, Debut Author Teri, but it is easy to forget what it was like to write that first sentence isn&#39;t it? I found a first draft of my first chapter of my first novel yesterday. Boy oh boy oh boy...

Thanks for sharing your story, Teri. It&#39;s very inspiring.<br />And I was highly surprised to be highly commended!<br />You&#39;re right: life frequently does get in the way of writing, and Winchester Writers&#39; Conference and SCBWI provide much needed impetus and encouragement to keep going.

I have a Cornerstones report on an early book where they very gently ask where the plot is!<br /><br />Thanks for sharing all of this Teri. Having just had a birthday I&#39;m doing a bit of &#39;Aargh, one year older and still not published!&#39; agst. And I&#39;m wondering where my writing life is going. Well, it&#39;s going to Winchester too! But to the SCBWI conference in Nov. I can&#39;t wait

Makes you feel that it is all worthwhile and inspires us all to keep on going with it. I too have been trying to get a story in a magazine and that will be happening next Jan.

My takeaway from this is that we just have to keep trying to get better at what we want to do ... and we mustn&#39;t give up! <a href="http://candygourlay.blogspot.com/2011/07/pressing-send-winning-while-not-winning.html" rel="nofollow">I just sent the ms of my second novel to my publisher</a> - out in march 2012 - and i am full of self-doubt. Thanks for the reminder!

wonderful stuff, Teri! Writng from the heart equals writing with heart.

What an inspiring post, Teri. It was so interesting to read about your journey to publication, and it&#39;s so true that the support and encouragement of fellow writers, whether in the form of prizes or helpful critiques, is invaluable, especially when the self-doubt threatens to take over. Good luck with book 2 and the deadline!

New follower here.<br /><br />Thanks so much for sharing Teri! I&#39;ve not hear of the SCBWI or WWC. Definately going to be looking into these now. Thanks!

Great post, Teri! You highlight one of the great questions we all need to ask ourselves - what kind of writer am I? I&#39;m still asking...

Group Hug! :O)

Freya, joining SCBWI is one of the best things I&#39;ve ever done as a writer. It&#39;s a real community of authors and illustrators who share and support in so many ways. Most of the people on the comments are in British SCBWI. Check out the facebook link https://www.facebook.com/groups/122794234418913<br />Maureen