tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post4239675542256668751..comments2024-03-28T06:28:49.282+00:00Comments on Picture Book Den: Persistence with a capital P, by Malachy DoyleUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-52622768139415808302012-04-28T17:50:46.688+01:002012-04-28T17:50:46.688+01:00Thanks for your reply and encouragement.I'll k...Thanks for your reply and encouragement.I'll keep on trying. I have had six books published, but one always wants the next one to "get out there".Odettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03813842558807589339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-34979758931249232702012-04-19T12:08:17.442+01:002012-04-19T12:08:17.442+01:00Clare, not Jane - what a twit!Clare, not Jane - what a twit!malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-36116689775345633452012-04-19T12:06:51.825+01:002012-04-19T12:06:51.825+01:00Thanks, Jane. Yes, I wouldn't be without my a...Thanks, Jane. Yes, I wouldn't be without my agent, but just occasionally I'll breathe new life into a story that we've pretty much given up on, and push my agent hard to have another go at selling it. Sometimes, in this business, there's maybe too much focus on the new, and not enough on taking the time to achieve perfection.<br /><br />Oh, and thanks for what you say about the Arvon course - it was a good one (as were you!)malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-19292243922905749362012-04-19T11:12:36.909+01:002012-04-19T11:12:36.909+01:00Thanks for this, Malachy. It's really good to ...Thanks for this, Malachy. It's really good to remind ourselves to keep trying with those ones that aren't getting picked up. Knowing when to stop is important, too, but when something's close it's so important to keep going. You've got me thinking about a few of my old ones and what I can do with them... It's interesting too with an agent. I think I was more persistent BEFORE I got an agent (also Celia Catchpole) where I'd keep going and going. But I've certainly had a more successful time with my agent than without. Over the next few months I'm going to go all out on a picture book I started thinking about before I realised I wanted to write (about ten years ago) and wrote about eight years ago. It was nearly picked up several times (with an option fee along the way) and I think it could easily be the most successful thing I do if it gets picked up. Thanks for the push! PS I can vouch for your Arvon Course, Malachy, having been to one of yours several years ago, which was excellent. And Polly Dunbar is great, too. It should be fantastic.Juliet Clare Bellhttp://www.julietclarebell.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-6074533629211489712012-04-17T20:08:27.948+01:002012-04-17T20:08:27.948+01:00It was before I had an agent, Odette. I sent it t...It was before I had an agent, Odette. I sent it to a load of publishers and one rang me within a few days to make an offer on it. I actually turned them down, as my dream publisher were also interested. Sadly, after loads more rewrites, they turned it down, so it was back to submissions. By that time I'd acquired an agent and Bloomsbury were just breaking into the HP big time so we decided, eventually, to try them. It's always hard to know when to stop sending things out, but in this case the feedback was excellent and the story continued to improve, so we just kept on plugging away. Good luck with yours!malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-10792608804983423262012-04-16T20:06:14.268+01:002012-04-16T20:06:14.268+01:00Wow! I am so impressed that you submitted your pi...Wow! I am so impressed that you submitted your picture book "Owen and the Mountain" to 24 publishers. Personally I am pretty good on Persistence in the writing, but less so on the Sending Out to publishers. Your blog has heartened me and encouraged me to keep on sending out my current story that I personally believe in. When talking to school children I have told them how many times I have re-written my picture book texts. It always amazes them!Odettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03813842558807589339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-66139115123900687532012-04-10T22:55:31.582+01:002012-04-10T22:55:31.582+01:00Watch out agents / publishers - I suspect a lot of...Watch out agents / publishers - I suspect a lot of recycled and refreshed stories are about to come your way any day now!malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-47402421509089020832012-04-10T22:53:57.539+01:002012-04-10T22:53:57.539+01:00My blog in one sentence! THAT's why you'r...My blog in one sentence! THAT's why you're a picture book writer, Pippa - knowing what to say and not a word more!malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-69996235302564913722012-04-10T19:59:55.133+01:002012-04-10T19:59:55.133+01:00This does make me feel better! My at-present-unpub...This does make me feel better! My at-present-unpublished novels date from 1999, 2003, 2009 and 2011 - though the 2009 one had its first words written in 2000... I pull them out, spot errors, talk to people about them, knock some scaffolding out to see if they fall down - et cetera, et cetera - push them back to the agent, and keep hoping...Jane Stempnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-40409905073923924082012-04-10T17:52:43.789+01:002012-04-10T17:52:43.789+01:00How lovely Malachy ... I have lots of characters l...How lovely Malachy ... I have lots of characters living in limbo in my big 'wicker box of ideas'. It's next to my bed - and this post makes me glad I haven't de-cluttered it!Wendy Meddourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11232145254833119663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-10942552061568818652012-04-09T19:23:18.934+01:002012-04-09T19:23:18.934+01:00I know others have said it, but 'snap'! No...I know others have said it, but 'snap'! Now I too feel invigorated to look again at texts I like a lot but buried after just a couple of rejections. I definitely need some persistence. In fact, I have a lot of texts that I really like but I've never done anything with them apart from put them in my pending file. How pathetic is that?! <br />Thanks Malachy for such an inspiring blog.Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-55875678465885025952012-04-09T17:56:34.872+01:002012-04-09T17:56:34.872+01:00Inspiring, Malachy! That's exactly how it is ...Inspiring, Malachy! That's exactly how it is in the real world of writing. It's that bloody-minded persistence/arrogance to not give-up that needs to be combined with the modesty/openness to see faults and take advice that achieves success....sometimes.Pippa Goodharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17709422048047155208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-70693186924029053782012-04-09T17:30:00.141+01:002012-04-09T17:30:00.141+01:00Only eight years, Jackie - beats my average! Good...Only eight years, Jackie - beats my average! Good luck with it.malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-9132543559375958262012-04-09T17:06:48.503+01:002012-04-09T17:06:48.503+01:00I don't write PB's (I did have a go but I ...I don't write PB's (I did have a go but I was rubbish at it - it's really hard, as the number of drafts you do shows!), but I absolutely identify with this. Nothing is wasted - I've kept those first four and a quarter novels I wrote for adults, because one day I may turn them into YA's. I started writing Dougal Trump in 2004 and he's finally coming out this year - it was just a matter of timing, or I like to say a matter of the market catching up with Dougal Trump!Jackie Marchanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12567038737470422449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-61350213929951150112012-04-09T14:05:43.641+01:002012-04-09T14:05:43.641+01:00I've been with Celia Catchpole from day one, E...I've been with Celia Catchpole from day one, Enid - we work very well together. <br /><br />Yes, there are very many excellent illustrators, but your publishers may have a very specific style in mind, and probably want to find an illustrator who isn't booked up way in advance, which narrows the field considerably.<br /><br />It'll happen. If they've paid you, it's in their interests to make it happen as soon as possible.malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-66706940579005814742012-04-09T13:49:10.521+01:002012-04-09T13:49:10.521+01:00I love Collywobble too, and the illustrations are ...I love Collywobble too, and the illustrations are perfect. A very cheery, positive post, Malachy - thank you!Sue Purkisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09084528571944803477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-9409405780782521262012-04-09T13:11:52.227+01:002012-04-09T13:11:52.227+01:00Inspirational and encouraging, Malachy (who's ...Inspirational and encouraging, Malachy (who's your agent?) I LOVE Collywobble and Snuggle Sandwich.<br />Waiting-wise, I'm having a curious problem with a picture book that's been sold and accounted for - the publisher can't find the perfectly right illustrator(in spite of recently being at Bologna). There are so many brilliant illustrators out there, so how can this be?enid richemonthttp://enidrichemont.org.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-74964964745488016172012-04-09T12:26:55.952+01:002012-04-09T12:26:55.952+01:00Malachy, you've inspired me take a fresh look ...Malachy, you've inspired me take a fresh look at some of my nearly-but-not-quite stories. Thanks!Jane Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361379190770989657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-86261239616204288922012-04-09T12:07:46.087+01:002012-04-09T12:07:46.087+01:00Thanks, Alison.
Swings and roundabouts. Five th...Thanks, Alison. <br />Swings and roundabouts. Five this year, none next (so far) - but that's the upsy-downsy life we live. <br />High tide, low tide, as Liz Kessler says on her excellent blog on the Awfully Big Blog Adventure today. http://awfullybigblogadventure.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/writing-on-tide.htmlmalachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-15530048420953702162012-04-09T11:18:18.543+01:002012-04-09T11:18:18.543+01:00Absolutely, Linda. The finished product needs to ...Absolutely, Linda. The finished product needs to read like a first draft, in terms of its ease of expression. But it's not - we know it's not. <br />I hope you find some gems, and that they polish up beautifully!malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-39137209694301010072012-04-09T11:02:24.553+01:002012-04-09T11:02:24.553+01:00Great post, Malachy. It is a great reminder that ...Great post, Malachy. It is a great reminder that a picture book is something that just appears ready to go! This shows how a writer has to be prepared to be in it for the long haul!<br /><br />I had a look recently at the first versions of What Colour is Love? and I had forgotten how much it changed between the first and last draft, and I also found notes about the idea for the story a year before I actually found a way to tell the story in the first place. <br /><br />Your post has inspired me to look through my files and take a fresh look at some other picture book ideas and see if I can come at them in a different way to make them work.Linda Strachanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04354324158228109351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-50296530038018814872012-04-09T10:31:27.483+01:002012-04-09T10:31:27.483+01:00I love your titles, especially Snuggle Sandwich!
...I love your titles, especially Snuggle Sandwich! <br />Thank you for writing so openly about your experiences.Amanda Lillywhitehttp://www.crazypanda.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-11860450275159049922012-04-09T10:22:29.046+01:002012-04-09T10:22:29.046+01:00Exactly, Lynne. Creating new stories has to be the...Exactly, Lynne. Creating new stories has to be the main focus of a picture book writer, but in the gaps and lulls and blockages, I go round the wards checking on the near misses and see if I can breathe new life into any of them.malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-77996850162866693912012-04-09T10:15:14.410+01:002012-04-09T10:15:14.410+01:00Thanks, thinking! Good luck with the novel.Thanks, thinking! Good luck with the novel.malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-39763872950565867402012-04-09T10:05:51.486+01:002012-04-09T10:05:51.486+01:00Those numbers - especially the date first created ...Those numbers - especially the date first created and date published timeline - are illuminating. And talking of numbers Malachy, congratulations for having five picturebooks out this year!<br /><br />For those who aren't yet published it will be a relief to see a true picture of the sometimes long slog. And for those who are, it's a valuable reminder that persistence often does pay off.Alison Boylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661814505803840167noreply@blogger.com