I’ve just submitted Alice in Wheelchairland to David Fickling Books’ Search For A Storyteller Competition! This is a competition where for the month of February, DFB are accepting unsolicited manuscripts (will look at manuscripts from unpublished authors who don’t have an agent). I am wary because I actually really like David Fickling Books. They are an independent small children’s publisher based in Oxford. I say ‘wary’ because I don’t want to get my hopes up – it’s extremely rare for publishers to accept unagented books. First prize in the competition would be an advance, your book worked on with editors until it is ready to be published (this timeline is over a year), advice on finding an agent, and an Arvon writing course. Arvon are partnered with DFB for this competition and run creative writing courses.

Runners up to the competition get detailed feedback. Last summer, I entered The Times/Chicken House competition and I was not longlisted, certainly not receiving feedback, so I’m well aware of the unlikelyness of me getting anywhere in this one. The thing about this competition that encourages me more is that, after researching the publisher, I like David Fickling Books more than Chicken House. I can’t really say why, I guess it’s to do with the books they publish, and my gut feelings. The whole message of Alice in Wheelchairland is about being brave and accepting your reality, so I guess that’s all I can do with sending my work out!

—

I’ve been doing two very different things in the meantime in my local area. I’ve become the Vice-chair of the Disabled People’s Forum, and I’ve just had my interview with a volunteer charity that does one-on-one reading with young children in schools. The forum only started last summer and my role has only recently been formalised. We’ve only just got an email address and pictures will be taken next week. With this role, I’m getting involved with some of the council’s development projects, co-producing services with local people.

I never intended to get involved in community work with adults, but here we are. I haven’t started the volunteering in primary school yet. That sounds more my thing, but also the children will be a lot younger than the ones I want to write for. I’m interested in writing books that children can read by themselves, without adult assistance (if they choose. Of course I love reading aloud as well!). But everything is good experience, right!?

—

Last spring I did a Golden Egg Academy 12-week course, which was run by editors who were associated with the publisher Chicken House, which focused on creating stories for children. It was a kind of creative writing course, but more a real industry look at what editors are looking for in a children’s book. After this course, I joined the Golden Egg Academy Club, which is basically paying to be part of a Facebook group of writers, with weekly online events, including Q&As with editors, publishers and interviews with authors, and also access to a backlist of these recorded talks on the website. I try to watch something every month, a lot because I’m paying for it! but also because I know I have to override that snotty voice in my head that wants to reject advice. If I want to learn about the industry I have to listen.

The Golden Egg Club bank of previous talks was where I saw a talk from an editor at David Fickling Books. This was last year, and I didn’t learn about the Search For A Storyteller competition until this month when it opened. It seems too good to be true, so for now I’ll focus on my other life experiences. Until I’m going, I’m listening and getting ready. On your marks, get set…
.
.
.
(Featured Image is one of Woonyoung Jung’s Dino Sports drawings from 2016)