My First Round of Edits

Newsletter #17

Day One of My New Job

You write and revise and research and work for so long to get an agent. Lots of waiting. Lots of rejections. An ask for more work. The call. The offer. The contract. And then, the edits.

It’s a little surreal receiving your first round of edits. Because it’s like finally having a real job, one you’ve dreamed about for years. And this is your first assignment. A test to see if you can hack it. Do you have what it takes to get that manuscript into tip top shape? Will you be able to complete the changes in a reasonable amount of time? The ball is in your court to do your thing and bounce it back to your agent. For yet another round.

I think the excitement stems from the possibilities. Could this story be my debut picture book? I put out into the universe the hopes of a quick sale to a top publishing house with an amazing editor. Shoot for the stars!

But I pause before opening the document. To hold onto this moment. To remember my path—people I’ve met, friendships I’ve made, craft lessons I’ve learned, conferences I’ve attended. All the knowledge and strategies I’ve implemented to get to this place. My new job.

It’s my first day of work, and I’m ready to start. Time to open that document now. Wish me luck!

Do you remember your first day of something new? Bringing home a baby? Starting school? Driving a new car? How did you feel about it then, and now?

2019 Little, Brown and Company

Book Report: A BIG BED FOR LITTLE SNOW

Written and illustrated by Grace Lin

I’ve been a fan of Grace Lin’s books for a quarter of a century now, ever since her first picture book, THE UGLY VEGETABLES, published in 1999, shortly after I started teaching. I loved that there was Asian representation in a picture book. That story was included in one of our reading anthologies, so year after year, I read that book. Years later in 2019, when I saw A BIG BED FOR LITTLE SNOW, it was the first time I remember seeing a main character who looked like my son as a child in a picture book. And that hit home in a big way. Simply because of the representation in the illustrations. They struck me immediately because of Little Snow’s thick black straight hair with long bangs, thin limbs in tight two-piece pajamas, and especially the energetic, active character who jumped and flipped every moment he could. Yes, it’s a sweet bedtime story with a little bit of magic, but for me, what makes it special is the art that looks like my son. Thank you, Grace, for helping us feel seen and for being a pioneer in the picture book industry that opened the gates to so many more Asian American creators.

Themes: childhood, bedtime, play, imagination

Discussion Ideas:

1. What happened at the end of the story that Little Snow’s actions caused?

2. How do you think Mommy felt at the end of the story, and why would she feel that way?

Mentor Text For:

• adjectives

• past tense verbs (regular and irregular)

Link to Teacher Resources: Sewing Activity, Snow Globe, Snow Chart, Interactive Storytime

Buy the book!

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

This smart kid reminds me of my mischievous son when he was little like this, always scheming and trying to get away with something fun.

Weekly Progress Report

This is a section for “stuff I did” that relates to my writing career. I believe in celebrating all wins, big and small alike.

• browsed and read books at two different indie book stores (love that this counts as part of my ‘writing’ job)

• attended a meeting hosted by a local author to discuss Substack

• got my first affiliate commission from Bookshop.org—thank you to the person who bought THE BLUR from my Recommendations from A Perpetual Work in Progress page!

Sending you courage and grace in all you choose to do,

Susan