The Debut Author Series: Alex English

@alexthepink

The Learning Curve - Insights from Debut Authors 

Nicky Schmidt 

For many the road to publication is long and fraught. For others, a publishing deal comes relatively easily. Those who are still trudging the path may find it hard to imagine what it’s like to be a debut author, and authors with a few books to their name may only dimly recall the original experience.

So what is it like? Does life change? Do dreams become reality and with a deal to your name does it all become plain sailing? And what is the process from slushpile to contract to published novel actually like? I asked debut author, Alex English, about her journey to publication. 

From the time you first started writing, how long did it take to get a publishing deal? 

I’d been writing for children for a long time, more than 10 years, but I only really started writing seriously (and sending my work out) once I started the Writing for Children course at CityLit in London. In the end I was very fortunate and it only took about 6 months from me starting to send my work out to getting a publishing deal. 



It is said that writers have to be persevering and have a tough skin – did you find you grew in endurance and perseverance? Did you ever think about giving up? What made you keep going? 

I didn’t just think about giving up, I did give up several times! But I always kept coming back to writing. I don’t know precisely what it was, but I couldn’t keep away. The writing community is what really has kept me going. Once I started a class and joined SCBWI I didn’t look back. The industry knowledge has also been invaluable – once I felt like I understood the parameters, I knew it was just a case of always improving my craft and persistence. I think a tough skin is especially important for picture book writers, as even once you’re published and have an agent you will still get a proportion of your work rejected. 



How did you feel when you first landed your deal? Did it feel like the world had changed? How long did the excitement last? 

I was SUPER excited when I got the phone call from Maverick. But the picture book production process is a long one, so it was several months before we got going on the illustrations and I saw anything concrete. I had a quick celebratory glass of bubbly and got on with the next manuscript. 



If you think about the amount of work you did on your story pre-deal, how much more work did you have to do once you’d landed your deal – did you realise the real work had only just begun and how surprised where you by that? 

Yuck said the Yak is a very short picture book text, so there was a little bit of editorial, but not a huge amount. However, there has been lots of promotional work – I now regularly go into schools, bookshops and festivals. I baked a yak-shaped cake for the book launch. My publisher even asked me to write accompanying song lyrics! I wasn’t really surprised, as by the time I’d signed my deal I had been to lots of SCBWI events and knew there was a lot for the author to do, but I don’t think I would have expected this before joining SCBWI. 



As the creator of your story, having always been in control of your characters and your plot, how did you find taking on board someone else’s comments and suggestions – was it like losing control and did you ever argue with your editor? 

The edits were fairly minor so we didn’t have any arguments. Picture books in particular are very collaborative so I think it’s important not to be too precious (unless it’s something that REALLY matters to you). My second book took a lot more editorial work to get into shape as it was longer and a rhyming text. 



Assuming you took the majority of suggestions on board, how do you feel it impacted on your story? 

All the edits made my book much better! Editors are fantastic. 



How have you found working with illustrators and cover designers? How much involvement have you had with the graphic content of your book (covers or illustrations)? 

I was fortunate in that Maverick did involve me in the selection of the illustrator (Emma Levey). But once the illustrator is chosen it’s really down to them to interpret the book as picture books are a collaboration between writer and illustrator. Emma’s work was just so perfect for the story and when I saw the final images I was absolutely thrilled. She made it better than I could ever have imagined it.



Do you think that having had your first book published, your writing life will be easier and your career will be on track? Do you think it will all be easier the second time round? 

It was actually harder the second time round, because I’d written a longer, rhyming text that needed much more in the way of edits. So far it’s been just as hard with every book. Sorry! 



Aside from the editing, what other aspects of being an author have you had to come to terms with? 

There’s a lot of performing to be done to promote a book, which doesn’t always come naturally to writers. Standing up in front of huge audiences of children was very nerve-wracking at first. I was very lucky to have author training via the National Literacy Trust, which helped with my nerves. 



What have been your biggest lessons since landing a deal? 

Keep writing. You’re only as good as your latest book! 



What one key piece of advice would you offer unpublished writers when working with an editor for the first time? 

They usually know their stuff, so don’t discount their advice before having a good think about it. 



Now that your first book is out – what next? 

My second picture book, Pirates Don’t Drive Diggers, came out in 2015. Yuck said the Yak has also been released as an Early Reader edition, which involved more work to adjust the text to a levelled standard. I’ve got a third picture book with Maverick, Mine Mine Mine said the Porcupine, in the pipeline. Everything else is top secret! 



@alexthepink
You can connect with and find out more about Alex in the following places: 
http://www.alexenglish.co.uk 
Twitter 
Facebook
Pinterest 
Amazon 







@NickySchmidt1
SCBWI-BI “member abroad”, Nicky Schmidt is an ex scriptwriter, copywriter, and marketing, brand and communications director who "retired" early to follow a dream. Although she still occasionally consults on marketing, communications and brand strategies, mostly she writes YA fiction (some of which leans towards New Adult) in the magical realism and supernatural genres. When not off in some other world, Nicky also writes freelance articles - mostly lifestyle and travel - for which she does her own photography. Her work has been published in several South African magazines and newspapers. As well as being a regular feature writer for Words & Pictures, Nicky also runs the SCBWI-BI YA e-critique group. Nicky lives in Cape Town with her husband and two rescue Golden Retrievers.

2 comments:

  1. Great post. Love the title of your new book! And good luck with the secret projects...

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