Acceptances Galore!

Posted on By csoundar

When I got the email today from my editor at Karadi Tales with the contract – I felt elated, accomplished. It felt good. But I also wondered about why this year? None of the books I placed this year were written earlier. None were revised year after year like the story of spider I’m trying to place for years.

So what was the magic all about?

Firstly, I think I studied each of these publishers closely. I didn’t have access to their books in the UK as two are Indian publishers and the other is from US. But I read their guidelines, went through their catalogue, asked them questions about what they are expecting to see.

Then the second most important thing I did was pick the story that fits the audience – I knew the target audience of the publisher. I knew what stories I wanted to write. I religiously incorporated features the editors would like.

For example, all the 4 topics I wrote about – a clever camel, a flying umbrella, a cumulative trip, a market trip – were topics close to my heart. I like journey stories, I like stories where the protagonist meets lots of interesting characters on the way. I like clever tales, with a funny ending.

Once I wrote and revised many times, I incorporated some of the things the editor might like. For example, Pratham Books were going to translate the book into many languages. So I chose the language carefully. Nothing complex. I also knew they wanted a cheerful character. They absolutely loved it and sent an acceptance ahead of their review calendar.

For Farmer Falgu’s first book with Karadi Tales, I wanted to bring out the music elements. Not in the first few drafts – but I got an opportunity to edit. The editor wanted changes and gave me some overall feedback. But when I rewrote it, I also incorporated the music elements. I did some overt rhymes and rhythms. Because the publisher is primarily an audio producer, I knew the book stood a chance with those elements.

I loved the character I wrote for Karadi Tales. Farmer Falgu stuck in my head and wanted to go on a trip again. This time instead of sending  him on a mission, I sent him to the market. But it turned out to be an eventful trip and Farmer Falgu conquers his problems at the end and comes out succesful.

Again I got great feedback, but some edits as well. And I loved the edits the editor had made. I understood more of what they want and how they liked some of the words, structures etc.

So, after I sold my first picture book in 2006, I’ve had 1 with GAP (As I Watch) since then and then a few e-books. But this year has been a bumper crop. Acceptance parade! And I think that’s because I’ve matured as a writer. I am able to acknowledge my strengths and weakness and play on the strengths more.

This is nowhere the end of the story. It has just begun. I want to place some picture books in the UK and some chapter books too. Have you read “A Dollop of Ghee and a Pot of Wisdom?” I want the next book now! This came out in 2009 and I want a few more to be published here.

If I wish for it loud enough, work for it hard enough, I’m sure that too will come!

 

What Am I Missing?

Posted on By csoundar

As the end of the year approaches, I thought things would slow down. But it always picks up pace until Christmas eve and then it slows down to a halt between Christmas and New Year.

November has turned out to be one of the busiest months – last year this time I had to move flats, plan a 3-week holiday in Sri Lanka and handle the chaos at work and I thought nothing can beat that.

But this year November so far has been a mad rush – like caught inside a permanent carnival, pushed and jostled by so many people and things, getting lost in the crowd, the noise, the carousel music and the wafts of smells from food-stalls.

I’m doing a course in Faber with Andy Stanton. Then I’m also doing PiBoIdMo and so far I haven’t missed a day. I’m in two critique groups, although I’m not doing enough on one of them. I’m working on a picture book and a Middle-grade novel at the same time. In  between came illness, Diwali – the biggest festival for Indians and work. Work pays the bills – I give it full attention during 9 and 7 every day. Sleep and food has taken a token role and I do it just in case I need them. And I’m going to the SCBWI Winchester Conference and I have to prepare for the critique night and the pitch competition etc etc etc. To top that I’ve taken the time to go to museums, art galleries and movies with my boyfriend.

For a week I was proud of myself – that I was living a full life. Doing so many things lest life should go past me, sitting by myself. It has been perhaps the most social of years for me, being in a relationship and doing thing together.

And then last night I suddenly realised – I’m missing thinking time. I used to sit in a park and do nothing. I used to wander around museums and vageuly noting down ideas. I’m missing silence – the quiet of just the trains going past, the sirens of South London.

And to be fair, I can find that time. I get up before dawn every day – I have two hours of nothing but city sounds. Saturdays, I can go to the Canada Water library and find a seat in the children’s section and just read. Or by the coot pond outside the library. Or perhaps go to the river, it is literally stone’s throw away.

I think I need to make that time for myself. Go jogging maybe, it might actually help fit into my clothes so I don’t have to go clothes shopping. Save me some time there. I need to make time for recharging, for thinking, for marinating my plot, for developing the ideas I’ve jotted down in November.

I’m going to find that time from today – even if it is just 10 minutes in a day. Find my quiet spot – no writing, just thinking. No gadgets, just me and the universe.

National Poetry Day – My Tribute to Poet Suratha

Posted on By csoundar

Today is National Poetry Day and the theme is STARS. Perhaps I was no different from a small child growing up in England. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was one of my first English poems – although I did grow up with folk songs and poems in Tamil.

We weren’t really taught poetry or taught to like it. I remember we memorized “I Remember” by Thomas Hood. Ironic. I don’t remember the lines – but I remember that I learnt the poem by heart at that time.

But my real love for poetry that has lasted so long and still makes me yearn for words, language and rhythm, came from a great poet in Tamil – Poet Suratha.

surathaHis real name I am told is Rajagopalan. I had never heard of him until I was in a Tamil Class that was too young for me. In India you had to learn a minimum of two languages other than English. So I studied Hindi at school and in a special course. But I also had to enroll for Tamil. I learnt Tamil at home, I was reading ever since I was four or five and the Tamil class was literally a way to pass the grade. I could have taken French – but then I had to study and learn. So I decided school was hard already, at least in Tamil, I can pass without trying.

In one such class, where kids who couldn’t read Tamil were struggling to read, they discussed a poem by Poet Suratha. The teacher said Suratha is a famous poet, he wrote for adults and kids. He wrote lyrics for pop songs too. And he lived not far from the school.

I loved the poem – although I can’t remember which one was it now. I loved the rhyme in  it and the usage of words. I wanted to write just like him. So after school, without telling anyone, I went looking for his house. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say to him when I found him. But I wanted to see the person who had written the poem.

I found the house eventually and knocked on the door. Ignorance and Brute Force,  I reckon. A lady opened the door and said the poet was inside, would I like to come in. Wow! They didn’t turn me away. He was there in a chair in the living room. The room was dark. He was silhouetted against the light from the backyard.

I blurted out that I read his poem in class and I loved it and I want to write like him.  He acknowledged me. He asked me to show the poem and he said there is so much more to read. And then I should write.

I was inspired beyond imagination. The lady was not amused that a kid was visiting her famous husband. They didn’t live in a big house. I guess poets in ant age and any country didn’t make a lot of money.

I wrote every day. I filled a notebook full of Tamil poems. I still have them. My Tamil teacher was impressed. She read it and critiqued it and there I was the first poet in my family.

I am grateful to that man who didn’t turn away a shy, gawky insecure teenager who turned up at his doorstep. I am grateful that I attended the simple Tamil class and got to read his poem.

Here is to poetry day. Reach for the stars.

My Resolution

Posted on By csoundar

Inspired by this post on “Notes from the Slushpile”, here is my resolution on writing.

I have decided to write

 

I have decided to write,

In spite of the

Impending flight,

The family fight,

And the nasty dog-bite.

 

I have decided to create,

Despite the

New first date,

The Sunday fete,

And the lack of a due date.

 

I have decided to write

Even though

There will be rewrites,

Many long late nights,

And rejections outright.

 

I have decided to write

Because I am a writer.

This Year’s Picture Books – The Second One – The Clever Camel

Posted on By csoundar

Here is the story of the second book. Couple of years ago, I asked a friend to give me a writing prompt. He said – Camel, folktale.

Camel and a folktale – that meant I have to retell a camel story. So I scoured around for a camel story. Predictably camels are not part of the Panchatantra  and I found many from the middle-east. I wrote a retelling of a camel story as a writing exercise.

I met some writers a few years ago in a writing workshop in Oregon. We kept in touch and we still do. One of them recommended a small publisher Guardian Angel Publishing. They produce beautiful books with diverse themes as a Print on Demand publisher. The book gets sold in Amazon. I did two books with them – an e-book and then a POD.

The e-book was published under their Littlest Angel series – Chasing a Pot of Gold. 

Then I placed a creative non-fiction – As I Watch – the story of a butterfly. Samantha Bell illustrated it and it is sold on Amazon. 

Earlier this summer, I decided to look up all the writing practice I had done to salvage some stories that had potential. I opened the camel story. I thought that would be great for GuardianAngel Publishing. So I sent a draft to the editor who promptly replied. She wanted some revisions on the scenes. I cut down some more words, added a few more scenes and there the story was accepted the next day. How often do you get to do that?

The Clever Camel is now contracted. I am expecting it to be out next year too. Next year will be a busy year for new books, I think. But I am not complaining.

A red umbrella, followed by a clever camel. It is not often that I get two acceptances within the first 6 months of the year.