By Bonni Goldberg Do you ever feel overwhelmed as a kidlit writer? Perhaps the better question is, do you ever not feel overwhelmed? It’s not you. It’s the many moving parts to this creative pursuit: Let’s look at the list: Percolation Phase (everything you do before and during the writing of your first draft)
Revision Phase (everything you do from finishing the first draft until you publish)
Going Public Phase (everything you do to share your book with others)
Did I forget anything? If so, please add it in the comments. The point is that for every manuscript you write, you cycle through most or all of these activities. I wish I could offer you a one-size-fits-all method for creating balance between them. I also wish I had a single solution for enjoying (or not dreading) everything on the list. Even though that’s impossible, what I can tell you is that it is possible to do both. To start off, forget two things and remember two others:
![]() For more on balancing your writing life including, includes tips, writing exercises and perspectives to embrace your relationship with percolating ideas, revising your manuscripts and going public (publishing), check out my newest writing book, The Write Balance. Feeling balance frees up your creativity, focus and resilience. ![]() GIVEAWAY Please enjoy this free, short ebook full of honest talk: Balancing Writing & Marketing: 8 Authors Reveal Their Secrets (including our own Melissa Stoller!) BIO
Bonni Goldberg’s debut picture book, Dona Gracia Saved Worlds is forthcoming from Kar-Ben, Fall 2023. Bonni is an award-winning and bestselling author of numerous non-fiction books for adults and children. She is currently writing and publishing girl-powered historical fiction and about Jewish identity and about belonging in picture books and middle grade novels. Bonni believes everyone has something important to say and to do to help repair the world. Including you. She lives in Portland, Oregon, in the collective conversation of creative possibilities, and online at www.facebook.com/bonnigoldbergbooks www.twitter.com/bonnigoldberg
9 Comments
Bonni Goldberg
3/7/2022 08:01:00 am
I'm delighted to be here. Please feel free to ask me anything!
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3/7/2022 08:28:10 am
Great post, Bonni. I'm reading The Write Balance now. A few pages in and I can already see how valuable it is!
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Bonni Goldberg
3/7/2022 03:40:02 pm
Great question Traci! I think the answer is very individual and can also change over time. I'm currently in 3 critique groups. When I type that, it looks like a lot. But I don't feel overwhelmed by the the demands of giving feedback to the other members of my groups, because they're each small. And I value both the feedback and commradarie in each group. There've also been periods of my life when I could barely keep up with one group. And I'll never forget when I was desparate to find a group and I couldn't.I say trust your gut; you made the right choice!
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Traci Huahn
3/7/2022 12:45:45 pm
Wonderful post, Bonni! I especially love the "forget two things and remember two others" - such great perspectives to keep in mind. Just downloaded The Write Balance and can't wait to dig in for more of your valuable insights.
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Bonni Goldberg
3/8/2022 05:05:01 pm
Oh, writing and research! I'm from the school of too much is better than not enough. I research throughout the writing and revising process. I start with doing a lot of research up front and take notes. Once I've answered my main questions and a few I didn't start out with, Istart writing. This of course creates the need for further research.
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Anna
3/8/2022 01:27:13 pm
Great post! Thank you so much for sharing!
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Bonni Goldberg
3/8/2022 04:59:48 pm
I'm so glad you liked it!
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Andrea
3/8/2022 02:49:18 pm
Thank you for this great post. I look forward to checking out The Write Balance!
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Bonni Goldberg
3/8/2022 04:59:23 pm
Thank you! Please let me know if you have any questions.
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We are so excited to be mixing things up at CBA, beginning with some delicious additions to the Blogfish. Meet our awesome bloggers!!
Here's our lineup: 1st Mondays begin with awesome Aussie debut author and former student Amanda Lieber who will be focusing on Aussie kidlit. 2nd Mondays will feature super smart Melissa Stoller whose career is taking off with several new books. 3rd Mondays will feature our new blogger coming soon. 4th Mondays features new blogger, the fabulous Brentom Jackson, who has a beautiful approach to blogging. And 5th Mondays we'll be taking a break Archives
December 2023
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