Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have a guest post by author Shirin Shamsi. I’m thrilled to let her take over Critter Lit this week and hope to include more guest posts by other writers and illustrators in the future.
Today, Shirin shares her journey to publication. We are all at different phases of our creative journey, but I find it encouraging to hear how other writers and illustrators have accomplished their goals. I hope this post inspires you as it did me.
If you are a kidlit writer or illustrator and you’d like to share your journey to publication— no matter the stage you’re at, please email me at lindsay@critterlit.com to share your story. I hope to hear from you!
So, without further ado, please welcome Shirin Shamsi to Critter Lit!
My journey to become a writer has been long and winding. It spans almost three decades. My debut novel was published last year, and I signed with an agent last month. Yes, it has taken that long to be published. But you know what, I would not change anything about my journey. Every stumbling block, every disappointment along this road has been a learning experience. I would not have wanted my book out sooner, because it would not be the book it was meant to be. I know there are writers out there whose journey to publication have been shorter. I am happy for them. It is wonderful to hear all the success stories. Everyone’s journey is different. But I am pretty certain that behind every success story are disappointments, failures, tears and heartbreak. Nothing worth achieving comes easy. For me, writing stories for children has been a dream for the longest time. I do not know how long my dream sat in the deepest recesses of my heart. I do know the day I voiced my dream aloud. Yes, I remember that day very well. I almost did not say it aloud. I am glad I did. We have to acknowledge our dreams and goals. It empowers us.
I recall the day I consciously decided I would become a children’s writer. It was an unspoken dream until that moment, but the day I voiced my dream is etched deep in my memory.
My children were ages 3, 4 and 7. I was a full-time stay at home mom. My husband had brought in the mail and I leafed through a magazine. There in the corner of a page was an advertisement for the Institute of Children’s Literature. I had seen it before but that day I looked at it with a heartfelt yearning. “You know, this is my dream . . . to become a children’s writer.” There. I had spoken it aloud for the first time.
I was not expecting a response.
My husband looked at me and seeing how earnest I was. He said simply, “Go for it. Send it off.” It was that simple. I took the first steps in my writer’s journey. That was almost three decades ago. Life happens and I focused on raising my children. I always kept my secret hopes and dreams. Sometimes I would take out my notebook and write a paragraph or two. The story’s scene was in my mind, I just had to get it down on paper.
So, I began my stories. I told them to my children. I would draw clumsy sketches and laminate them, so they were more like books.
Years passed, my children grew up and my dream was put on hold.
Yet, it kept whispering to me. It never left me; other priorities took precedence.
I am not a multitasker, so I focused on my children until my youngest went off to college. I joined SCBWI and made a commitment to myself. I began writing the story that had been in my mind for years.
Once it was on paper, it was easy to see the flaws, the loopholes in plot. I kept on writing. I joined a critique group in 2012. We met once a month. I kept on writing. I submitted to many publishers and then the rejections began pouring in.
At a conference I met a wonderful writer who generously shared her experiences. I wanted to know what more I could be doing. She told me about Julie Hedlund’s 12X12, Mira Reisberg’s Children’s Book Academy. Her advice was “take courses and immerse yourself” in the KidLit community. That is the best advice I have been given and always give the same when I meet a new writer. I took courses with CBW, Storyteller Academy, Lyrical Lab. I spent the next couple of years really immersed in learning, connecting, improving.
In 2017, I got my contract for LAILA AND THE SANDS OF TIME, (Clear Fork Publishing, 2019).
I have since become part of more critique groups and have reluctantly created a social media presence. I am still learning how to handle Instagram. Twitter and Facebook are easier, but I know that my writing has forced me to stretch myself and I feel that is a good thing.
I participated in DVPit in April, just to see how my pitches fare. I never expected to hear from seven agents. I submitted to agents and editors after their requests to see more of my work. Within twelve hours I heard back from Saba Sulaiman. We set up a phone conversation for the following day. After a nearly 90-minute conversation, I felt so comfortable with Saba that I knew immediately I would accept representation by her.
I feel so honored to be part of this community. I feel so grateful I can spend my time and energy writing for children- who are the most important people in the world. It is a privilege to serve stories to children. I never lose sight of the great responsibility I have as a writer, to write stories that are “windows and mirrors”; stories that reflect the minority experience so children like my own can see themselves in books; stories that are windows for some children, that will expand their horizons and instill empathy for others.
I am currently taking an illustration course as it is now my dream to write and illustrate my own stories. I feel it is always good to have a challenge and goals to work toward. It is a journey and I am thankful to be on this ride.
Huge thank you to Shirin for stopping by Critter Lit today and sharing your experiences with us all. We can’t wait to see what you write next. Congrats on all your success!
SHIRIN SHAMSI was born and raised in the U.K. and now resides in the US. Laila and The Sands of Time is her debut Middle-grade novel, published by Spork, an imprint of Clear Fork Publishing.
For more information about Shirin or her books, visit her online at www.shirinshamsi.wordpress.com or follow her on Twitter @shirinsbooks
To order a copy of Shirin’s debut middle grade novel, click here.