Catalina Magnet High School, Tucson, AZ, Young Writers Conference

Hello Doggers,

I'd like to congratulate students and teachers at Catalina H.S. for an outstanding conference on Thursday! Conference-goers were respectful and inquisitive, asking pointed questions about my writing experience/advice during four separate work sessions.

I am confident that I was able to deliver an inspirational message about handling rejection in a writer's quest for publication. I shared with students two particular rejections I received from among dozens: a 'fortune cookie - sized' rejection from a New York agency and a rejection letter from an agent who would later accept me as a client.

I expressed to young writers that they should never accept the message that they are not good enough--not good enough to accomplish great things in whatever their field of achievement, whether it be playing piano, kicking a soccer ball, or writing the next highly successful YA novel. The key to success is persistence and a strong work ethic. Believe in your project - and write, write, write...like anything else, the more you do it the better you get!

Thanks,

Top Dog