Monday, December 5, 2011

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