Success Story Spotlight with Candy Wellins

Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, award grant, publication, etc)  

I sold a manuscript! My debut picture book GEORGE & STELLA will be published by Page Street Kids in 2020

How did studying/retreating at The Writing Barn support you in achieving this goal? What workshop/intensives/or classes have you taken with us?

The Writing Barn was so integral to my success!  Almost exactly three years ago, I decided to quit dreaming about being a children’s author and finally do the work necessary to becoming one.  I was on my laptop looking for resources for getting started in the field when I came to a site that mentioned The Writing Barn.  I immediately checked out The Writing Barn’s website and saw that a Picture Book I session was beginning in just two weeks.  I felt like the stars were aligned and it was my time to make my dream a reality.  I enrolled that night.  In PB I, I studied under Bethany Hedgedus and Carmen Oliver who were fabulous mentor teachers.  And the other students in the class became lifelong friends as well.  In fact, my critique group is made up of members of that class.  After PB I, I took PB II, PB Biographies and MG novels as well as several one-day seminars and the PB Biography retreat last September.  Every Writing Barn class brings new insights, new friends and a renewed passion for my own work.  

How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal?  

I’ve always wanted to be an author.  I’ve been writing all my life, but I didn’t get serious about it until three years ago.

What fears/hopes did you have before attending the WB class, intensive/or working with Bethany privately?  

Before I took PB I, I had no idea what to expect.  I had a notebook filled with story ideas, but had never even attempted a manuscript.  I worried about being able to produce a single story.  Then once I had a story, I worried about sharing it with others.  Luckily, The Writing Barn is a very welcoming environment.  The teachers are helpful and kind. Critiques seem scary, but once you realize that you have a community of people supporting you in making your work stronger, you learn to embrace them.  

How did the atmosphere of The Writing Barn aid you in achieving this goal?  

The Writing Barn is always such a positive place to be.  When you go, you are surrounded by people who are passionate about writing and storytelling.  The enthusiasm is contagious.  I always leave feeling reinvented.  Plus the actual location is so lovely—quiet and surrounded by trees.  I have three kids under 9 so for me it’s a great place to get the work done without interruptions.  

Have you made friendships/colleagues as well? How has that supported you?  

I leave every class with new friends.  The people I met in my very first class, PB I became the core of my critique group and we still meet regularly to share stories, teachings and successes.  My critique group saw the very first draft of GEORGE & STELLA in the fall of 2016 and their feedback helped me develop it into the book it is today.  

Why do you think attending workshops/classes is important to writers at all stages of their career?

Writers tend to be solitary people, but it’s being amongst others where we find our own stories.  Classes help us think about topics in new ways, explore trends in the industry and get feedback on our own work.  And all of that is integral to finding success in this field.  

What is a takeaway you will carry with you far beyond this good news as you continue to build an develop your career?

Landing a publishing deal is amazing and I’m so lucky to be able to celebrate it with so many people I’ve met through the Writing Barn.  However, I’m most grateful for these connections when I’m not succeeding.  Because as great as a book deal is, getting there can be super hard and dejecting.  I’ve had my fair share of rejections (and not all of them nice—though nice rejections aren’t any fun either) and those are the times I’ve turned to my writing community for support.  Knowing that I’m not alone, hearing success stories, feeling inspired to keep writing, that’s what got me to where I am today.  That, and the fact, that I never stopped writing!

Any advice you have for writers/creatives having trouble staying the course in pursuing their goals?

Go after your dreams, no matter how outlandish they may seem.  Put in the hard work, and in the words of Winston Churchill, “never, never, never give up.”

More about Candy Wellins:

Candy Wellins is a lifelong writer and book lover. A former elementary school teacher, Candy has a BA in journalism and an M.Ed. in literacy education. She’s now a full-time mom to three wonderful children who help keep her up-to-date and immersed in current kid’s literature. When she’s not reading, writing or mothering, Candy loves running, traveling and naps! Her debut picture book GEORGE & STELLA (Page Street Kids) comes out in 2020.

You can follow her at www.facebook.com/candywellins, on Instagram @candywellins and on twitter @candy_wellins