A huge congratulations for author and Writing Barn success story Lynn Street! She has signed with agent Stephanie Fretwell-Hill of Red Fox Literary!
Lynn is on her third Write. Submit. Support (WSS) group, and has attended Courage to Create (CTC) seminars with WB founder Bethany Hegedus. Here, she was able to expand her knowledge of the marketplace through the Ask an Agent/Editor webinars. Lynn is thankful for all that she has learned from attending Writing Barn Programming, and is very excited to begin working with Stephanie!
Writing for curious observers who want to explore the wonders of their world is Lynn’s passion, and now that she has signed with an agent, be on the lookout for some great work!
1. Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.) I signed with agent Stephanie Fretwell-Hill of Red Fox Literary. I’m excited to be working with her!
2. How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal? I began writing for children seven years ago, enrolling in classes at the Writing Barn, SCBWI, and Highlights. I am also a member of 12×12 Picture Book Challenge. I submitted work to agents and editors through conferences and webinars. It’s been a long process of getting to know my work and how to pitch it. A couple of times I had agent or editor interest and requests for rewrites. It’s hard when those opportunities don’t make it all the way through to representation or a contract, but that’s part of the process of finding a right fit for a story. Over the past year, I looked at what type of writing I wanted to do and where I wanted to be in the market, and I had the opportunity to connect with Stephanie.
3. How did the WB programming aid you in both the craft and business of picture book writing? I polished my agent submissions in Writing Barn courses and through critique groups, which I formed with Writing Barn peers. I’ve also worked with Bethany Hegedus one-on-one in the past.
My writing background is in literary writing for adults. The Writing Barn helped me make the leap to children’s literature. I needed to understand how to fit a story into a 32-page layout, leave room for an illustrator, identify a hook, write a pitch and cover letter, and read submission guidelines. I focused on craft in nonfiction courses with Nancy Churnin, Rob Sanders, Heather Montgomery, Anika Denise, and Candace Fleming. Jessixa Bagley, Diane White, and Hannah Barnaby were excellent instructors for fiction. I attended two Writing Barn Intensive weekends, and I’m on my third Write Submit Support group. I expanded my knowledge of the marketplace through the Ask an Agent/Editor webinars through Courage to Create.
4. How did the atmosphere of The Writing Barn aid you in achieving this goal? The virtual set up of the Writing Barn classes on Zoom makes me feel a part of the group—and I’ve made friends from all over the country and world. The instructors are knowledgeable, and the other writers are engaged and supportive. In person, the property is tranquil and a welcome creative retreat from daily activities (with great local food!). The Courage to Create Community gives me a framework to hold myself accountable for my writing goals and a chance to support other authors.
5. What is a takeaway you will carry with you far beyond this good news as you continue to build and develop your career? I’ve learned that the effort I put into my craft pays off and moves me forward even when it feels like I’m not progressing as quickly as I’d like to. This industry takes time to understand, and responses to submissions vary widely—days or months. Another takeaway is the importance of revision and seeking out multiple critique partners. It’s a challenge to take broad science concepts and get the essence down for a young audience. And I’m learning to hold onto a sense of wonder and let it drive my work.
6. Any advice you have for writers/creatives having trouble staying the course in pursuing their goals? A couple of things keep me going when I hit rough spots. One is reaching out and interacting with the larger writing community to put my challenges in context. The Writing Barn Intensives and classes played a big part in building my network of peers. A second key thing I’d recommend is to experiment—write different genres or try projects for a new age group. The excitement of learning more skills always gives me a lift, and often I learn a technique that applies to a revision where I feel stuck. A third strategy I’ll mention is how much it helps to have support from mentors—or authors who have been in your shoes.
Lynn Street is a science-inspired author sharing lively STEAM stories with young readers. She loves concepts that cross disciplines, and personal narratives set against a sea of facts. Writing for curious observers who want to explore the wonders of their world is her passion.
Lynn earned an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and enjoys bringing lyrical language to life.
She lives outside of Atlanta. Follow her on Twitter @books_lynn and check out her website here.