Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc)
I am very happy to announce that I’ve signed with Peter Knapp of Park & Fine Literary and Media!
How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal?
I’ve been writing poetry for a long time. My sister is a youth librarian and occasionally she’d tell me that one my poems would make a great picture book. So I tried to transform one, and quickly realized that there’s much more to picture book writing than just a catchy poem! I enrolled in PB I with Carmen Oliver in January of 2018, followed by PB II with Jason Gallaher, and got hooked on WB classes. Then I started to write a story that just kept on going, but I knew I needed help with structure, so I enrolled in Middle Grade Foundations with Christina Soontornvat and signed up for the Mastering the Middle Grade Intensive with Lamar Giles and Phoebe Yeh. Later that fall, I enrolled in Carolyn Cohagan’s Novel Foundations II class, and finally felt like I had acquired enough skills to finish my story. I wrote the last chapter of my MG novel in February of this year, revised several times, and started querying agents in May. Now, I’m about to revise my manuscript again with the help of my new agent. Wish me luck with publication!
What fears/hopes did you have before working with Bethany privately? Or participating in WSS or a WB class?
I don’t have a background in creative writing, and I’d mostly hidden my poetry on my computer desktop, so sharing what I wrote was a bit daunting at first. But everyone is so nice and encouraging at the WB, so sharing became easier each time I ventured out of my comfort zone.
How did the WB programming aid you in both the craft and business of novel writing?
I’ve always been an avid reader, but my WB classes taught me to read more critically–there is so much that contributes to the satisfied feeling you have after reading a well-executed story.
Teachers and fellow students at the WB are such an important resource—I had never heard of SCBWI, Manuscript Wish List or Query Tracker. I didn’t know what a mentor text was, or a comp for my novel. I didn’t know how to write a query letter or make a novel pitch. I learned about all of these at the WB!
How did the atmosphere of The Writing Barn aid you in achieving this goal?
The Writing Barn is a creative haven. I was able to tap into a part of myself that hadn’t been expressed, while gaining some tools to embark on an exciting next chapter.
What is a takeaway you will carry with you far beyond this good news as you continue to build an develop your career?
It’s never too late to explore a different part of your creative self. It helps to surround yourself with other explorers, too.
Any advice you have for writers/creatives having trouble staying the course in pursuing their goals?
I try to read or write every day. When a story that I’m working on doesn’t flow, I write a poem. And if that doesn’t flow, I read something someone else has written for inspiration. Expressing the stories in our hearts takes patience and practice. Most of us don’t string words together beautifully overnight!
More about Jacquetta:
Jacquetta Nammar Feldman likes to write poetry and sweet stories that touch the heart. Jacquetta holds a B.S. in Advertising from the University of Texas and also completed the pre-med curriculum. She lives with her husband and three adorable dogs in Austin, TX.