Three area authors have achieved publishing success and all point to a local writing group as the reason why.
Cole Gibsen (real name: Cole Lanahan), of Collinsville; Nancy Stewart, of O'Fallon; and Jeff Weigel, of Belleville, are members of Book Ends, the Southern Illinois chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. The authors each have deals with mainstream publishers.
The reason for the number of success stories from this 25-member group that meets once a month at the Barnes and Noble in Fairview Heights?
It's about camaraderie, constructive criticism and trying to make a full-time living.
Kind, helping words
Group members take turns reading their works in progress at each meeting. Other members are willing to chime in.
"We all take the idea and run with it," Stewart said. "You need other eyes and they're kind and supportive."
Gibsen had bad experiences with other writers' groups, saying some people only wanted to be harsh. She knows to listen to this group. For example, they may tell her the plot is good, but as Gibsen noted, the writers wanted "more selling instead of telling."
What does that mean?
"Don't tell us the character is scared," said Gibsen, 31. "Show us. Tell us about trembling fingers or the quickened pulse."
Such support is needed, even for published illustrators and writers. Weigel illustrated The New York Times Book List best sellers, "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies: A Book of Zombie Christmas Carols," and its follow-up "Every Zombie Eats Somebody Sometime: A Book of Zombie Love Songs." The New York Public Library System placed Weigel's most recent graphic novel ("Thunder From the Sea") on its 2010 list of 100 Children's Books. However, he still seeks help from his fellow Book Ends members.
"It's hard to work in a vacuum," said Weigel, 52. "This gives me a chance to try material on people who know the craft."
Rejection can be fun
Each of the three successful authors have numerous rejection letters from publishing houses.
"There's no writer who has published a book who doesn't have 10 times more in rejection letters," Weigel said. "Actually, 10 to 1 is probably a low ratio."
That's why the writing group decided last year to have a contest on who could receive the most rejection letters.
"I was right up there," Stewart said.
To show how well the authors take rejection, none of the three could recall who won.
Rejection comes less often, however, to members of the national group, said Sherry Randle, of O'Fallon, who founded Book Ends in 2000.
"Publishers and editors understand if a person is a member of SCBWI, they understand the art of writing and understand they have to do research to submit it to the right person," Randle said.
To be successful, authors have to get their name out in public. Gibsen spoke yesterday to members of the Missouri Writers Guild at Chesterfield Arts in Chesterfield, Mo. Stewart, who once taught at McKendree University, is looking forward to the Illinois Readers Council Conference March 17-19 in Springfield. She is one of the presenters who will appear before more than 3,500 teachers, librarians, authors and agents. Weigel will appear March 18-20 at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo with Michael P. Spradlin, author of the best-selling zombie books Weigel illustrated.
Contact reporter Ken West at 618-344-0264, ext. 101
