Well, I did “finish” that picture book yesterday and sent it off to the editor. Now I wait. But I’m guessing I won’t have to wait too long…this editor asked me about this manuscript at least three times, so she truly was waiting for it.
I like it when editors suggest I write a certain kind of book for them. I know some people WOULDN’T like that…a lot of people prefer to write what they feel like writing. I generally “feel like” writing something I know somebody wants to read! Of course, they’re not usually suggesting topics I have no interest in…I WOULDN’T write it if I wasn’t interested in it. But that’s another reason I like it when editors come to me with project ideas…it makes me feel like they 1) know me well enough to know what to suggest, and 2) want to keep working with me.
But I think I feel a little more pressure with a requested manuscript because I really want to get it right. I want the editor/publisher to be happy. And I want them to keep suggesting projects to me. Fortunately, I work pretty well under pressure.
This is the fourth time this particular publisher has suggested a project…they took two of the last three, so we’ll see what happens this time around.
Good luck! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Thanks! BTW, I enjoyed your pictures from the SCBWI National conference. I haven’t been to one of those in quite a few years now (too expensive/difficult to get there from Iowa), but this year’s looked like a good one!