Caroline Starr Rose

picture book and middle-grade author

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Plow to the End of the Row

54 Comments

It was 2004. While driving to meet my critique group, I happened to catch an interview with Adrienne Young, a folksinger just starting out. She talked about her first album, inspired by some advice she’d gotten while struggling to make it as a musician:

If you want to do this with your life, stay focused and see this through. You’ve got to plow to the end of the row, girl.

That simple phrase – plow to the end of the row – was enough to push Adrienne to continue. It became the title of both her album and lead song.
Plow To The End Of The Row
I can’t quite explain what that interview meant to me, hearing an artist choose to create despite the struggle, to push against fear and all things sensible and make it “to the end of the row.” I’ve carried this image with me for six years now, the plant metaphor standing in for artistic endeavor, the plow the unglamorous slog needed to dig deep and make it to the end.

I recently stopped by NPR.org, wondering if I could find that interview, and there it was, waiting for me. Hearing Adrienne’s words a second time reminded me just how long my row has been, because guess what, friends? I’ve made it to the end. After almost twelve years of writing and hundreds of rejections, I’ve sold my first book. 

MAY B. will be published in fall 2011 by Tricycle Press (an imprint of Random House)!

Sometimes I find it funny that impatient ol’ me would choose a profession so bent on forcing me to wait. An almost foolish optimism has kept me working, trusting that the next editor or the next agent or the next story would be the one to launch my career. For years, I’d haunt the mailbox, waiting for something positive to come through. I’d ceremoniously send off manuscripts, chanting, “Don’t come back!” (entertaining postal workers, for sure). I have journals full of “this next editor is a perfect match!” and the like, managing somehow to keep on plowing in midst of little validation from the publishing world.

I’ve made it to the end of a very long, mostly lonely row, one that’s not very straight and loaded with stones. But the soil has gotten better as I’ve worked it, and each little sprout has been stronger than the last. The beauty of all this is I get to start again, take this seedling and transplant it, working alongside others who will nurture it into something better than I could ever create alone.

Thank you, friends, who have encouraged me along the way!

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Filed Under: encouragement, May B., publication, the writing life

Comments

  1. Jen says

    March 21, 2010 at 8:53 pm

    Congratulations!!!! It’s funny because I’m the same way, very impatient to be in such a profession, but it’s something to push through and like you one day I hope to be published! I’m glad that your hard work has paid off, and I’m sure it feels well worth it!

    Reply
  2. Natalie says

    March 21, 2010 at 8:56 pm

    YAY Caroline! I’ve been thinking about you all weekend and I’m so glad you can announce it. Do you mind if I link to you now and spread the word?

    Reply
  3. Anna says

    March 21, 2010 at 9:00 pm

    Wonderful news – congratulations!!! I can’t think of better advice than “plowing to the end of the row.” I’m glad you’ve finally made it there!

    Reply
  4. Caroline Starr Rose says

    March 21, 2010 at 9:16 pm

    Thank you so much! And Natalie, you kept me level headed when I was anything but. Thanks for that.

    Reply
  5. Stephanie Cheryl says

    March 21, 2010 at 9:23 pm

    Yay yay yay!!

    Congratulations, Caroline! I’m so glad that it’s all finally happening for you. :-)))

    Now, go celebrate!

    Reply
  6. Jemi Fraser says

    March 21, 2010 at 9:28 pm

    WAHOOOOOOO!!! This is so exciting! Congratulations Caroline – I’m so very proud of you for plowing through and seeing it to the end. I’ll do a happy dance up here in Canada for you 🙂

    Reply
  7. Karen Strong says

    March 21, 2010 at 9:52 pm

    CONGRATULATIONS!

    I always love it when writers hold fast and make their dreams a reality.

    Reply
  8. A.L. Sonnichsen says

    March 21, 2010 at 9:54 pm

    What a wonderful post! Congratulations on your book deal. That’s fantastic!! 🙂

    Reply
  9. beth says

    March 21, 2010 at 10:22 pm

    YAY!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  10. Valerie Geary says

    March 21, 2010 at 10:41 pm

    Yes!!! My favorite post of the week already!!! Congratulations again! Let the happy dancing ensue!

    Reply
  11. Melissa says

    March 21, 2010 at 11:40 pm

    Yay! That is wonderful news! I am truly so very happy for you:)

    Thanks for sharing this bit of wisdom. I will remember it when things get tough.

    Reply
  12. Piedmont Writer says

    March 21, 2010 at 11:42 pm

    Congratulations!!!! That is the most fantabulous news! You must be so proud. You give us all hope that we too, can realize the dream.

    Reply
  13. seeyouupside says

    March 22, 2010 at 12:42 am

    Yay Caroline, I know we have only been following each other for a short while now but I am SOO GLAD TO HEAR THIS NEWS!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!! You’re an elevensie (www.livejournal.com/users/2011debuts) CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

    And I love that quote. Do you mind if I take it to hang up on my wall?

    Reply
  14. Jody Hedlund says

    March 22, 2010 at 12:43 am

    Yay! How exciting, Caroline! Huge congratulations!!!! I’m so thrilled for you!

    Reply
  15. Tracy says

    March 22, 2010 at 12:45 am

    YAY – awesome news!!! I’m so excited for you!!

    Reply
  16. Jamie says

    March 22, 2010 at 1:14 am

    In tears while reading–a beautiful metaphor for what you’ve been doing all these years and I am beyond thrilled at the result.

    Carrie, you did it!!!

    J

    Reply
  17. Liesl says

    March 22, 2010 at 1:45 am

    YAAAAAAAAAAYYYY! Did you do the dance? I know there has to be a dance when this happens. Congratulations!

    So thrilled to be following your publishing journey.

    Reply
  18. kimberlyloomis says

    March 22, 2010 at 1:55 am

    Congratulations! I wish you many more successes in the coming years! Thank you also for the wonderful and inspiring post.

    Reply
  19. Weronika Janczuk says

    March 22, 2010 at 2:26 am

    CONGRATS. 🙂

    Reply
  20. Catherine Denton says

    March 22, 2010 at 3:33 am

    WOW!!! That’s so awesome. Seeing others make it across the publishing ocean is so inspiring. Thank you for persevering.

    Reply
  21. Anita Saxena says

    March 22, 2010 at 3:47 am

    Congratulations! So happy for you! Best of luck with the publishing process!

    Reply
  22. VR Barkowski says

    March 22, 2010 at 6:08 am

    Congratulations, Caroline!!! What fantastic, amazing, awesome news. Finally, a good reason for stacking adjectives. 🙂

    Sharing in your joy and wishing you much success!

    Reply
  23. Katie Ganshert says

    March 22, 2010 at 9:48 am

    Writing sure does force us to wait! It’s a good thing I love this as much as I do, otherwise I’d go crazy. 🙂

    Lovely post today, CAroline.

    Reply
  24. Vonna says

    March 22, 2010 at 11:28 am

    Such wonderful news, Caroline! Our whole writing community is happy for you!

    Reply
  25. Connie says

    March 22, 2010 at 11:45 am

    Congratulations!

    Reply
  26. Loretta Nyhan says

    March 22, 2010 at 1:32 pm

    Congrats, Caroline! Super happy for you!

    Reply
  27. Crystal says

    March 22, 2010 at 2:17 pm

    CONGRATULATIONS, Caroline! That’s wonderful news! You must be ecstatic! It’s been a long journey and now a new one is just beginning . . . how exciting! And thanks so much for passing on that bit of wisdom . . . I’m writing that down!

    Reply
  28. laurapauling says

    March 22, 2010 at 3:39 pm

    Woo hoo! That’s awesome!!! I hope you’re doing a happy dance and celebrating!!!!

    Reply
  29. Tere Kirkland says

    March 22, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    Wonderful! I’m so happy for you. It’s been a long row, er, road, but you’ve made it to the end!

    Congrats!

    Reply
  30. CKHB says

    March 22, 2010 at 4:41 pm

    WooooooooT!!!!! CONGRATS!

    Reply
  31. Elle Strauss says

    March 22, 2010 at 4:59 pm

    That is so cool! Congrats, you must be so stoked! Love that song lyric, plow to the end of the row–I too, am impatient and wonder why I chose to do something that requires so much waiting. These are the rewards–a book! Awesome. I look forward to hearing more about May B.

    Reply
  32. Jess says

    March 22, 2010 at 5:22 pm

    Congratulations!

    Reply
  33. David J. West says

    March 22, 2010 at 5:22 pm

    Excellent Caroline, congratualtions.

    Reply
  34. Lisa and Laura says

    March 22, 2010 at 6:22 pm

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!! We are so excited for you Caroline!!! And SO happy that you’ll be a fellow Elevensie! 2011 is going to kick some serious butt!

    Reply
  35. Rachael Levy says

    March 22, 2010 at 6:37 pm

    Congratulations. Your success is my inspiration.

    Reply
  36. T. Anne says

    March 22, 2010 at 7:18 pm

    Huge congratulations! I’m thrilled for you! Doing the happy dance!!!! I love seeing my fellow bloggers reach their goals. Glad you plowed till the end of the row. =)

    Reply
  37. Scathing Reviewer says

    March 22, 2010 at 7:41 pm

    congrats and good for you!

    Reply
  38. TerryLynnJohnson says

    March 22, 2010 at 8:17 pm

    OH WOW!!! I’m so pumped for you!! You took the leap of faith and it paid off (I knew it was just a matter of time anyway)
    I can’t wait to read MayB!
    And so sneaky how you slipped in that little gem of news casually into your post! Way to go! I’ll be blogging about this soon!
    and good job joining elevensies! I’d join, but I don’t think my publisher is on the right list for it.

    Reply
  39. kathrynjankowski says

    March 22, 2010 at 8:20 pm

    Congratulations on persevering until you succeeded!

    Reply
  40. Sarah says

    March 22, 2010 at 11:02 pm

    SO excited for you, Caroline! Congrats! So many amazing debuts coming out in 2011. I can’t wait!

    Reply
  41. MeganRebekah says

    March 22, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    Congratulations!!!!!
    I definitely want to hear more about the details of what happened, how it felt, and how you’ve since celebrated 🙂

    Reply
  42. Jessie Oliveros says

    March 23, 2010 at 12:43 am

    Congratulations! This is so exciting. It’s always encouraging to hear news like this. You worked for twelve years, and never gave up! I am so impressed. You deserve the success!

    Reply
  43. Jade says

    March 23, 2010 at 7:12 am

    This is a bit late (I was away from the blogosphere on the weekend), but…Ahhhh! Congrats! I’m so excited for you.

    Also, your story gives me hope.

    Reply
  44. paulgreci says

    March 23, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    Congrats to you!!

    Reply
  45. Stephanie Thornton says

    March 23, 2010 at 6:12 pm

    Congratulations! I’m so excited for you!

    I hope you went out and celebrated after you heard the news!

    Reply
  46. annerallen says

    March 23, 2010 at 10:06 pm

    That is so awesome. It does happen!!!

    Reply
  47. Sam Van Eman says

    March 25, 2010 at 4:39 pm

    “twelve years of writing and hundreds of rejections”

    Simply amazing story of persistence. A big congratulations.

    Reply
  48. Lola Sharp says

    March 26, 2010 at 1:34 am

    Oh Caroline! WOOT!!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!

    I am so very happy for you, impressed by your dedication and perseverance, and… HAPPY FOR YOU!!

    I love the way you shared it with us, this post unfolded with such honesty and love and hope and beauty. Well written and sincere. Humble and graceful.
    This is my favorite post I’ve read in a very long time.

    Congratulations!
    Love,
    Lola

    Reply
  49. Lola Sharp says

    March 26, 2010 at 1:34 am

    Oh Caroline! WOOT!!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!

    I am so very happy for you, impressed by your dedication and perseverance, and… HAPPY FOR YOU!!

    I love the way you shared it with us, this post unfolded with such honesty and love and hope and beauty. Well written and sincere. Humble and graceful.
    This is my favorite post I’ve read in a very long time.

    Congratulations!
    Love,
    Lola

    Reply
  50. Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience says

    March 26, 2010 at 9:45 am

    I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am for you!

    As a farmer’s wife — I understand the sheer and literal beauty of “plow to the end of the row, girl.” ~tears~ And you did!

    Thank you, Lord! I dance with you!

    Every, every blessing….
    All’s grace,
    Ann

    Reply
  51. annkroeker says

    March 26, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    Like a farmer, may you now enjoy the fruits of your labor while you continue to plow…because as you observed, the soil may turn over easier, but the work never ends.

    Congratulations, faithful word-worker!

    Reply
  52. Ali says

    September 24, 2014 at 7:07 pm

    Keep on writing and chgiugng away!

    Reply

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