There’s this book I wrote a while back, something I started in 2001 and officially set aside two years ago. It’s called CAN’T BREAK US and is loosely based on my mother’s girlhood club. The manuscript is something I love to pieces, but after years and years of work just wasn’t coming together. It was my second attempt at a novel, the one that served its purpose in teaching me to write (of course, I still have a lot to learn). I figured we’d reached our end together (the manuscript and I. Book are friends, you know).
Last summer, author/editor/teacher Mike Winchell asked if I might be interested in contributing two pieces of writing — one non-fiction, one fiction — for an anthology proposal. The idea was to show students how authors can take ideas from real life and turn them into a story. My mind went immediately to CAN’T BREAK US, which initially grew from the stories my mother told me in my childhood. Using my author’s note as a starting place, I created my non-fiction piece. Then I pulled out a pivotal chapter, re-wrote it as verse, and sent it in.
In March the anthology sold to Penguin in a two-book deal:
“BEEN THERE, DONE THAT [is] a thematic anthology series with a kid-friendly Common Core tie in, in which a who’s who of award-winning and bestselling MG/YA authors will share a nonfiction narrative, and then write a related short story in order to show the “from-life-to-page” process of taking real-life experiences and transforming them into works of fiction.”
My stories will be a part of the first volume, FAMILY, FRIENDS, ENEMIES AND FRENEMIES, tentatively set to release winter 2016.
It’s easy for me to say no effort is wasted when a scrapped manuscript is recycled into something salable, but I firmly believe this is true for all writing, whether it reaches publication or not. Every attempt at creating informs our later efforts. Word by word (and Bird by Bird) we make our way.
I’m honored a portion of this manuscript will live again in an entirely different form. I’m thrilled to be included alongside so many talented people.
Thanks for this good post, Caroline. I needed to hear this today!
So excited for this next writing step for you, Michele.
This post is so timely, as I just, last night, re-looked at a novel that never came together and found a small piece of it to rework into a short story. It’s so true that no effort is wasted. I’m glad you found a way to save a story you love. And congrats on the anthology!
Love this, Melissa! Even if specific stories aren’t used again, sometimes we get to mine old research, scenes, or even emotional connection for something in the future.
And thanks. I’m really happy about this book — what it will mean for classrooms and personally what it means for me.
Congrats on the publication! I think the idea about your mother’s club sounds really interesting, and I love historical fiction.
This post is a great reminder.
Oh, Sarah. The stories I have.
“Every attempt at creating informs our later efforts.” Love this and something I needed to hear today! 😀 Congrats again!
Thank you, friend! xo
Congratulations, Caroline! I’m sure it must have been very satisfying to see part of a manuscript you loved make it into print. Nice post, and nice reminder that nothing is ever wasted.
Nothing is wasted indeed. Everything is a learning experience and builds on what we already know.