31 Comments
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Paulina Zawiska's avatar

This is so encouraging to read! Thank you so much for sharing!

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Narges Fayaz's avatar

Love your Advices thank you so much,I’m working on my portfolio and it was very helpful

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John Nez's avatar

Great story… I’m always hung up on the 2,000 mile trip from Seattle.

I keep thinking I should just get an air bnb and spend a week going around publishers with a portfolio.

Thanks for all the good tips!

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Jeremy Ray Ross's avatar

That's an amazing story, Debbie; so inspiring! I haven't been brave enough to attend an SCBWI portfolio showcase, but I think I might just finally jump right in.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi's avatar

Good luck with your own journey, Jeremy!

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Krister Eide Art's avatar

I love this, Debbie. Thanks for sharing!

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi's avatar

So happy you enjoyed my journey to publication story, Krister!

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RD's avatar

Debbie, you are so relevant and generous with your tips for authors/illustrators. I always enjoy your articles and take away valuable information that is easy to incorporate into one’s own practice. Thank you.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi's avatar

Thank you for the kid words, RD. I'm delighted to hear some of my posts are helpful!

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Laura Alderson's avatar

Debbie, I just finished reading this series after finding you on Twitter. I love how much and in what ways you give back to the kid lit community. Thanks for what you do!

P.S. I'm so glad you persisted, and it meant so much to me, precisely today, to read your story.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi's avatar

Aw....thank you so much for the incredibly kind words, Laura!

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The Razor-Sharp Truth's avatar

Very true. Stephen King writes convincingly about his rejections early in his career in his memoir, "On Writing." This is a universal experience for we writers. Part of the deal. You have to fail a lot, I mean a LOT, before getting to that first book. Although now with Substack and self-publishing trad pub is looking less and less desireable to many writers, which I say is fair.

The Razor-Sharp Truth (A Quirky Advice Column)

https://therazorsharptruth.substack.com/

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi's avatar

I loved "On Writing" as well....and I agree completely about rejections/failure being part of the business. Not just before publication, but after as well!

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Eleanor A. Peterson's avatar

Thanks for sharing your publishing quest Debbie. Your words encourage me to keep going no matter what happens. :)

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi's avatar

Yay, Eleanor, good for you! And thank you for the kind words.

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Eliza Wheeler's avatar

I love hearing this story of yours always Debbie, AND, love being part of the awesome journey!!

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi's avatar

SO happy you're starting post on Substack, Eliza. And one of the many reasons I'll always be grateful to the SCBWI is because that's how we first met each other! Hoping our paths cross in person again someday. 🤞🏼

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Eliza Wheeler's avatar

💛 Oh you KNOW it will!!

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Bill Adler's avatar

This is so very true: "Find people who believe in you and support you. Cherish them and be grateful."

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi's avatar

I remind myself of this all the time, especially on low days. So grateful.

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Elayne Crain's avatar

Love this so much. Thank you for sharing your journey, Debbie! So fascinating to see all ways people find their way to this important industry.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi's avatar

Yes, there are SO many different paths. Doors open, doors close. I try to focus on appreciating the journey along the way.

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Amy Makechnie's avatar

Love all the advice - very inspiring and a good reminder about the power of persistence!

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi's avatar

Thank you, Amy! And as I ramp up for sending out my middle grade (latest in many attempts), I'm reminding myself of the power of persistence. ❤️

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Amy Makechnie's avatar

Good luck - let me know if I can ever do anything to help! (my editor works closely with Justin Chanda :)

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi's avatar

Oooh! Who's your editor? (if you'd rather not answer publicly, no worries)

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Amy Makechnie's avatar

Alexa Pastor and she’s really good!

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Joanne's avatar

I'm working on my own creative pursuits and this was so so inspiring to read. Thank you!

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi's avatar

Good luck with your own creative pursuits, Joanne!

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Arthur Slade's avatar

Love reading this! I had assumed you just floated into the illustration world using a magical umbrella. But clearly it takes work!

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi's avatar

"Magical umbrella"..... 😂

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