This is my seventh year in 12×12 and by the end of 2023 I’ll have eight books in the world (three of them picture books). I credit 12×12 as being crucial to my career so far and I’m so proud to be the featured member this month.
We’re now over a quarter of the way through the year. You may have several manuscript drafts, you may be revising earlier drafts, you may be polishing up manuscripts ready to query, or you might be launching a book that started as an idea years ago. Wherever you are on your 12×12 journey, I hope you find this post inspiring.
When I was thinking about the topic I wanted to write about, a This American Life podcast episode about dating called Math or Magic? popped up on my podcast feed. The title sparked the idea for this post so I listened to the episode despite the subject matter not being directly relevant to my life or picture books.
Side note: ideas really do come from everywhere so keep your idea receptors open at all times.
We’re looking for the perfect match for our work with an agent and editors. But how do you find them? Is it a matter of math or magic?
I would argue that it is both.
Let’s start with math. The first part of your picture book equation is ideas.
Kate Messner has an amazing blog post where she talks about how many ideas she has in a year, how many of those she writes down, how many become drafts, how many become submittable manuscripts, and finally the number of books that get published.
You need to have a large quantity of ideas to keep those picture book manuscripts coming.
I keep a notebook, take part in Storystorm (check out the extensive blog archive), make time for idea gathering, and I stay open to ideas everywhere.
Next you need drafts. Once you have a stack of ideas, evaluate which ones have potential, and turn them into drafts. I write anything from 5 to 12 drafts a year (depending on what contract deadlines I have) and some of those never leave my computer. But those that I think have promise move on the next part of the math equation: connections.
You may write or illustrate on your own but connections with other creators are vital. 12×12 is an instant community ready for you to find critique partners. My long-time critique partners Vicky Fang and Faith Kazmi are important constants in my personal picture book math equation.
So far we have ideas + drafts + connections.
What comes next?
Revision.
Take the draft that your critique group agrees has promise and revise it until it’s so polished you find yourself just tinkering with words here and there. Revision is a whole separate subject but here are some helpful resources.
ideas + drafts + connections + revisions = manuscripts. Now what?
Querying.
You won’t be published if you don’t submit anything. Research agents, write your queries, and send out your most polished work. Gather rejections (because you will get them, we all do even when we’ve been published). Some people aim to get 100 rejections because it shows they’re putting themselves out there. I’ve easily surpassed that multiple times if I add together every book that’s ever gone on submission and my querying before I was agented.
As you make your way through your picture book math equation you’re sharpening your craft, making connections, and starting to send your work out into the world.
It’s a numbers game. You total up the numbers, navigate the unknowns, and keep going to solve the equation.
(ideas + drafts + connections + revisions) x (querying) = rejections + book deals
So where does magic come into it? At every stage.
It’s the tingling feeling when an idea won’t let you go and you know you have to pursue it.
It’s the virtual sparks from your fingertips when your words are flowing.
It’s in conversations with critique partners that help you fix a problem in your manuscript.
And it’s in the flashes of inspiration while walking.
It’s in your manuscript landing in an agent’s inbox at just the right time.
And it’s when your story connects with the right editor.
Of course, the ultimate moment of magic is when a child reader hugs your book and calls it their favorite.
So gather your ideas, write your drafts, make connections, send out queries, and stay open to the magic at every stage of your journey. The math won’t add up if there isn’t any magic. But the magic won’t come if you’re not doing the work of looking for ideas, writing drafts, and making connections.
And remember creating something that didn’t exist before is magic. What we do is important and is helping to make the world a more magical place, one story at a time.
Share in the comments the moments where you felt the creative magic at work and how you harnessed it.
P.S I can’t talk about magic and creativity without shouting out Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I try to reread it every year (which reminds me that I’m overdue for my dose of Big Magic.) A favorite quote:
“Work with all your heart, because—I promise—if you show up for your work day after day after day after day, you just might get lucky enough some random morning to burst right into bloom.”
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Christine Evans is the author of three picture books, including DEAR MR. G illustrated by Gracey Zhang which came out this month and EVELYN THE ADVENTUROUS ENTOMOLOGIST illustrated by Yas Imamura. She’s also the author of The Wish Library chapter book series illustrated by Patrick Corrigan, the fifth book comes out later this year.
Christine has jumped out of a plane once, windsurfed once, and water skied once. She much prefers books and writing to adrenaline sports. She is British and has lived in California for over ten years with her husband and two daughters.
Find out more at https://www.pinwheelsandstories.com/
Christine is offering a signed copy of DEAR MR. G to one lucky 12 x 12 member at the April Check-In! Start planting the seeds of a new draft today!
12 x 12 may earn a commission from books purchased through the links in the post. Proceeds go to fund 12 x 12 diversity programming and scholarships.
113 Responses
Love this, Christine, especially the part about magic being in every stage of the process. But, you’re right, there’s also a bit of a numbers game at play here. Being a writer is rewarding and also hard, and there are no guarantees to getting published. If you don’t do the work, though, and if you don’t query, you are guaranteed to never get published.
I find a lot of my magic in conversation with my kids… They’ll say something that sparks an idea, then I’m off imagining the illustrations and how the story will unfold until I’m called back to reality.
Thank you for your post Christine! I like the challenge of querying at least 100 agents. It seems daunting, but I need the numbers to meet the magic 🙂
This post is truly an inspiration. It certainly was magic that you found that podcast. It was meant to be. I’ve had so many magical moments, I don’t know where to start. Any trip to NOLA for an SCBWI Conference is magical: the people, the place, the food… I could go on. I’m blessed to have been to several of them.
Receiving a picture of a child holding your book and the parent stating that they read it every night… that’s truly magical.
Critique partners that turn into life-long friends… yep, they’re magical.
Feedback/critiques – even though they may not be just what you want to hear/read… magical, because they make your story even stronger.
And lastly, seeing the look of pride on a family member’s face when you slice open the box and pull out the book on top… truly, the most magical feeling in the world.
Thank you so much for reminding us to do the work/math and to relish the magical moments of this business.
Great post, Christine! I often feel the magic during revisions when themes start to emerge. Also, working with a good critique partner is often magic as well.
P. S. I’m a big fan of Elizabeth Gilbert’s book as well. 🙂
Thank you for your inspiration. Your story put writing into a workable formula for me. I appreciate the added resources.
I couldn’t agree more with your assessment. The math is important–we need to do the work–but there is definitely magic involved in the process and in our successes, in every step along the way. Thank you for your inspirational post!
Christine, so proud of all your success and can’t wait to get my hands on Dear Mr. G!
This was an amazing post, Christine. Thank you! You have ignited inspiration with your formula and Elizabeth Gilbert quote. I need to dust off my copy and re-visit it. I appreciate your words and couldn’t agree more…the math is important but the magic is the icing on the cake.
Thanks, Christine. I feel the magic when finding that just-right word. I think I’m about due for a reread of Big Magic also.
Thank you, Christine. I love the magic I feel when I enter a world where I have never been before. This is my inspiration for writing and painting. I need to work on the math end of things. Thanks for the nudge.
I like the reminder that writing/creating is about math and magic. The magic is everywhere, the math takes time. Thank you for your post.
And to think I used to like math, lol. Sometimes we love particular manuscripts too much. Great post, Christine!
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Christine. Thus is just what I needed to get my submissions rolling again.
Math plus magic! The Writer’s formula to making it happen. Thank-you for this inspirational post!
Thanks for a great post and resources, Christine! I love your math and magic discussion. Good luck with your new book!
Oooh, I love this! As much as I enjoy the creative side of writing and illustrating (I do, I promise I do! I wouldn’t be here otherwise!) anything that can be boiled down to a formula, a checklist, a process is soothing and comforting. It feels achievable. The magic is critical, but the math props it up. Super inspiring, thank you Christine.
What a great post Christine. I love everything and you gave me hope. I love the math aspect and never looked at it from that prospective. Thank you for sharing and congratulations on your success.
Thank you for this great post. Math and Magic. I see where the math comes in, but I prefer the magic!!!! It’s more creative. OK, the teacher in me is arguing that problem solving is math and you need to be creative to problem solve. So you got me thinking and I’m inspired.
Love this! Thank you for the inspiration and congratulations!
What a great post!! I love the equation. Thanks for sharing and congrats on your success!!
Magic! I’ve always felt in my heart that writing was in and of itself ‘magic.’ Words on paper create worlds, characters, and stories, and show us insights into ourselves. I loved hearing how magic enters the writing equation. Thank you for the inspiration and confirmation. May the magic begin.
Thank you so much for all your insights and wisdom! It has helped me to keep going . I so agree it’s a heart issue! Have to not forget that. It’s easy to get lost !
I love this! Thanks for reminding me to read Big Magic again.
Christine, you are right with the magic and math in writing. Your ideas mirror my thoughts and seeing them in your words gives me credible evidence that you and others are great inspirations. Thanks for putting my thoughts into words.
Christine, thanks for this post! You’ve given us the perfect formula. It’s definitely a beautiful combination of magic and math! I especially love your comment that we are writing stories to make the world a more magical place. Congrats on Dear Mr. G.
Thanks for sharing, Christine!
Oh this was so encouraging and helpful to read, thank you!
Christine, I connected with a full heart on your honest, sincere post about the publishing process. I like the idea of counting my rejections as a way to validate my hard efforts to put my work out in the KidLit publishing world. I immediately sighed with good feelings. I’ve experienced the “magic” when my story shines so brightly that I tear. I’m so looking forward to finding my match with an agent or editors. And yes, throughout my four years as a 22x12er, I stay buoyed by Julie, Kelli and the amazingly supportive community. Thank you for encouraging us. Sending you energy and inspiration for your continued success…
Thank you Christine for your great post. The writing process from inspiration to hopefully publication can feel so overwhelming at times. Your equation reminds us to take it one step at a time, do the math and experience the magic along the way. Thank you for the added resources you included in your post.
Thank you for this post. It gives me hope. So far, I’m doing well with the numbers, but just need to put myself more into it. This might be the push I need.
Thanks! This was good to read this morning and I thank you for the link to Kate Messner’s blog as well.
I absolutely love this! PB writing and publishing is totally a blend of math and magic.
Thank you Christine – your advice really adds up. 🙂
I loved the “math and magic” theme here. It really is a matter of both math (write, write, write), and magic (inspiring writing, writing, writing). This was great! Thank you!
Thank you for your magical and encouraging post Christine, and also for the great resources. Congratulations on your books.
Great post, Christine! I never thought of math and writing quite that way before… but I agree that there is “magic” in every step of the way… some steps more than others. Revision for instance can rip the magic right out from under your story. I remember sending a manuscript, that I was in love with, to my critique group, only to have a few members offer revision ideas, which I did not agree with fully, but they were published and I was not, so I decided “why not.” I rewrote it and sent it off to them again, and again, and again… each time they wanted a different area revised. I suppose their ideas were valid ones… but the “magic” of the story was lost, which my gut told me would happen. Luckily with each revision of a story I write I open up a new Word document, cut and paste the old manuscript into it, date it, and then revise. This gives me a track record of the revision process for that particular manuscript… and if need be I can easily go back and reinsert bits of the older versions into the new one… which I did, and the “magic” was back. Since then my motto has been… always listen to your gut!
Thanks for the formula and the reminder that it takes work and magic to succeed. Like Allison above, I too often find inspiration when watching my children, or reading or singing to them (they like me to make up songs about whatever topic they choose). I have a folder labeled ‘idea boxes’ where I write down my ideas, then when I’m looking for something to write about, I can go there and pick one.
This is inspiring and motivating! Thank you for sharing the magic. 🙂
This is just what I needed to hear right now, and I love the way you’ve written it! Thanks, Christine!
Is it magic or is it what Quakers would call “a leading.” You are the second person this week to recommend the Elizabeth Gilbert book to me. I may need to buy it and read it.
Thanks Christine, for encouraging me in my pre-published writing journey. I love the idea of math and magic working together! When I was teaching, I often found inspiration from my students, which has stayed with me even though I’m now happily retired. I continue to find inspiration from my “fur babies”, nature, and reading. I look forward to the day when a child will ask their parent or teacher to read my book to them, again. That will be magical moment.
Gotta keep going. That’s the math I need, thanks.
Great reminder to keep those lists going and review them to see if the ideas are viable and which to pursue.
Congratulations on your new book!
Thank you for this great post, Christine! And congrats to your writing success! I like your equation and a great reminder. It helped me see weak points in my formula and what needs to be multiplied. Thank you!
Thank you Christine. Terrific post. I’m feeling the magic and inspiration.
Dear Christine Evans,
Your post is magic! Congratulations on creating more magic with your eight books. I love the sentiment that real magic happens when a young reader hugs your book.
Thanks for this inspiring post!
Thank you for this motivational post! I feel the creative magic at work most often when I’m walking or hiking. Mother Nature is a muse. Runner up might be when I’m in the shower. (Funny, but true–and I bet I’m not alone!)
Magic + Math + Luck + Talent + Perseverance – those are the essential factors in my equation.
Hi Christine!
Thank you for your inspiring post! I love how math and magic can combine to produce books that will land in the hands of children.
I sometimes feel the creative magic while listening to the words of songs and while walking and before falling asleep at night. I make notes of every idea and the ideas that spark from those. Then I take those notes and sit down and write. I am amazed sometimes at how fast a book can come together.
Best wishes for continued success. I lread “Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist” and loved it. I look forward to reading your other books and following up with everyone you have mentioned.
Christine,
Thanks so much for this inspirational post! I love this, “And remember creating something that didn’t exist before is magic.” That’s something that I want to remember.
For me, I often feel the creative magic when I’m walking or driving.
This makes so much sense! And helps me feel like I’m being productive and making progress, even when I’m just writing down “bad” ideas. Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement!
Feeling quite thoughtful after reading your post, Christine! I agree inspiration can come from anywhere. You made a compelling case for each and both math and magic.
I feel creative magic when I’m reading other people’s picture books, likely about 1 in 10-15 makes me feel the feels and sparks and idea in me. Thank you for this post!
Thank you. I thought I had commented earlier. I am happy to re read this encouraging information.
Yes + yes + yes = great post + congrats!
The querying math can be a big gulp… but you landed the post with all the magic that comes into play too:) I’ll add all the “feels” of the magic make writing worth it even if you haven’t yet found the magic with an agent.
I just love the magic of a story idea that won’t let go! And I totally agree that there is a bit a magic and serendipity at every stage, all the way from idea to published book!
Thank you, Christine! “Creating something that didn’t exist before is magic.” Love that! My magic comes when the perfect first line of a story I’ve been wanting to tell comes into my mind. It feels like a floodgate opens releasing the tale:)
Math plus magic equals motivation. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Christine. There’s just no getting around that inspiration/perspiration percentage but we’re all having fun so worth it! Congrats on your latest book. It looks great.
Thanks for your magically inspiring post 🙂 I just remembered I purchased Big Magic last year and need to add it to top of my to-read list.
Thank you for your inspiration, it’s awe-some!
Interesting way to combine math and magic with the creativity and business of writing. Thank you Christine for some great ideas and resources. THinking I’m due for some BIG MAGIC, myself.
Thank you for the inspiration and the resources.
Thank you for this! I love the “math won’t happen if the magic isn’t there”
Thank you Christine for the inspiration! Math and magic – awesome! Love looking for magic in the process – even rejections.
Great post, Christine! I am encouraged by your large number of rejections pre-agent. I am working on a high number myself. 🙂 Thanks for the wonderful tips!
Thanks for sharing this uplifting post, Christine! I love the Big Magic quote so much too!
So helpful to think of it this way! Thank you! I’ve begun reading poetry again, I have been doing Paint Chip Poetry for a time, and ideas often just jump into my head. What I need to do is get diligent about writing them down and then drafting them out. I’m a newbie, so step by step!
Bursting into bloom sounds awesome!
Thanks for the encouragement and great resources, Christine! Magic happens for me when I put in the work, and most often when I give myself a hard deadline. I also feel sparks when my stories click with the people who read them. If the feeling and heart of my story come across I feel successful.
Thanks so much for the pep talk!
This is a beautiful blog post, Christine, thank you!!! I definitely believe it’s both math and magic. I’ve seen it many times but one relevant to you is when I was fairly new into my PB creator journey and I met you at my very first SCBWI event in Mountain View. I had no idea what the organization was about or anything and you walked me through it. So, that was an instance of magic 🙂 thank you! Now I’m a second year 12×12 member and been working diligently in the other parts of my equation.
Thanks, Christine. I agree with you—it’s a numbers game. Best wishes to you!
Thanks so much for your encouragement!
Math + Magic. Two amazing and powerful (and accurate!) M words. I also appreciated the (realistic) reminder that part of the publishing equation includes rejections. I had heard about collecting — perhaps even celebrating — each rejection. But I hadn’t thought of them as part of the math necessary to complete the publishing equation. Thank you for the background, resources, and inspiration — and for sharing your story (and stories!) with us.
Ideas come from everywhere. Thanks for the reminder to keep the idea receptors open.
Great points! We do what we can (and what we can control) and try to put ourselves in the right place to catch a little fairy dust if it should happen to come along! Love “Big Magic,” too–and I am probably overdue for a re-read!
I love this post. It takes me a few different approaches before I find the “right” format for an idea. Thanks for the inspiration.
Excellent points equating math and magic with the writing process. I experience magic on quiet dog walks and when I first wake up in the morning. Ideas spontaneously transmit to me from the infinite universe!
Thank you, Christine! Your formula is now a member of the family of inspirational notes stuck on the wall next to my writing desk. 🙂
Thank you Christine! Wonderful post! Such a great reminder of what I hope guides me in my writing! Love your formula and the Liz Gilbert quote.
Love your magical, mathematical equation!
Great post, Christine! Thank you for the inspiration!
I needed to read this right in this moment of feeling discouraged on my journey. Thank you for your insight, encouragement and perspective!
I was on a plane this past Sunday night, April 30, and knew I had to get a draft done. I was flying back to MN from an author event in Sweetwater, TX. I had been so inspired by the three women who had made history in 1993 by becoming the first pilots able to *legally* fly fighter jets in combat that I started writing about them. Of course, women have been fighting for our country since the 1700s, but they had to disguise themselves to do it. Now, if they want to serve their country, they can. If they want to fly fighter jets like my dad did (and died in), they can. When I start writing about something that inspires me, like the woman I found out about who helped change the course of World War II but no one knew it (and maybe don’t know it now; hope I can get my book published so more do!), I feel that magic and harness it by writing!
Thank you for your post!
A bit of logic to go with the inspirational push!! Love it!
I’m truly inspired and reminded as to why I write after reading this! I hated math growing up…but this I love: (ideas + drafts + connections + revisions) x (querying) = rejections + book deals
Where’s magic? Everywhere! Love it.
Thank you!
Well said! This has to be my favorite 12×12 author post thus far as I resonate with all of it. Ideas do come from anywhere, and most of mine come while walking while sleeping in the middle of the night, and at random moments while staying present. Thanks so much for writing this and congrats on all your hard-earned success. You’re an inspiration!
What a lovely post! Thank you for the much needed inspiration.
Thank you for the inspiration, Christine.
I love the use of formulas and math to illustrate your magic in writing. You gave such useful information.
Thanks for sharing, Christine!
You gave me the kick I needed today. I must get those numbers up!
Thanks!
This was the right message at the right time – and I have Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic at the top of my pile!! Thank you!
Thanks for a great post, Christine. One of my big goals this year is to submit and get rejected – a LOT! 🙂
I feel magic when a member of my critique group gets my story and the idea I’m trying to get across! I have lovely critique group members! 🙂
In lore, the gods of magic were also the gods of writing. I love this post, and I’d love to have the magic of a child hugging my book. Maybe one day.
wonderful journey! thanks for sharing!
First of all, love Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I also am so intrigued by this idea of math + magic. It really is exactly right. I’ve been thinking mathematically about words. Like if I write x number of words for x number of days, eventually I’ll get a finished manuscript. But also those magical moments come from all different places for me. Lately my son has given me tons of ideas for stories (he’s 4). But I’ve had them from dreams, walks outside, conversations, by continuing to do the work, I’ve found the magic of creativity keeps flowing. 🙂
Firstly, has to say sling with you that I LOVE Big Magic! Secondly thanks for this great post with all these links Christine, it will keep me going for ages 🙂
Great post Christine! Thanks for the pep talk.
Such a great post! Thank you so much for this encouragement!
Thank you for your “magic words”. Your picture book math equation hit home with me. Congrats on your achievements. I wish for you continued success!
Love it!!! I feel magic when I know my idea has substance. I’ve learned (after a couple of years time) that if I don’t feel that magic, the draft may not be worth pursuing. That may sound negative, but I’ve spent a LOT of time on picture book manuscripts that I ultimately ditched, then realizing that it never did find it’s magic heart. I have had to learn that the magic and excitement and even urgency to write a piece needs to be there to get the book the distance it needs to go. I also feel magic when I am inspired by other picture books.
I love Big Magic and I read it each year too!
Oh my gosh, this post is magic! I love this tidbit: “So where does magic come into it? At every stage.” I have felt (almost) all of your examples of magic, and these moments keep me going through all the math (never my strongest subject =). This past year I did Storystorm for the first time, and by the middle of January, I could tell I had learned to see the magic of new ideas everywhere. I write them in my journal no matter how silly or problematic they might feel at the time, and sometimes they blossom into a draft.
PS: And thank you for the comment about how many rejections you’ve gotten. Until someone really does the math for you, it’s hard to properly prepare for what it takes to get published and not to give up before that part of the magic happens.
It takes a lot of work to get a PB published. I’ve been trying and I don’t know if I’ll succeed, but I keep trying.
I’m so glad you included magic as part of the process. Yes, even though we can’t quantify it, we can feel it and trust it’s presence and know it’s propelling us forward.
Happy to be returning to the forum after a couple of lazy months, and reading your fun & helpful post.
I have sensed writer’s “magic” while traveling on the train. Maybe it’s the knowledge that you’re moving forward, at least on the ground.
Thank you!
Christine! Great post! Thank you for taking your time to share your magic with us!