Finding the Heart of Your Story
So much writing advice has to do with persistence . . . and there’s no doubt that this is important. You can’t get published if you don’t keep writing and submitting, no matter how frequent or painful the rejections.
Today, I’m talking about a different kind of persistence: finding the heart of your story and sticking to it. Sometimes the heart is apparent from the very beginning; sometimes it takes a long time to figure out; and sometimes it requires someone else’s help. Once you figure out the heart of your story, what you know it’s about, stick to it and don’t let anyone or anything steer you off-course.
Years of wandering and wondering: SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS
Sometimes it takes a long time to figure out what your story is really about.
In 2013, I had an idea for a picture book based on an old logic puzzle my uncle told me when I was little. I dreamed up a character in ancient India who has to solve that puzzle for an important reason. But I wasn’t sure how he came up with the solution to the puzzle, or how to make the ending satisfying. I worked and worked and worked for years on this story, but I still couldn’t figure it out.
And then, over time, after thinking about my character some more, I figured out what was missing. I already knew my main character, Bhagat (whose name means “devoted” or “faithful” in Sanskrit) was a musician who wants to change his family’s fortune by earning a place as a singer in the rajah’s court. But what I realized was that Bhagat figures out the math puzzle in the story because of his understanding of music. Once I made that connection, I made sure that key points of the story emphasized the concept that Bhagat is a singer and a thinker, and that the ending of the story reflected both the music and the math plots.
When we submitted this story to publishers, some shied away from including a complex math concept in a picture book. Some thought that it was too confusing to mention both music and math in the ending. But I knew that using the relationship between music and math to solve the puzzle was the heart of my story, and I wasn’t willing to compromise on that. And eventually, we found the perfect editor who not only understood the heart of this story but helped to enhance it. My debut picture book, SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS: A TALE OF MUSIC AND MATH, beautifully illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan, published in October 2020 with Lee & Low Books.
From the very beginning: I’LL GO AND COME BACK
Some story ideas start with the heart. During the summer of 2013, I was at a children’s literature conference at Simmons College with a group of critique partners. While we were standing in line for lunch, I got an idea that had me sketching in my notebook. It was the concept of a sari pattern where colors from the border of the sari are accents in the body, and colors from the body of the sari are accents in the border.
This gave me the idea for a mirrored story of a girl who travels to India, where she feels lonely and homesick, until she’s helped by her grandmother. Then the grandmother travels to the US and feels lonely and homesick, and the girl helps her in return. All of this was tied to together by the phrase, “I’ll go and come back,” which is what people say in Tamil instead of “goodbye.” That promise of return, even while taking leave of a loved one, was the heart of what I wanted my story to say.
I worked on that story for years, but I never deviated from that heart. It was kind of a “litmus test” when I was querying agents. If an agent didn’t understand that story, they didn’t understand me and what I was trying to say with my writing, and they weren’t the right agent for me.
Once I signed with my wonderful agent, this was the first book we sold, way back in 2018, to an incredible editor who also understood the heart of this story from the very beginning. I’LL GO AND COME BACK, illustrated by Sara Palacios, will publish in Spring 2022 with Candlewick.
Getting the perfect feedback: WHERE THREE OCEANS MEET
In the spring of 2018, I thought of a picture book idea based on a memory of a trip I took as a kid to Kanyakumari at the tip of the Indian subcontinent, where they say three oceans meet—the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal. I drafted a story about a girl who takes this trip with her mother and grandmother. I adored this manuscript and thought it was one of the best things I’d ever written.
I brought it to my critique group, where one of my fantastic critique partners, Alison Goldberg, had questions about the ending: “And for that moment, we were together.” She wondered what I meant by that line—was it that the three were only together for that moment, or was there something else that I was trying to say?
And that’s when I realized what I was really trying to say: that these three characters were always together in their hearts, even when they weren’t together physically. I understood that this story was about the love and strength shared by mothers and daughters that transcends distance, transcends time. And with that in mind, I revised the story and made it much better.
Sometimes you don’t know what the heart of your story is until you talk about it with someone you trust.
WHERE THREE OCEANS MEET is illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan and will publish on August 24, 2021 with Abrams Books for Young Readers.
So when you are writing and revising your manuscripts, keep searching for the heart of your story. Sometimes you know what it is from the very start. Sometimes it takes trial and error and contemplation to find it. And sometimes you need help from someone else.
Once you find that heart, don’t let it go.
Rajani LaRocca was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine and writes award-winning novels and picture books, including Midsummer’s Mayhem (2019), Seven Golden Rings (2020), Red, White, and Whole (2021), Bracelets for Bina’s Brothers (2021), Much Ado About Baseball (2021), Where Three Oceans Meet, and more. She’s always been an omnivorous reader, and now she is an omnivorous writer of fiction and nonfiction, novels and picture books, prose and poetry. She cohosts the STEM Women in KidLit Podcast and has been a member of 12 x 12 since 2016. To connect with Rajani and learn more about her, visit www.RajaniLaRocca.com and Twitter and Instagram @rajanilarocca.
Rajani is offering one picture book critique (under 1,000 words) to one lucky 12 x 12 member at the April check-in. Go get those drafts and revisions done to get the best chance of winning!
288 Responses
Rajani, you always have the most brilliant and grounding advice about writing! Thank you!!
THe heart of one of my stories came in a dream. I woke knowing what the conclusion would be. So exciting to finally find it!
Thank you, Rajani! I love your post and your webinar. Both have me looking at my manuscripts with a new eye and trying to better communicate the heart of my stories. Thanks!
“Once you find that heart, don’t let it go.” The heart was “kind of a ‘litmus test’ when I was querying agents. If an agent didn’t understand that story, they didn’t understand me and what I was trying to say with my writing, and they weren’t the right agent for me.”
Rajani, these important words spoke directly to me as I am preparing to query agents.
Congratulations on your success as a picture book writer. Thank you for sharing your journey to publication in such an intimate way.
Rajani, thank you for your inspiring story. Sometimes what we’ve imagined and dreamed why back when now becomes the book that was tossed aside and left with thoughts maybe someday. But our consciousness stores what we really believe and that someday becomes our now. Thank you for being the April author and sharing what I needed to hear to keep believing and never stop dreaming.
Rajani, Your post and subject matter couldn’t be more timely! It was just what I needed to read today.
I have a manuscript I love and have been reworking for months, yet the ‘heart’ of the story is eluding me, despite all the revisions. Your wonderful examples give me hope that, sooner or later, I’ll figure it out. It’s a story that won’t leave me alone, so I’m stuck with it until that lightbulb moment happens 🙂 Congrats on all your books. I love the idea of combining math and music. Glad you persisted!
Thank you- Rajani. What precious advice and is making me think of the manuscripts that seem to be stuck. They are looking for a heart and I need to find that heart for them. Love the title – Where Three Oceans Meet. Can’t wait to read this one. ❤️
Thank you for the inspirational post about returning to the heart of your story and finding a publisher who believes in it as well.
Oh Rajani, this is such a helpful reminder and so beautifully laid out in your examples! I’m going to my manuscript drawer to re-consider the hearts of each story. Thank you!
Rajani, you are producing some beautiful books with heart for young readers. So glad you persisted until you found the right people to move your story forward/
What a great post, Rajani!! Thank you for giving us a peek at what lies behind your writing journey. I really connected with your statement, “Once you find that heart, don’t let it go.” I have been in your shoes and now walk away when others want me to change or ignore what to me is the heart of my stories. I did listen once and changed my story, but “the magic,” “the heart of the story” was gone… and I vowed… never again! I’m hoping to find an agent / publisher that believes in my writing and not only sees the heart of my stories but feels it as well.
I look forward to reading, “ Where Three Oceans Meet” and “I’ll Go and Come Back.”
Rajani, I am so proud of all your achievement in the Kidlit world. I will take your advice to heart on finding an agent that gets the heart of the story. Your books take me through beautiful familiar memories.
Thank you!
Thank you, Rajani, for the essential advice of remaining faithful to the heart of the stories that are ours to tell!
Thank you so much for this wonderful advice! And congratulations on all your successes. I love Seven Golden Rings and look forward to your future titles.
Beautiful advice! Congrats on your recent debut and upcoming picture books (and novels too)!
What wonderful, heartfelt advice. Listen to your heart but keep it open for others to enter and help it expand. Lovely.
This advice about finding the heart of the story is invaluable.
Rajani, what beautiful stories and beautiful books! I can’t wait to read them.
I love how you always find the heart of your stories, Rajani. Perhaps because your own heart is so immense, it contains all of these others.
Great post Rajani. Thank you for demonstrating with three of your manuscripts -books how you found and retained the heart of your stories. I like the idea of using a story as a litmus test for a connection with an agent. I am so glad you stuck to your guns with Seven Rings and look forward to reading your other books. Congrats!
What incredible advice, Rajani! It’s so important to protect the heart of our stories. That’s what makes them uniquely ours.
Thank you, Rajani, for your words of wisdom. I really appreciate what you wrote about making sure a potential agent “gets you.” So important!
I’m already your fan, and I can’t wait to read your new titles too. Thank you for the lesson in heart and persistance.
Thank you, Rajani, for the essential reminder to remain faithful to the heart of the stories that are ours to tell:)
It’s so easy to get lost in a sea of conflicting editing advice. Thank you for reminding us to not let go of the true core and heart of our stories. ♥️♥️
I loved this inside look at your process and journey! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Rajani, for this beautiful post. I’ve been struggling through a revision this week, and realized the “heart” of my story is different from what I originally thought. Thank you for the inspiration to carry on and not give up! Congratulations on your upcoming releases, I look forward to reading them with my children!
Thank you for this lovely, inspiring post! I just requested SEVEN GOLD RINGS & BRACELETS FOR BINA’S BROTHERS from my library.
Thanks for your post, and good luck with your books
Thank you for your inspiring words!! And can’t wait to read all of your books.
I Love how all your stories are pieces of your heart. I too find that my best stories come out when I remember to follow my heart. Thanks for sharing your story with us.
This is so helpful. And exactly what I needed to hear regarding a specific manuscript that I got devastating feedback about and haven’t looked at since because I don’t know where to go with it: revise according to the feedback? Keep it as is and keep querying because I love it and my CPs love it? I need to go back and figure out the heart of that story. Thank you.
Whenever I read something you’ve written, Rajani, I know I need to pay close attention – and I always learn something important. What a fabulous post…thank you for sharing how each of these books took patience and persistence to truly get to the heart of the story.
Thank you for sharing. I especially appreciated hearing how you used the I’LL GO AND COME BACK manuscript as a litmus test for agents. It’s so important to partner with someone who gets you and your vision. Brava!
This is beautiful! I love Seven Golden Rings. Thank you
You inspire me so much Rajani! Thanks so much for a great post!
Thank you for sharing your journey and for your inspiring words!
Rajani, congratulations on you success and thank you for sharing these lovely examples of how you found your way to the heart of each of these stories.
Thank you for the inspiring post. I read Seven Golden Rings recently and loved how you wove the math, music and heart into this story!
I read Seven Golden Rings recently and loved how you wove the math, music and heart into this story!
Rajani, thank you so much for sharing with us about how you put the heart in your stories and how long it took. I think that’s what I missing in my stories is the heart. And all your books sound beautiful.
Thank you for so many different examples for finding and holding the heart of a story. Over the years, I struggled with this when I framed it as “What’s your story message?” – since I don’t want all my stories to have to have a simple message. But then I found a Writer’s Digest article on the concept of “story question” which helped me articulate it much more easily. https://www.writersdigest.com/wd-books/writing-picture-books-excerpt
I always appreciate the idea of a story with heart…but that’s a little different than heart of your story. And I have definitely had revisions that lost the heart of my story. So thank you – I appreciate this guidance and thinking!
Thank you Rajani! I loved your post about finding the heart of the story – and how sometimes it takes awhile to get there. I agree that critique groups are so helpful for drawing out the heart and love the idea of the “litmus test!” Congratulations on your beautiful stories!
Thank you Rajani for this wonderful post about finding the heart of your story and then sticking with it. AND how you don’t always find the heart in the same way. Spookily, my critique group has just commented on one of my manuscripts that I thought was saying one thing, and they saw something else in it, or rather, a different emphasis. So I totally agree that finding other people to view your work is crucial to improving our writing. Best of luck with your new books coming out this year.
Thank you, Rajani, for sharing the development process of these lovely picture books. There are some excellent takeaway lessons here.
Brilliant post, Rajani. Thank you for sharing your process and your stories. I look forward to reading all of them.
Thank you for sharing your journey as a writer, Rajani! And congrats on so many books coming out! You must never sleep:)
Rajani, congrats on your new books. Yes, we need to keep finding the heart of the story and stick to it. Thank you for sharing.
This really resonated because it also happened to me. I was so focused on giving critique partners and an editor mentor what they wanted that I totally lost not only the heart of my story but also the story itself. Yes–hang onto that heart!
Great back story and it is always helpful to read another author’s thoughts and ideas. Thank you for sharing.
Rajani,
Thank you so much for sharing your creative process. This is so inspiring to me, and helping me circle back to stories from the past.
Rajani,
I love that you included the specific stories behind three of your stories! I am excited to read all of them now and appreciate you sharing the path and/or thinking. So very helpful and inspiring!
THIS is such good advice! Thank you so much! I have shaped and reshaped manuscripts after my wonderful CPs read them and put their writerly minds to work. I love it when I am asked questions about my stories that really make me think!
Thank you for your helpful comments, Rajani. sometimes it takes a post like this to be a helpful reminder of what the heart of your story was, when you’ve lost it and the story feels like a mess.
Thank you, Rajani, for this beautiful post about the heart of your stories. I’m so looking forward to reading them.
Thank you for the wonderful and inspiring post. Heart is the most important to me, as a writer and a reader.
What a powerful post—thank you!! No doubt like many of us, I too have a story that I adore & know that children too will adore, so I’m not giving up on it. Sure it needs work, but I appreciate this push.
Rajani, your marathon journey of “persistence” is a reminder to us all to keep believing in ourselves and our stories. We’ll all get “there” one day. Sometimes after a rejection, I feel like my nose is pressed against a large window and inside I see all of the published authors and illustrators grooving in celebration of their talent being recognized and affirmed. I congratulate you on your upcoming books and will surely recommend them for purchase by our local library. My parents lived in Bombay for two years and told me stories of your beautiful country. May you find the energy and inspiration to keep writing and sharing your passion for storytelling.
I read Seven Golden Rings and loved how you wove math and music into the story. Kudos to you for holding on to the heart of your stories and only releasing them to the right agent. Thank you for reminding us to do the same with our books. I look forward to reading other books written by you.
So glad you kept going!
Absolutely beautiful advice. I have a few stories in my heart that I am still working through. I love your persistence, your perspective, and your openness to evolve them into something even better. Cannot wait to get my hands on your PBs!
Thank you, Rajani, for reminding us to be persistent in finding the hearts of our stories!
Congratulations on your 2021 releases, both books sound incredible. Thank you for sharing your stories of persistence and the reminder to keep digging to find heart.
Good luck
Rajani, what a wonderful article! It resonates so well with me. I am always concerned when my critique partners do not see what I have meant for them to pick up as they read my story. I find their advice can change my story to their way of thinking. Then one of my critique partners gets it, and I do not feel so deflated and I know I must revise my story in such a way that the others will get understand too. I need them to see my heart in the story and not want to make it another’s heart.
Thank you, Rajani, for your inspiring post. I admire your persistence in finding the heart of your story and sticking with your vision. A reminder for me to do the same.
Rajani, as always it is great to hear your stories and how your ideas became manuscripts. Congratulations on having these beautiful books published as well as your message to go with your heart!
Rajani, I enjoyed reading this post. It has heart just like your wonderful books!
I love your story ideas! Thank you for sharing
I love math and music (I’m the daughter of a mathematician), and I love the idea of three oceans meeting at the southern tip of the continent. Thank you for this delicious post.
What a beautiful post, Rajani! Thank you for sharing your heart with us.
Great article! I loved seeing different exames of how to find the heart of the story.
*examples
Thanks for this wonderful post, Rajani! I love the examples from your manuscripts about how you searched for and found the heart of each story! I look forward to your upcoming books!
Thank you for sharing this post and your great advice.
This is amazing advice, very apt for newer writers of PB like me especially after we receive responses from critique partners and don’t know what to accept and what not to change.
Thank you, Rajani. I love this idea of persistence you introduce — not just about working away (through dead ends and rejections) but about trying to find the heart of your story. Something about that process feels like the puzzle or the place where the oceans meet. Deep down, you “know” what the heart of the story is. You need only discover it.
Fantastic post! I love Seven Golden Rings and am so happy the right editor found it.
Rajani, I heart your heart of the story post! So much! These are wise words and great examples. I cannot wait to read your books.
Rajani – it’s lovely to get to know you and your books through your post – thank you! Your books look interesting and I just subscribed to your podcast! Congratulations on your success.
I so enjoyed hearing the ‘birth stories’ of your stories. I’ve read Seven Golden Rings (great idea!) and look forward to reading the others with this little extra knowledge of them.
Rajani, I have not read your books but I can tell you are a wonderful storyteller even from this blog post. Thank you for the advice and I will look for your books at my library.
Rajani, This is such wonderful advice. I often struggle to find the heart in my stories, or in the case of beginning with the heart, often struggle to create the story to support it.
Congratulations, Rajanni! Your books sound amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your insights on how to find the heart of our stories.
Thank you so much; this post was really really helpful. Creating a picture book story and preparing to put it out into the world is such a loooong term process; it really helps to hear examples of authors who worked on certain stories for YEARS. And hearing that you held out for and found an agent and editors who really “got” the heart of your stories inspires me to hold out for the same!
Love this reminder. Can’t wait to read your books. They sound amazing.
What a beautiful post. Thanks for the reminder to follow your heart!
Thank you for the great advice on finding the heart of a story. Your books are sound wonderful. I look forward to reading them.
Thank you Rajani! I enjoyed reading about your process and getting to the heart of a story.
Terrific look into finding the heart of a story. Thank you, Rajani, for sharing your insights!
Wonderful post, Rajani! I appreciate your insightful thoughts on finding the heart of a story. I’m looking forward to reading your beautiful books!
Wonderful post about finding the heart of your story. Thank you! And congratulations on your success!
Thank you for this incredible story of the life of a story. Your words rang true – have someone you trust read and respond to your writing. I’m sometimes unsure that a manuscript is even ready for someone to critique – but I do think doing that may help “find the heart of the story.” thank you so much! Congrats on your recent and near future publications.
This might be the most important advice when it comes to receiving and sifting through feedback. Thank you, Rajani!
P.S. Seven Golden Rings definitely made my list of the best 2020 picture books. Just a delight.
Thanks, Rajani for sharing your persistence and finding the heart of your stories. The heart is what makes it sing. Thanks for reminding us to keep seeking that heart and writing to it.
I can’t wait to read your story. I love stories with heart. Thank you for sharing.
I love your story about writing your stories! And all of your stories seem so interesting. I can hardly wait to read these two new ones when they come out! Thank you for sharing the story behind the stories!
Thanks for sharing your journey with us. So inspiring!
Great tips and story ideas! So inspiring!
This post made me grateful for my CP, Lindsay Leslie! She’s helped me figure out the heart of many stories. Congrats on these books (and looking forward to reading your future titles)!
Thank you so much for this advice. It was what I needed to hear today.
Thank you for sharing your story, Rajani. Your books are beautiful!
I love reading about the heart of your stories, Rajani. Now I can’t wait to read them. Thank you for the inspiration.
It’s really wonderful to hear the inspiration for each of the stories, and how you got to the heart of them!
Thank you for sharing. Yes, sometimes it does take a while to know the heart of your story. Good luck with all of your writing.
Thank you for your helpful explanations of how to keep searching and writing and sticking with our stories until we get them just right. Congratulations on all of your books! I look forward to reading them. 🙂
Thank you for your inspiring and helpful writing tips! Knowing the heart of a story is the most important part. I’ve revised several books trying to find it. But once you find it, you just know it’s right. Good luck with all your books! They’re so clever and amazing! Thank you for sharing the hearts of your stories with us.
Great post. It’s so easy to lose the heart of one’s story. This post will remind me to always stay true to the heart of my stories. Thank you.
You are so right! The heart of the story is important enough to be patient with as you/I/we find it! Thanks for that reminder to stick with what our own heart says.
Wow, Rajani, you have no idea how much I needed to read this. I have printed it out to save. The whole litmus test thing…YES! I’m so glad you found an agent and an editor who got your story! I can’t wait to get it, too.
Thank you reading this and listening to your webinar has made me think of how to make a story better
with rhythm, math concepts, and musical details. I really enjoyed learning your process and the struggle to have editors connect and then see the light. Thanks
This is great advice! It’s hard to imagine passing on any agent who shows interest, but I think you’re right. They have to understand the heart of your story. Thanks for the encouragement.
Thank You for sharing your experience with keeping the heart of the story.
Great advise ! Appreciate it.
Thank you, Rajani, for this inspiring post. “I’ll Go and Come Back” tugged at my heartstrings as it is a similar to what my skipper used to console me and my crew mates when we have to depart the island after a weekend of racing sailboats in the Caribbean. He says, “you have to leave in order to come back.”
Knowing your story is not right is a dilemma I am sure many of us have experienced. Thank you for helping clarify the heart of the story and how to approach overcoming this problem in writing Picture Books.
Thank you, Rajani, for showing and confirming how hard it is to find the heart of our stories and that it takes persistence and patience to find the true heart. I gleaned so many helpful tips from your post and from your 12 x 12 webinar this week. Congratulations on your beautiful books! I love the meaning behind the phrase and title, “I’ll Go and Come Back.”
What a wonderful journey you have been on in your writing life. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. Your webinar yesterday was fabulous. I learned a lot and feel so encouraged to keep working on my own stories.
Rajani, I loved your post, and I just finished reading your novel, Red, White, and Whole. LOVED IT.
You’re amazing in all that you do. How a doctor & mom makes the time for writing is quite impressive..
Heard your webinar. I love your positive, forward-looking attitude. This must be the key to your success. Not afraid of the work that it takes, day in and day out. I want to be more like that. Look forward to reading your books!
What an inspiring journey. I love your story. Thanks for sharing and for the inspiration!
Rajani, you are a font of information. Thank you for your generosity!
Thank you for the important reminder – to be a writer, you must write, write and write again. Like a flower, the message you seek blooms with each revision. Thank you!
Such an inspiring and beautiful post from your heart about the heart of your stories. Thank you, Rajani!
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story. So inspirational.
Your awesome advice in this blog is very helpful. I loved “Seven Golden Rings A Tale of Music & Math” & I’m looking forward to reading your other books. Since I write picture books, I’m especially interested in reading your picture books. Since I am still pre-published, I was encouraged to hear about the length of time it took for your books to develop from inception to publication. I also attended your webinar this week and I really enjoyed it. Thanks for your inspiration!
Persistence is definitely the name of the game. Thank you for sharing your inspiring journey and for the lesson on the heart of a story. I will review all my manuscript’s with “the heart” in mind.
It was soooo much to watch both of you interact with each other. Upbeat, uplifting and inspirational. Thanks for taking to time to share your beautiful stories.
Thank you so much—this is so inspiring and reminds me to keep digging for the heart of my story!
Thank you, Rajani! What an inspiring post.
Excited for “I’ll Go and Come back” and thank you for your webinar. Congratulations on all your books.
Thank you so much! I love this book and the inspiration you bring.
What a great post. You’ve inspired me to dig deeper and find the heart of my own stories.
Thank you, so inspiring!
Loved your back stories on your mission to find heart, in all your stories, which should be the goal for any story creator. INSPIRING!
Very interesting!
Rajani,
Your webinar was one of the most informative webinars I have taken in a long time. Your breakdown of the steps to revision and what to watch for was so helpful. I actually stopped a submission I was about to make and took another look at my manuscript. My word count was not very high to begin with, but I cut some more words that did not add anything to the story and it made the story crisp and easy to read. Thank you for your insight. And, congratulations on all your success. It seems you earned every bit of it! I can’t wait to read your books!
I was introduced to your writing through ReFoReMo, and I’m so glad I was! Your story of persistence and finding the heart of the story is inspiring. Thank you for sharing!
So floored by all of your amazing advice. Thank you!
Very inspiring! Thank you for sharing your journey!
Thank you for being so generous with your time and answering so many questions! I particularly liked how you have a trusted group to share your drafts with and get ideas and inspiration. I’m looking forward to seeing all your new books!
Wow! you are like an oyster sharing pearls with us! Thank you for your words of wisdom.
Rajani, I cannot tell you how much your conversation resonated with me. What you shared was just what I needed to kick start my idea and turn it into a first draft. Thank you so very much for taking the time to share your true words of wisdom with us.
I love the idea of persistence with the heart of the story. It takes me forever to find the heart but I know it is there because I can’t let the story go. Thank you for verifying that it can take time.
What awesome advice! Thank you Rajani
I’ve been working on a picture book biography for what seems like forever (in reality, less than a year) and while I think I have the heart of the story figured out, I’m struggling to get it on the page. Your words gave me comfort and inspired me to keep going! Also – I love all your books!
Learned so much from your talk and enjoyed reading about the inspiration and development of your stories. Thanks so much Rajani!
Thanks for the inspiration. I am at the point with one of my stories where I know what the heart now is, and I want to be true to that.
What an inspiring post! Can’t wait to see the replay of your webinar!
Thank you for reminding us that it’s OK for stories to come in bits and pieces. And to just hold onto the heart of the story, even when we’re not sure what that is – until later drafts. To get there, we need to keep going. 🙂
Thank you for showing us the various ways your books have come together. I really like SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS and think it’s so clever how you had him work out the solution mathematically.
The Webinar was fantastic Rajani! Thank you!
Great article! I had just watched your presentation “From Passion to Published” from the Fay B. Kaigler Children’s book festival conference. Your journey was so relatable! Thanks for sharing with us.
I love the story behind your stories, Rajani! And the message to stay true to the heart of what we write. It can be hard to do that in the face of rejection and uncertainty. Heartiest congratulations on all your success! I’ve enjoyed your books, and the STEM Women in KidLit podcast.
Rajani, It is encouraging to know your journey: that some books take years to come together. I enjoyed your webinar and am looking forward to your new picture books. Thank you for sharing your story.
I can’t wait to read your new books. Thanks for the wonderful advice!
Rajani, I loved hearing your insights about the heart of your books! Thank you!
Thank you for the thoughtful advice. Stay true to your heart.
Loved this post. Discovering the heart of your story is the key to a great story and allows you to connect with the reader :-).
Rajani, Thank you for this inspiration. Finding – and staying true – to the heart of the story is tough but critical! Thanks for your words of wisdom.
Love hearing about your long journey to the heart of your story!
What a lovely sentiment. Thanks for sharing your story!!!
Such wise words about being true to your own vision for your story. I will remember this for my own manuscripts.
Thank you for sharing these stories… we all have our own writing processes, but I think each and every story really has its unique journey as well!
You wisdom is a blessing! Thank you for sharing your insights on how to find the heart in our stories. And great advice about sticking to your guns when you know what story you are trying to tell and not changing it for others.
I love the stories you have about how your picture books were put together. Thinking about what matters most puts heart into your books.
thanks for sharing. I enjoyed reading your post.
Rajani, thank you for such an incredible webinar on revision! I’m excited to take the advice and guidance and apply it to my WIPs.
Thank you for both the excellent post and informative webinar, Rajani!
Thank you for sharing your journey and reminding us to find and stick with the heart of our story!
It was a great presentation and you are so down to earth and I love your confidence. My neighbors are from India and I am sharing your information with them so they can follow you. God Bless.
Super inspiring to read about your revision process, particularly the part about finding and sticking to the heart. I also admire how you make things so relatable,
Thank you for this beautiful post. You’ve inspired me to revisit my manuscripts with heart in mind. And the phrase “I’ll go and come back” instead of “goodbye” is breathtaking!
I love how you include so many layers of meaning in your stories. Thank you for demonstrating the importance of persevering until the story is right, and until you find the heart that makes the story live for your reader.
Wow, sometimes the right advice comes at just the right time. Thanks so much for this!
Even how you word your article is beautiful. You have heart in all that you write. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Thank you for sharing the journey of several of your books and reminding us to find the heart of the story and stick with it.
Thank you, Rajani, for this and the fantastic webinar. The clarity of your points and the transparency and energy in your examples make your advice not only brilliant but also seemingly possible. Your heart and willingness to share are pure gold. I wish I could express just how fresh and helpful your words are, spoken and written. It’s inspiring to know we’re not the only ones struggling to get the heart of our stories across. So very grateful to you. 🙂
Such fabulous advice. Thank you for sharing your stories, and your/their journeys, with us.
I love the heart of the stories. The connection with family and loyalty. Of course you can have music and math in a children’s book. Our children are smarter than we think.
Great advice. Thank you for sharing your journey.
These stories sound so beautiful. Thank you for digging for the heart of them and for showing us how.
Thank you for this inspiring look at how you came to, and stuck with, the heart of each of these books.
First and foremost, Congratulations! I love your comment about keeping the heart of your story and this is so true, the best advice for writers of all genres. Your words are inspiring and motivational. Thank you
Beautiful stories and advice!
Thanks for an inspiring webinar, Rajani!
Thanks for posting! Sometimes finding the heart is a struggle and it’s ok to take time to find it through reflection, revision & reliance on a good critique partner or two.
Thank you, Rajani for your insight! Finding the heart of a story can be difficult, yet easy to lose. I appreciate your words of wisdom and experience to keep writers on track.
Thank you for this advice. I love your suggestion that the heart of your story is often hidden, but a trusted reader, critique partner can see it when you cannot.
I love everything about this post! Fantastic advice that has struck my heart, knowing that sometimes I feel like I’m floundering at this writing thing without finding the heart of a new idea. Good critique partners are so important. Congratulations, Rajani, on your beautiful books! I can’t wait to read them.
Thanks for the inspiration!! Revising and querying takes so much persistence, sometimes it feels like a slog. But this is a great reminder- finding the heart of a story is why we write!
Glad you kept writing.
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story with all of us.
Wonderful, inspiring post. Thank you!
Thank you for the inspiration and wonderful advice to look for the heart of my stories.
You are an inspiration Rajani! I am grateful for you sharing your heart and encouragement.
Thank you for this beautiful post, Rajani. Keeping the heart of ones story in mind is such great advice. I often veer off course, especially when trying to write a “satisfying ending”, so keeping the ‘heart’ in mind is an excellent tool that I will use to guide myself.
What wonderful advice – all your stories have heart, Rajani!
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your heartfelt story
Fascinating, fascinating insights. So much to learn from you, Rajani. Thank you. Getting to the heart of the story and believing in it resonated with me so much.
Thank you for this lovely post.
Yes to this. I’ve often thought the whole process is about actualizing the moment of inspiration. Thanks for the excellent webinar as well as this insightful post.
Love this post! And the replay just landed in my inbox so I think I’ll have some watching and dividing dahlias kind of day! Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your inspirational stories!
Love this and you! And yes, have found heart, you’re gonna be hysterical when you see how I found it in my debut picture book. You and Brent are killing it!!
Can’t wait to read this beautiful book!
I love the idea of a mirrored story between generations and how you connected them with I’ll go and come back. What a lovely way to say instead of goodbye. Thanks for sharing your story.
Thank you for this post & your wonderful webinar. You’re an inspiration!
Thank you for this beautiful post and I can’t wait to get caught up watching your webinar, Rajani. One of my stories I’ve been working on since 2011. I know the heart of my story and the elements I wanted to stay with it, but my MC’s arc wasn’t strong enough and I couldn’t figure out to incorporate an important element so I cut it for awhile. I’ve finally been able to address both those issues this year!
Thank you so much for this inspiring look at the origins and constantly evolving work on your stories! I really enjoyed your webinar, too. 77 revisions!!
This is really wonderful! I’m actually trying to find the heart of my story right now, so your post is timely and inspirational.
Rajani, your patience and persistence are inspiring and your books demonstrate the reward for this effort. Congratulations on your well-deserved success!
This is an amazing post with such great advice. Stick to the heart of your story!
Thanks for sharing your story! Great advice. 🙂
Rajani, I loved your webinar and this post encapsulates many of the great words of writing wisdom you shared with us the other day. Finding the heart of a story is such important advice. I’m going to cut out a small paper heart, write “Find it!” on it, and tape it to the corner of my computer.
Thank you for sharing the stories behind your stories, and congratulations on all of your successes!
Rajani, thank you for this post. I love hearing stories like this. It’s almost like listening to someone’s birth story. Everyone’s path being so unique and ending in the observance of an amazing creation. Thanks for sharing yours with the world!
Thank you, Rajani, for sharing your writing journey and encouraging our persistence in finding the heart of each story. We can’t share this most important part of our stories with others until we know it for ourselves.
Great advice! Thank you for sharing, Rajani.
Rajani, Thank you so much for your webinar and for this blog post. They were both just what I needed this month as I was struggling with drafts of a couple of stories that I have the center of, but not the bits that make it all make sense and tie it all together. Your story about how Seven Golden Rings came together gave me the push I needed to write out a draft that has all of the parts I know about my story and trust that the rest will come through revisions.
Thank you so much for encouraging us not to get off the roller coaster! I really appreciate your post, and am thrilled for your success. Thanks for sharing. 😊
This post and Rajani’s webinar have been my 12×12 highlight of the year thus far!!
Thanks, Rajani, for sharing your journey and for your beautiful books. I am thinking about you and your family in India right now. Hoping they are safe and that things will improve dramatically soon re: covid. Thanks again for your post and your books!
Thank you for this wonderful advice. I feel like “Once you find that heart, don’t let it go” is good advice for not just writing but for life!
Such great advice! Thanks for sharing!
Rajani – great post and webinar! Wonderful information and engaging presentation. I took so many notes. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, experience, talent, and time with us!
Great advice! Thank you so much!
Finding the heart of the story is easy — sticking to it is hard for me! Thanks for the encouragement!!
This is why picture books are so much more than many realize. Thanks for writing such beautiful stories with heart and sharing your journey!
Thank you for sharing such practical advice on revision. I will now write my first drafts ‘with abandon’. Love it.
Thank you, Rajani, for an inspirational post about the importance of remaining true to your story. Of course feedback from people you trust is important, but so is trusting yourself!
Wow, reading this was a total ‘aha’ moment for me. I realized that the heart of one my stories has actually changed over time; which is why something still felt off no matter how many revisions I’ve done.Thank you Rajani for sharing your journey and all the ways you’ve found the heart of your stories. This passed-along wisdom will stay with me for as long as I’m writing.
I can’t wait to read “When Three Oceans Meet.” I learned so much from your webinar.
Thank you for sharing your journey to find the heart of your stories. So inspirational!
I found this session really engaging and inspiring! Many thanks x
Thank you for this post and your webinar too!
This post is wonderful and exactly what I needed to read! Thank you, Rajani, for pointing us to the heart of our stories!
I celebrate now! I did the draft and revised a few manuscripts. Rajani, thank you for your encouragement.
Thank you Rajani for the sharing your writing process.
This post is so inspiring. The heart of the story is most often what I begin with but lately I feel like I’m losing it in the revision process, which can be so frustrating. Thank you for the encouragement to no matter what stick with the heart of the story. Congratulations on all your success!
Rajani,
Thank you so much for sharing your journey, determination, and advice on never losing sight of the heart of a story. This is so important to remember and yet so easy to forget sometimes! Congratulations on your publishing successes and on the upcoming publication of “I’ll Go and Come Back”. I can’t wait to read it!
Thank you, Rajani, for sharing how you’ve discovered the heart in your stories and persisted to find other supporters who could help bring them to light. I’m looking forward to reading WHERE THREE OCEANS MEET!
Great webinar, always great to hear about author’s thought process and research process as well as revision process… so inspiring…
Thanks so much for sharing your insight! I learned so much and was inspired to work on revisions!
Rajani, I want to read everything you ever write!
Thank you for sharing.
I loved your webinar, it spoke to the science nerd in me and it was fascinating to understand your revision process. Your post reminds me that each book is birthed differently and to follow your heart and instincts with each one.
Rajani,
You offered so many ideas to implement in my writing. You encouraged me with your 77 revisions of 7 Golden Rings. Thank you for sharing your time and talent!
You inspire me so much Rajani! Thanks so much for sharing your compassion and heart you put into your stories. I loved hearing about your journey, it gives me hope that one day I’ll get that chance to be published.
The energy, the expertise, the inspiration! Loved hearing how Rajani does it and can’t wait to read some of her beautiful, forthcoming books.
Your post and webinar were so inspiring. You are too! Thank you for sharing your encouragement and congratulations on all your upcoming books!
Great post and great webinar. Congrats on all your books!
Thank you for sharing your stories!
Wonderful words, Rajani! When I find the heart of my stories, I will hold onto them, even if not everyone can feel that heart with me.
Thank you for your words of wisdom!
Thank you, Rajani! Some stories come out clear from the start, as if you are transcribing a movie that’s in your head. Others, come out slowly from your heart. Those take time for me too. I have to search deep and understand them—understand myself.
ABSOLUTELY amazing webinar. I learned so much…and have so much to think about with regards to my revisions!! THANK YOU
Appreciated your webinar. I took a screen shot of many of your suggestions, esp on pitch. Thanks.
Just drafted a new one, and I’m on the hunt for the heart. Thank you for sharing how you came to find yours!
Thank you so much for sharing the inspiration behind your stories. I can’t wait to check out all of your books to read them to my learning pod! I saw you interviewed by Second Start to the Right Bookstore … you were wonderful! I have learned from you to steer straight on my path to publishing and not lose sight of the true meaning of my stories. Blessings to you and thanks again!
Thank you so much for taking the time to inspire us! I can’t wait to dive into your books!
Thanks for sharing your process!
Thanks so much for sharing your journey, Rajani – loved your webinar too!
This is an insightful post, Rajani. Thank you for sharing the background for both stories and the encouragement to delve deep to find the heart of each manuscript. Both of your books are beautiful!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Rajani.
What a fantastic post. I recently had a critique that helped me find the heart of a story (finally) that I’ve revised about 200 times. Yay for finding the heart!
Rajani, your example of finding the heart of your story and the fruits of sticking with it is so inspirational.
After reading your post, I wondered how many of us writers find the heart of our stories, and for various reasons, we abandon them.
But you’re proof that we just have to hang in there and not lose sight of our message, the heart of our stories. Thank you!
“I’ll go and come back.” So beautiful.
Congratulations on your books! So looking forward to reading WHERE THREE OCEANS MEET.
Gorgeous title.
Thank you for your inspirational post, Rajani. Now I’m off to get to the heart of my story!
Wow! That is fascinating.
Thank you for the reminder on how important it is to find the heart of your story. Sometimes it’s evident to me and sometimes I do need my CP’s to help me out.
I love that thought of finding the heart of the story and holding fast to it. I think that may be what I need to hear about one of my stories after varied feedback has left me feeling really discouraged and confused. Also, your revision webinar was fantastic! Thank you for all you are teaching us!
Your amazing journey is an inspiration to us all, Rajani! Congratulations! Thank you for holding onto the heart of your stories. Loved your webinar too. Between your explosion of books, presence on social media, AND your medical profession, you have more energy than a dozen people!
Wow–your books sounds so wonderful. I can’t wait to read them. Thanks so much for the reminder of the importance of finding the book’s heart.
Great reminder to stick to the heart! Thanks for sharing.
This is wonderful advice! I’m so glad you were persistent with your beautiful stories.
There is so much about this post that I love! Thank you, Rajani for your encouragement and congratulations on your success!
I appreciate your examples of getting to the heart of your stories. Sometimes I start with the heart of a story and sometimes it takes me a long time to realize what the heart of the story really is and stick with it. Thank you for sharing your journey!
Rajani – You gave us lots of time and information on your article….I thought I was the only one who didn’t really know what they had written until lots of time after it was written!! Thank you for sharing and I enjoy your Twitter Tweets!!!
So much food for thought in here, thank you.
Rajani, your advice on heart and not compromising your own touches my heart. You have reminded me to always stay true to myself and to the heart of my characters, even if it means not signing with a particular agent or getting a book deal. Congratulations on all of your success!
A fantastic webinar, an awesome book, and inspiring advice. How did we get so lucky? Thank you for sharing, Rajani!
This is a truly helpful post, and now I am also very much looking forward to reading and sharing your stories (they sound wonderful) and watching the webinar replay!
I enjoyed reading how different your story process is in various projects and how you steeped them to completion. (and I just got back from visiting family in KY!)
Thank you for your tips, Rajani! I agree that critique partners are invaluable!! 🙂
Congratulations on your writing success!
Thank you for sharing!
Congrats on your beautiful books and thank you for the encouragement!
Wonderful encouragement to keep in mind. Congratulations on your books!
I love the idea of “the heart of the story” – both seeking it and not compromising it! This helps me a lot!! Thank you…
Rajani,
Thanks for such a detailed post. I loved hearing the story behind the story.
Ann