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Snot Copter: Wasted Writing It's Not!

2/8/2021

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©2021 Cricket Media, All Rights Reserved.

A friend of the pen once told me, "No writing is ever wasted writing." And the above article, which appeared in the February 2021 issue of Spider magazine, is proof of just that.

I had learned about Holly, a marine biologist who collects whale snot using a drone, while doing research for my work-for-hire book about orcas, published by Scholastic Press in 2019. While the Scholastic editor thought the information was fascinating, it just didn't fit into the scope of the book. So I had to kill my darlings by deleting my 160 words and all the research that went with it. To be honest, I was totally bummed.

But I couldn't forget Holly's story. I knew kids would find her work fascinating.

And so, not long after I completed my orcas book, I pulled my research about Holly's work out from my orcas folder, opened a new folder, and labeled it "Hexacopter at Work." Eventually, I turned my attention to the idea, caught up with Holly, and fleshed it out with more research, which included learning about humpback whales.

In the end, I upcycled my dissection from my orcas manuscript by spinning it into an article that eventually sold to Cricket Media. How delightful it was to see it in all six pages of snotty glory!
​
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​Purchase your copy of this gorgeous magazine HERE. 
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    About Me

    I am a children's book author who loves learning about lesser known individuals shining in the margins of African American history. My debut novel for young readers, Mama's Chicken & Dumplings (Margaret Ferguson Books, 2024), received a starred review from Shelf Awareness and is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection. I am 
    represented by Kelly Dyksterhouse of The Tobias Literary Agency.


    Copying, reposting, or otherwise republishing anything on this blog without permission is strictly prohibited.

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