Not to boast, but I was a great high school student. My key to success was discovering what the teacher wanted and giving them just that. Some teachers looked for tight, succinct thought, others were interested in flowy figurative language, and I was a writing chameleon. My thoughts were always my own, but the way I packaged my thoughts was slightly different depending on whose classroom I was in. Why am I reflecting on my high school years? While it is my 25th high school reunion this year (which is wild because I still feel like I’m 25), I think it is also the beginning of my story as someone who enjoys having the opportunity to revise and resubmit.
When I write a story, my first audience is me. I am either giggling while I type or welling up a bit behind the keys. I’m the first reader who has to really care about the story, but I am not the last. Of course, I’d love to submit a story to an editor and have it swooped up right away, but I also really enjoy revising and resubmitting. Seriously. It’s not necessarily going to lead to a sale, but it gives me the opportunity to try something new with the story. There are so many elements that can alter a story, so I love how an R&R is a chance to play, but within some parameters.
Of the three books I have sold (Brave Like Mom, The Legend of Leo, and TBA-to be announced) two of the three offers were made after a revise and resubmit (R&R). What I particularly love about this situation is that a.) I now know who my reader is and b.) the feedback tells me what the editor is looking for. Now it’s my job, if I chose to accept it, to tackle the assignment within these parameters. Completing this task also shows me whether the editor and I have a positive collaboration style.
I’m not the only writer out there to have found success with an R&R. I’ve invited a few of the PB Sunrays to share some of their tips and tricks as well.
Tip #1 –
“Be flexible but don’t lose the heart of the story.”
– Angela Quezada Padron
Many years ago, I wrote a picture book called HALF LAUGHS about two half siblings who share the same dad and love to spend each weekend together. However, they’re sad when the older sister has to leave to go back to her home. It was based on the fact that I have several half siblings with whom I share the same dad, and my son and stepsons share a father. I tried different ways to make the story work (even putting it in rhyme at one point), but I could never make the premise strong enough to get interest from a publisher. In 2024, my agent submitted the story to Charlesbridge and low and behold, an editor who critiqued the story at a NJSCBWI conference in 2015 was reading it! She remembered it and asked if I could convert it into a STEAM story (one that infuses science, technology, engineering, art, or math) for their STEAMworks line of books. We went back and forth about four times. I changed the plot of the story completely to make it that the sisters only have two hours left to spend time together, and they’ll use estimation to brainstorm what to do. BUT the main point of the book stayed original, that two sisters can love each other all the time no matter if they’re together or apart. SISTERS ALL THE TIME comes out with Charlesbridge in fall 2026! So my advice is to be open to ideas to change your story but always remember to keep the main idea and heart of the story where you want it to be.
Tip #2 –
“Keep an open mind and challenge yourself…You are a writer. You can do this!”
– Srividhya Venkat
I’ve had a couple of R&R requests for my picture books in the last few years. Each time, my immediate knee-jerk reaction was to feel disappointed that my story wasn’t good enough. But after conversations with my critique partners (CPs) and agent, and several hours of pondering, I told myself I would take it as a challenge and proceed. This has happened with my picture books, Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps and Girls on Wheels.
The original plot in Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps revolved around a girl struggling with learning the Indian classical dance, Bharatanatyam. Per the editor’s request which resonated with me, I changed it into a plot about a boy wanting to learn Bharatanatyam but confronting toxic masculinity (this is a real world experience for many male dancers).
Girls on Wheels was originally titled, Girl on Wheels, and the original plot revolved around a girl learning to skateboard and facing gender stereotyping. The R&R request changed it into a story about the power of friendship and learning from failure.
At first, I wasn’t too sure about the changes requested by the two editors. But the more I brainstormed the new themes, the more they resonated, eventually helping unfurl the plots. Then I went back to my usual process of drafting, editing, revising, and getting feedback from my CPs and agent, before re-submitting. In both cases, the R&R was accepted.
Looking back, I am proud that I did the R&R for the two books which have turned out to be unique inspiring stories for picture book readers. All thanks to the visions of the two editors!
Tip #3 –
“Recognize an opportunity when it presents itself and work for the yes!”
– Pam Vaughan
My R&R didn’t exactly say R&R. In fact, my initial response, from the email that my agent shared with me, was that it was a pass because it wasn’t a clear cut – yes.
Later, while I was entering this “presumed pass” into my spreadsheet, I reread the email. The editor mentioned some things she loved, like the title and the core of the story. But it didn’t have enough spunk to follow through on the title, and she suggested a lighter touch on the message. The end of the email read: If Pam rethinks it, I’m happy to take another look!
I reread the email again looking for something that said – No, pass, not right for our list, etc. My heart leapt because it didn’t say any of those things! She said she would take another look if I rethought it. Although it didn’t say it specifically, I realized it was an R& R. So, I looked up the editor. Then I got every fiction book she edited out of the library. My family thought I was nuts asking, “What are you doing with all of those books?” I said, “I’m missing something in my manuscript and I’m going to figure out what it is!” I worked tenaciously rethinking and revising and wanting to take advantage of this opportunity! Two weeks after we resubmitted, the editor got back to us with a Yes!!
TENACIOUS WON’T GIVE UP (Knopf / illustrated by Leanne Hatch) comes out on June 24th!
Tip #4 –
“Take your time to do it right.”
– Monica Acker
I can sometimes be quick to stick my finger in the figurative dyke, but I’ve learned that I need to step back and survey for additional cracks. There is excitement that an editor is interested in my story, but I have to take that feedback for the R&R and sit with it. Once I’ve changed one thing, it’s important to reflect on how that change may affect other parts of the story.
When I try to quickly remedy the issue at hand I have to read and reread to look for what I call ghosts of the previous version. Sometimes there are lines that I loved, but with the change, they no longer fit the story. I never see these ghosts at first. I need time away so I can read the story with fresh eyes. I also like to run my revisions past some trusted critique partners. I’ll share the notes so that they understand the task at hand. All of this takes time, but it is time well spent and I am happy to say that The Legend of Leo (Marble Press, 2026) became a stronger story because I forced myself to slow down.
Bonus Tip! –
“Always say YES! Then figure it out later! (and you will figure it out!)”
– Pam Vaughan strikes again
Before my first book MISSY WANTS A MAMMOTH was acquired, the editor wanted to have a conversation. She was considering these characters for a series. So she asked if I could come up with 2-3 more pitches for other stories and a little more about them as characters. Of course I said, Yes. Definitely. No problem. But I could feel my chest tightening. As soon as I hung up the phone I sort of freaked out because my mind was a complete blank! I had absolutely no ideas for any pitches. And I felt like I had just lied to this editor. Then…I took a deep breath and told myself to step away from my office and this phone call. I told myself not to worry about it right now. And that’s what I did. And believe it or not, after I stopped thinking and stressing about it, ideas came! Lots of them! I came up with ten pitches for stories and forty-two more potential titles!
WRITERS' RUMPUS 
Thanks for sharing these inspiring experiences!
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