Writing as a ND parent, raising a ND child- A poem

 I have a voice for my needs,

my wants,
my dreams...for you.
But respecting your comfortable silences,
your aloof tenderness,
and repetitive soothing’s,
is more important, so,
I hold my tongue, bite my words, and keep my dreams in sleep.

I have learned that for you, I must be stronger than I thought possible.
And that being strong for you means I must be stronger for myself because,
heartaches of disappointment seem endless and unforgiving,
every,
day,
and they should never touch you because I am never disappointed in you, simply being you.

It’s the world around you that is hard against us…
People don’t listen,
Don’t see,
Lack empathy,
Lack imagination…Luckily, your eyes look past it all, somehow, seeing only what brings you joy,
The hard-hearted burden is solely mine,
And it is monumentally heavier when those around us, people we love and cherish, aren’t able to,
Aren’t willing to…join in your world,
See and share your joys,
Understand and dance in your silences.

This breaks my heart for them and cracks my connections to them… though I do not wish for that love to break…

HONORABLE MENTION #50 Precious Words

 

Woke up to find out my little story about a hide-and-seek with a squirrel made the coveted Honorable Mention list on #50PreciousWords  

It looks like there are some really amazing stories on that list.  Great job, everyone. It's not easy writing a full story (beginning, middle, end) in 50 words, so hats off to you all!

Thank you to Vivian Kirkfield and all the judges who took the time to read all of the stories!

HONORABLE MENTION CATEGORIES: 

ANIMALS
Peek-A-Squeak Squirrel Hide-And-Seek by Laura N. Clement

If you want to read the story, check out the previous post.

Just squeaked in an entry for #50 Precious Words

 Vivian Kirkfield is at it again with her #50 Precious Words and even though things are exploding all around me, I sat down with my #storystorm list and found one I could use! This entry is light and funny, and I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you @vivian.kirkfield for putting this together again. It was nice to step out of my chaos and into a little writing!

Peek-a-Squeak Squirrel Hide-and-Seek

By Laura N. Clement

 

Stuck,

Inside,

sick,

I toss and turn, bored.

 

Wiggling my toes at the window I see something jump…

 

…fly from the tree…

 

…land on my windowsill…

 

…I shriek…

 

…It peeks…

 

…I hide…

 

…it squeaks…

…I peek…

 

…it hides…

 

…I giggle.

 

Over,

And over again, we play until…

 

…I…fall…back…to…sleep.

New Year and off and running

Just finished wrapping up

I am a winner again. Already working on one new manuscript and rolling another SEL one around in my mind.  Gotta find the right way in on that idea.

 

OK, I have submitted my entry for PBParty!  I picked Sunday Morning Dim Sum. You can only do the first 70 words and the manuscript has to be a minimum of 200 words.  Many of my SEL manuscripts are under 200 so many of the ones I wanted to submit didn't meet the requirement. I am happy with my submission, none-the-less.

I have sent off a lot of submissions to agents and editors and not surprisingly, I already have a handful of rejections for 2025. But ONWARD, right?

Next up will be PB Rising Star I have gotten so close twice now. Maybe this year will be my year?  

Also, don't forget, on Feb. 24/25 is Disabled Fairytales Symposium.  I will be the first presenter.

Another cool note, pinning it here for later, is a great site I found that lists some really great SEL books.

30 SEL books! I emailed them with a few they don't have listed, but honestly, it's a great collection of wonderful books, some of which I didn't know about.

Disabled Tales a symposium! I will be presenting my Huff Puff Academy in 2025.

 I feel honored and excited to be part of this event.

https://www.disabledtales.co.uk/symposium.html

I will be presenting on Day One, with my Fractured Fairytale- The Huff Puff Academy, about an asthmatic wolf, and three pigs with ADHD who find new meaning in what it means to succeed, all the while embracing who they are and finding support in each other as a team.
https://www.disabledtales.co.uk/programme.html

What a great thing to add to the #kidlit world. Thank you Beth O’Brien and Nicola Grove for putting this together!

If you're writing for kids, you should check this out.

#childrensbooks
Disabled Tales

Life's been a little Crazy, just getting to this Honorable Mention win!

My little 100-word story about Autism and Halloween got a nice nod from Susanna Leonard Hill's contest.

Thank you, Susanna and team for seeing the beauty in this perspective.

A Spectrum of Costumes

By Laura N. Clement

 

“Just be you.”

Heather heard this every day from her parents.

But every year when chilly weather turned leaves crisp, pumpkins plumped, and goblins peaked out of neighbor’s window, a familiar worry began to tiptoe into her thoughts.

Being herself wasn’t always easy, loud sounds made her shrink, big feelings made her hide, and faces everywhere squinching, twitching, and changing, confused her.

Halloween was the worst.

The masks, makeup, funny clothes made understanding anyone that day harder, so this year… just being herself, Heather put on headphones, sunglasses, her softest clothes, and happily tucked herself into her own quiet world.

Another Fall Writing Contest this time for Susanna Leonard Hill's Halloweensie Contest- Halloween on the farm, Cowgirl and Dinosaurs

 You can find out all of the information Here.

Basic's- 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (12 and under), using these words- Chill, Tiptoe, Goblin.

I have two, here is my second entry.

Halloween on the farm, A Cowgirl and the inflatable Dinosaurs

By Laura N. Clement

 

 

Stella didn’t feel like dressing up for Halloween. She preferred comfortable overalls, beat-up muddy boots, and worn-out hat.

“I am a cowgirl,” Stella said, “every day, no matter what.”

But Stella’s goats had other ideas. They loved wearing costumes and trick-or-treating for pumpkin snacks, they didn’t love tiptoeing around in the dark.

“It’s chilly this year, so maybe we’ll stay home,” said Buddy.

“But I want treats,” said Rose.

“And I want to wear a goblin costume!” said Hazel

But Stella had another costume plans. “Getty up goats,” she said, “This cowgirl is rustling three Dinosaurs! Now hold still.”

Another Fall Writing Contest this time for Susanna Leonard Hill's Halloweensie Contest- A Spectrum of Costumes

You can find out all of the information Here.

Basic's- 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (12 and under), using these words- Chill, Tiptoe, Goblin.

I have two, here is my first entry.

A Spectrum of Costumes

By Laura N. Clement

 

“Just be you.”

Heather heard this every day from her parents.

But every year when chilly weather turned leaves crisp, pumpkins plumped, and goblins peaked out of neighbor’s window, a familiar worry began to tiptoe into her thoughts.

Being herself wasn’t always easy, loud sounds made her shrink, big feelings made her hide, and faces everywhere squinching, twitching, and changing, confused her.

Halloween was the worst.

The masks, makeup, funny clothes made understanding anyone that day harder, so this year… just being herself, Heather put on headphones, sunglasses, her softest clothes, and happily tucked herself into her own quiet world.

It's that time of year again, #FALLWRITINGFRENZY

Once again I rose to the 200 words or less challenge for a children's story put on by @kaitlyneann17, @LydiaLukidis, and @ebonylynnmudd

You can find all of the information here.

I was inspired by a photo of a lantern this year, and at exactly 200 words, I am pretty happy with the story. I hope you enjoy it.

Happy writing and Happy Fall everyone.

 

WISHES FROM A FAIRY LANTERN

By Laura N. Clement

Perched at her window as night crept darkness in, May watched the streetlights flicker while shadows danced illumination down the side-walkway between her and the lonely house next door.

May’s sleepy eyes wandered while cascading leaves transformed the empty house’s unkempt garden in autumnal yellows, reds, and oranges.

“Magic,” May said her word a puff of warmth on the cold window. She drew a star in the steam with her finger and made a wish. Suddenly she noticed a light flickering from a bench peeking out from underneath creeping vines.

A lantern?

It shimmered and beckoned…was it a fairy lantern? If she blew it out, would her wish really come true?

May dashed outside to discover a hidden doorway in the hedge between the houses.

Through it was a stone path.

The crunch of leaves underfoot, the snap of autumn on her cheeks made her shiver but did not stop her. Curiosity pushed her on.

Only steps away from the lantern she stopped… a twinkling of laughter filled the space around her… pulling her closer.

May trembled in the flickering light, I wish… she whispered reaching for the lantern, then…

…blew.

Out went the light.

 

The beauty of the writing community

Yesterday I received a gift so precious and generous, I still can't believe it was real.  Someone thriving in the kidlit community, a joyous, talented and kind soul, took time out of their very busy schedule to talk with me across time zones and many miles. They really listened and in doing so to gave me much needed encouragement and support.

Being heard is vital. Being heard with encouragement is life changing, especially in the world of writing, when it feels like the only voice you hear is your own, echoing after receiving rejection after rejection after rejection. 

I write all kinds of picture book stories from fractured fairy tales to neurodiverse (ND) own voice pieces, there are even a couple informational fiction stories. But it is my ND pieces, specifically CROWNS that is my heart story... that I very much want out in the world for SO SO many reasons.

Yesterday, another ND writer/illustrator listened to that story. 

Loved that story. 

Felt that story. 

Saw that story in her imagination. And when I was done she had a few things to say to me. And I think this can apply to others so I'll share.

"Don't you dare give up."

"This is an important story."

"It needs to find the right home."

"Don't just get it published, have it done right, with the right people who will SUPPORT it and you."

"Rejection isn't an end." (Even though it is frustrating and heartbreaking.)

"Keep going."

"You are precious."

More than once I have been told there isn't a market for "these" voices. She and I agree to disagree with that "fact."

"Don't you dare give up." "It needs to find the right home."

She loved the unique ND repetition of the story.

"This is an important story."

She was glad that I turned down an opportunity to have it published when the publisher's plans for the story did not lend to keeping it authentic.

"Don't just get it published, have it done right, with the right people who will SUPPORT it and you."

"Rejection isn't an end." (Even though it is frustrating and heartbreaking.)

She really listened. And across the distance of the country on a phone call she HUGGED me.

"You are precious."

Does any of this change my day today? Yes, and no. I am preparing more submissions this time for an amazing opportunity with PB Rising Stars as I had planned. But I am doing this with a stronger heart and more conviction that being creative, that my writing needs to continue. I still don't have a contract, and that may not change any time soon, but I KNOW in the core of my being that 

"This is an important story."

and

"Don't you dare give up."

So once again, I am in debt to my writing community for keeping me going.  The hearts and souls of the people around us, even those we don't know well, are here to help us help the world be a better place for readers, young and old. This is beyond precious, and I am so SO grateful.

50 Precious Words, that really are precious to me

 It's been a while... life happened over and over again... but I continued to write. Today I submitted a sweet 50 word memory to Vivian Kirkfield's #50 Precious Word Competition.  

It's a really great contest, so stop by and read some entries, all 50 words or less. Mine bubbles up from the day we finalized my daughter's adoption, walking into the courthouse with lots of papers, a lawyer, and surrounded by a line of people, just as jittery as we were ready to be a family.  I hope you enjoy it.

Adoption Day

Word count: 50

 

“Everyone, Smile!”

New clothes crease as six warm arms entangle,

scrunching close giggles freeze on “three.”

CLICK.

The judge’s kind,

sturdy hand extends,

shakes,

then directs us away so the next group,

full of hope,

can promise—

and begin today,

like us,

on their new Forever,

together,

as a family.

The Rejection Garden Tree/Story 22 BOO ALEXANDER WAILLOUDER III

                                         The Rejection Garden is less about rejection, 

and more about creativity, persistence, and joy. 

Over the next month, I am going to share one Tree or Manuscript with you, not in its entirety, 

instead, I’ll post a synopsis, how many times it has been rejected, and then, 

I’ll finish with my favorite line and include a picture of the tree and name tag.

2 Submissions, 2 rejections

Pitch: A trip to his "Ghoul" library brings a new discovery- Humans and Other Scary Creatures- and it might just save Boo Alexander Waillouder III from another boring parade of paisley or polka-dotted Halloween costumes. 

Favorite Line:

"Deflated Boo floated away grumbling. Searching through stacks and growling through rows of boring Ghost Stories, Boo made a delightful discovery, Humans and Other Scary Creatures!" 

Yup, another Japanese Maple.