"Try not to work in a vacuum."

"I took a course that was run by a successful children’s author whose work I admired. It suited me as I already had an idea in my head for a children’s story. Joining a writing course helps to give an incentive. Getting feedback and criticism is invaluable. Working in a vacuum can sometimes make your focus very narrow.

I asked the author who ran the course to read the manuscript for me. I took on board the advice she gave but it was still rejected by the first publisher I approached. I re-wrote it and approached a different publisher, this time with a recommendation from my author friend, and after one more rewrite they agreed to publish."