Meg Medina & Kate Fletcher: How Children’s Books Get Published

Yeah.

I, for me, it's relationship.

Um, and that is true across basically all parts of my life.

Um, it- I feel like for writing, it's such a personal, um, it's such a personal act, and it's a scary act, and you're going to take things based, f- in my writing at least, on very, you know, inner sorts of experiences and thoughts and so on, and putting it out into the world to become something else, right? For all the readers who are gonna come to that.

To take that step, um, I need relationship that feels safe in terms of my confidence in that person's skill, the mutual respect, and a sense of understanding of where I'm trying to go.

So it, for me, it's relationship.

Um, obviously, you know, there are finances to, to consider as well, but if I had to pick between the two, it would be relationship.

Yeah.

M- mine is similar to Meg's, but it's collaboration, which is the best part of my job in every aspect.

You know, collaborating with my colleagues, my coworkers, but with the creators most of all.

And I feel like if I'm reading something and I'm excited about it, and I have thoughts about it, um, and I wanna work with this person, right? It, I feel like I'm engaging with the story, and I wanna work with them, and it feels like they are open.

You know, they want ...

They're engaged with the work as well, and they, they're excited about that.

That is what gets me really invested in a manuscript because w- the editorial process, you know, we're supporting the author.

It's the author's story.

But you do wanna feel like you have a role as well.

So if someone is very like, "This is the story.

This i- you know, it's done and dusted," and they don't, you know, they don't want to sort of talk about it or engage with it at all, it's just not as, as interesting for me, um, to edit it because, you know, I wanna ...

I enjoy that part of it and, and really working with the author.

So I would definitely say collaboration.

Yeah.

I think that that is the openness to change, um, and the being malleable, you know? I think it's almost like, um, it's like surfing.

You have to keep your knees loose, right? And your hips loose, and then you can ride these gigantic waves, right? And do all the things.

But you, you have to respond to what's underneath you and be able to change.

And I'm always surprised.