When Kelli asked me if I’d like to write this post, I thought exactly what I thought to myself when I decided to try writing picture books, Why would people want to read what I have to say?
I never intended on being a writer. I spent most of my life focused on STEM, but I left my job in management consulting when the fatigue of multiple sclerosis, combined with new motherhood, became overwhelming. I threw myself into parenting, but I was still concerned about the cognitive changes I was experiencing. The research indicated that challenging my mind could slow these changes. So I needed a puzzle.
My first challenge was finding the pieces. I hadn’t yet found 12×12, but a friend directed me to some organizations that offered picture book classes. I learned about beginnings, plot, character, pacing, endings, and voice. But I still had trouble seeing the bigger picture. I still didn’t know how these pieces fit together.
I wrote draft after draft of stories that weren’t going anywhere. Then I saw a call for submissions for math-based stories with a cultural element. I hadn’t thought to combine these elements myself, but one reason I was so interested in STEM as a child was the engineering of lowriders in the community where I grew up. Of course, I wanted to submit something! I worked and reworked my manuscripts with my critique groups and finally submitted two stories, close to the deadline. Those two manuscripts were not acquired. They didn’t have all the right pieces. They just weren’t the right fit.
I had heard the saying “write what you know” but I had always thought this was one of those writing platitudes that didn’t amount to much, but I felt so passionately about the idea behind the call for submissions, I had lots of new ideas. I had been so afraid of exposing myself and my passions that I hadn’t realized that that was exactly what I needed to piece everything together. Having this personal connection—bringing part of myself into the equation—had helped me find my own unique perspective.
AGAIN, ESSIE? is about Rafael—tired of his little sister Essie knocking down his toys—playfully exploring spatial sense and geometry by constructing a wall out of shoeboxes, toilet paper rolls, and other household objects. But it’s also about misunderstandings and breaking down walls.
With the acquisition of this book, I realized that my goal, like Rafael’s, had changed. I was no longer simply working on a puzzle, I was learning about myself and how I fit into my community. I was discovering all these ideas that I needed to share with readers. Pieces that needed to be twisted and turned, paired with other pieces, and put in just the right spot.
Each piece touches several other pieces. Maybe two ideas fit together. Maybe a single idea can be reused in different ways, in conjunction with other pieces. I keep a spreadsheet of ideas, words or phrases, and themes. When I add a new entry, I place it close to others it might work well with. Sometimes it clicks into place, sometimes I need another piece to connect them.
Even after I have assembled pieces into a story, I need to find the right match to connect it with an editor. Having one agent or editor pass on it doesn’t necessarily mean the story needs to change. But my critique partners and agent help me get perspective. Sometimes what I thought was a border piece actually fits right in the middle. Sometimes, like Essie, I need to fling all the pieces into the air and see what happens when they land.
I took one of those early math manuscripts, broke it all apart, removed the math, added some new elements, and it became Take Pride in the Ride, a lyrical celebration of lowriders and what they mean to the Chicano community.
I found that the more ways I brought myself into my writing, the more potential there was for someone to connect with it. Each facet of my own experience was like a different potential connection. What we care about matters. To us, and to readers.
Jenny Lacika is a children’s writer from Santa Fe, New Mexico. As a Chicana, MIT grad, chronically ill, mother of two, her work often explores themes relating to STEM education, disability, and Chicanx culture and history. She is the author of AGAIN, ESSIE? and six forthcoming books including TAKE PRIDE IN THE RIDE (Atheneum, 2024).
Jenny is offering a picture book critique to one lucky 12 x 12 member, so go get those drafts and revisions completed for your best shot at winning at the May check-in!
158 Responses
Thanks for sharing. This puzzle was full of inspiration.
Jenny – thanks for this inspiring and personal post. I love the puzzle metaphor. I can’t wait to read ALL your books! Congratulations!!
Congratulations on all of your forthcoming books! And thank you for sharing your story with us. Though you didn’t set out to become a writer, it sounds like it’s the perfect “fit” for you. 🙂
Your journey is incredibly inspiring, Jenny. And that elusive heart-line is woven throughout: perseverance and searching for new paths! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing your story Jenny. I’m familiar with that STEM based series of books you wrote for initially. Your book looks beautiful! Congrats!
Jenny, thanks for this inspiring post! Working puzzles and fitting together a manuscript share so many common elements. Great analogy. Congrats on all your successes; your journey to publication proves that persistence and practice are important parts of the process. Best wishes to you!
I love how you changed your manuscript all around to make it more your story! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Thank you so much for the inspiration, Jenny! So much to take away from all you’ve said, but I particularly like your spreadsheet of ideas idea! I write my ideas in a notebook, but I could definitely benefit from a system where I can shift the ideas around to see if they fit with other ideas. Thank you again!
I love the idea of keeping a spreadsheet of story ideas! I keep a word doc with my storystorm and post storystorm ideas, but I haven’t tried using a spreadsheet.
So many pearls in this post. Thank you Jenny – Yes, I want to read what you write!
Hearing about your journey gives me hope! Thank you for sharing! I will look for your books to read–they sound really good!
Thank you for sharing this! I often feel this way too. But I write stories that make me happy, so maybe they will make others happy too? I no longer work full-time due to health issues, but turning to picture book writing has been a new light in my world. I think we have that in common! I also write what I know, and it brings me joy!
Inspiring, Jenny! I appreciate the message to write about what matters to us. Congrats on your success! I’m excited to read AGAIN, ESSIE? and your forthcoming books.
Excellent post. I love how STEM found its way back in your life and books! Thanks for sharing!
I so enjoyed reading about your journey and its beginnings. Looking forward to reading your books!
Such inspiration! I loved reading how you found your voice. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for the inspiration! I love your story of fitting the pieces together, and especially the message that “what we care about matters.” Congratulations on your publishing successes so far- I look forward to reading your books!
Wow, amazing how you mine something that is important to you from a variety of angles – social, emotional, spatial, mathematical… love reading this. Thanks for the inspiration!
I loved reading about how you fit the various pieces of your experience together in your writing! I liked your idea of using a spreadsheet to track your ideas. I’ve kept a list, but a spreadsheet would be much more practical to keep things organized and easy to access.
Thanks!
Dear Jenny, thank you so much for sharing your journey! This year I taught an undergrad math course for elementary teachers and even though my background is in reading and art, I jumped at the opportunity to make math playful, exciting and engaging. I can’t wait to read your story that is out now and the upcoming books. Congratulations! STEM and STEAM onward!
Love the analogy of throwing all the pieces in the air–sometimes major revisions do feel like that! LOL! 🙂 Also, how generous of you to offer up a manuscript critique. Congrats on your success and write on!
Thank you for your vulnerability and sharing your journey.
Thanks for sharing your journey to publication. Such an interesting perspective!
Thanks for sharing your journey, Jenny, and how you got all the pieces to fit together.
Fabulous post! Figuring out which pieces from our life story could fit into our written story is a puzzle.
I love the idea of our writing paths as puzzles with pieces – thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing your inspiring journey. I’m so happy your puzzle pieces eventually fit together so beautifully. Congratulations on your books!
Jenny, this is a great post about “writing what you know” and what can happen when you allow yourself to do that. Congratulations!
Great way of looking at things!
Jenny, this is so inspirational. I can’t wait to read Essie!
This is awesome. I’m going to try to find my puzzle pieces 🙂 Congrats, Jenny!
Thanks for sharing, Jenny. I like your spreadsheet idea: I do something similar, but you take it that extra step by making connections. And I agree–the more of oneself that can be brought to a manuscript, the likelier one is to connect with others.
Thank you for sharing some of your story. The analogy of a puzzle really resonates with me. My WIP is a borderless, doublesided puzzle that I can’t for the life of me solve. But I’ll keep trying. I shelved it last summer, then a few weeks ago I threw all the pieces in the air. Might need to do that again.
Thank you for sharing your journey! I love your description of putting the puzzle pieces together. I feel like that most days and your message inspired me to keep trying.
Brava, Jenny for your success and for sharing your unique process of combining different pieces of your personal experience. I look forward to reading your books!
Thank you for sharing Jenny. This is so inspiring. I love that you write what you know 🙂 And thank you for offering a critique. What an awesome prize!
Jenny, thank you for sharing these encouraging words about the revision process and the importance of looking for ways to combine, rearrange or reuse elements of our stories. I also love your message of being true to who we are and what we know. Wise words. Congratulations on your publishing successes.
I look forward to reading your books!
This was a terrific and inspiring post. Thank you for sharing your story and congrats on your success.
Great and interesting story! I too write from some pretty diverse life experiences, so I can relate to your journey. Thanks for sharing it!
Jenny, Thank you for your inspiring and interesting post! I look forward to “Again, Essie!”
Thanks for this insightful post. Can’t wait to meet Essie and Raphael.
Congratulations on all your upcoming books! And thank you for the inspirational advice to put ourselves and our interests into our stories!
What amazing progress you made with six upcoming titles! Sounds like you learned a lot about yourself as your goals changed. Congratulations, Jenny!!
Congratulations, Jenny! Thank you for sharing your inspiring journey into writing. I’m looking forward to reading your books!
Thank you for sharing your journey. Parts of your journey sound like mine (well, except for the math part.) 🙂 I like your process of putting ideas down near related ideas to see how they might connect. I love puzzles but haven’t tried approaching writing that way; I just created an idea notebook for that purpose. I also appreciate your reminder that writing isn’t just an intellectual process; we must put ourselves into our stories. Thanks again for sharing.
Love the revision idea of combining different aspects. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story and for being brave enough to share yourself in your stories. They sound wonderful.
I love this story and the thought of creating and finding the pieces to your/our/the reader’s puzzle of life…Thank you for sharing!
I enjoyed hearing the random playfulness in “flinging all the pieces into the air and see what happens when they land.” Thank you for sharing!
I loved reading your post and how you created such unique stories by tapping into your own experiences. Congratulations on all your upcoming books. They sound amazing!
I love the idea of the puzzle pieces mixed with your own personal life and experiences. It is a great concept and worth the effort to try something new and see if things fit one way or another.
Thank you so much for writing this! I live with a chronic illness as well; rheumatoid arthritis and my aunt has MS but is now in remission. Wishing you all the best. <3
Amazing journey. Heartfelt post. Incredible woman. Thank you for sharing your path to publication. To many more!
Thanks for sharing your journey. Looking forward to reading your books.
Thank you Jenny for telling your story. Finding a way to fit the passion and pieces into a story is so difficult.
Jenny,
Your raw, honest sharing is inspiring to me. I, too, have written and revised with my Critique Group story after story without acquisition. I’m beginning to wonder if this passion I hold for storytelling is of my imagination. Your words–“I found that the more ways I brought myself into my writing, the more potential there was for someone to connect with it. Each facet of my own experience was like a different potential connection. What we care about matters. To us, and to readers”–give me hope to press on and keep believing in myself as a writer for children, keep developing my skills, keep placing my heart into my stories. Motherhood drains our love and energy; cronic illness drains even more of our strength. I urge you to keep going along this successful journey–you DO HAVE something valuable to readers to learn. Sending you spark, strength and compassion for your years ahead…
Loved this! Such great insight. I too, wonder if people care what I write. But I found, once I started writing about things that were meaningful to me, and mattered to me, and were personal to me, they became relatable and likeable to others!
Exposing ourselves and our passions can be challenging. Thank you for finding the courage to do that and to share your stories with us.
I loved reading this. Thank you so much for sharing!
I do love an organized idea generating process– and a spreadsheet! My instinct has always been that letting ideas stew near one another can allow them to mix and melt together and come out as something new and better. Thank you for validating that thought with your story! Can’t wait to check out your books.
Thank you for sharing your story, Jenny. I’m still working on the puzzle and hope to find those final pieces like you did. Best wishes!
Thanks, Jenny, for sharing your journey. It is so helpful to read what has worked for you, where you’ve stumbled, and what had lead you to being published. I like the idea about keeping the spreadsheet of ideas and also about bringing yourself into your writing. That is something I have yet to do but I think it’s time I explored it. I look forward to reading “Again, Essie!” and the other books you are writing. Thanks for being a featured author. We can all learn from you.
I agree…writing stories is analogous to putting a puzzle together. Add a story piece or remove a story piece and the story landscape changes. I like your advice of putting personal puzzle pieces in one’s work. That process can bring richness to a story and sometimes, put a new perspective on some real life puzzles!
Thanks for sharing your insight, Jenny. Love the analogy of the puzzle pieces and finding the right fit. So true that timing is a huge ‘piece’, too. Congrats on your success!!
Thank You for sharing your journey and your challenges with us. I especially like the comparison to a puzzle. Congratulations on your book (and 6 more WOW)
Thank you for sharing your story. It was very inspiring to hear about your process. Congratulations on your books.
Thank you for sharing with us! I’m so glad you are finding your place and writing stories that speak to your heart (and our hearts). Congratulations!
I think I’m the eleventy-seventh person to use the word “inspiring” here, but I can’t help it! Thanks for sharing your story.
A great post on perseverance and finding our voices. Continued success!
What a wonderful post. Thank you so much for sharing your story!
I really related to Jenny’s journey. I too keep trying to get all the pieces to jive but feel something is missing. Her post definitely gave me inspiration to delve into my own experience!
Thank you for sharing your story!
Your perseverance searching for your puzzle/ self is beautiful and inspiring!
This was a totally different way to look at ways to bring your ideas together. Thank you!
Love this!
Congrats! Your book looks wonderful! Wishing you the best of health.
I completely understood her fear of sharing her passion. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Jenny, for sharing your writing journey with us. You’re an inspiration! I look forward to reading your books. Congratulations!
Thank you for sharing this. I appreciate it!
Thank you for your inspiring post of perseverence!
Very inspirational. I love the spreadsheet idea and fitting the pieces like a puzzle. Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you Jenny for your inspiring article. I like STEM picture books as well AND PUZZLES, but as an Art Teacher I have to add the “A” for STEAM. Congratulations on your success and I look forward to reading your books.
Thank you, Jenny for this inspirational piece. It gives me hope!
So glad you found your success! There are days when all of those puzzle pieces feel more like grains of sands. Thanks for sharing!
Jenny,
Your story serves as a reminder to allow your heart and instincts lead the way on the journey. Many twists and turns and setbacks and dead ends but you do end up where you belong. Congratulations!
Great post Jenny!! Thank you for giving us a peek at your writing journey. I love your idea of keeping a spreadsheet of story ideas! I keep a word doc filled with all of my Storystorm ideas and another one filled with pieces of my stories that have been deleted. I admit that I am a pack rat as far as never throwing any of my writing away but you never know when one piece that doesn’t work in one story may be just the right piece in another. I love the image of flinging all of the pieces of my stories into the air and seeing where they land.
I, like you, have medical issues that I have been dealing with ever since I was 10 years old and I also write interests me.
Congratulations on your books and 6 more in the pipeline!!
Wow!!
Such an inspiring post. I love the visual of the puzzle pieces, and your infectious passion to fit them all together into something that works for you, your editors, and most importantly, your readers. Congratulations!
Congratulations Jenny! Your books sound so inventive and wonderful- i will definitely be reading them! Also you’re personal story is wonderful- keep up the great work!
Best to you,
Jennifer
Jenny, thank you for this post. I am so happy for you and wish you all the best in your writing career. It looks like you are on an incredible journey already. I love how you used writing to help with your cronic illness. I don’t remember a time I didn’t aspire to be a writer and published or not I always wrote, until I was diagnosed with a cronic condition myself. As it effected my energy and memory, among other things, I stopped writing, but that only made me feel worse. You are such a great example of strength for us all to follow. Trully inspiring!
What a great post. Thank you for sharing your ideas and explaining your process. Six forthcoming books! That’s so inspiring!!! Congratulations. I hope to make it there some day.
I loved hearing about your journey and process. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us! I love how you never gave up and how your brilliantly broke up your story until you made it work! That’s a great idea! Very STEM minded!
Great piece…relatable and inspirational!
Thank you for sharing this. It’s challenging me to think about what parts of me I can incorporate 🙂
Great piece. Loved how you made your story work!
Thank you so much for sharing. YOU and your writing are inspiring!
Love how you pieced together your next chapter
Thank you for sharing your intimate journey. I too have experienced taking deeper dives to pull out more discovery than what’s on the surface. I had several teachers in college who wouldn’t let me get away with writing from the surface. I was always amazed at what came up and the difference it made in my writing.
Keep on writing, Jenny!
As a person living with chronic pain of fibromyalgia, congratulations on your accomplishments. Unless you are going through something similar, you can’t imagine how difficult it is to write and take care of a family. Much continued success!
Love the reminder to write about personal connections. Each of our unique perspectives matter!
Wow! 6 on the way! Congratulations!
Super inspiring, thank you for sharing!
What a great post, Jennie! I loved hearing your insights about the picture book writing process.
I completely agree with the notion that writing a story is like assembling a puzzle. Thank you for sharing your experience, and congrats on your publication!
Very creative approach!
Thank you for sharing your journey, Jenny. Your story is especially inspiring to those of us who are still finding their voice.
What a wonderful post and love the idea of a picture book as a puzzle! I cant wait to read your books.
Jennie, thank you for your bravery in writing this post and sharing the analogy of writing as creating a puzzle. There are so many wonderful little pieces here to add to and shuffle around my own puzzle. Can’t wait to see Again, Essie? I loved the illustrations you showed.
What a great post! I love hearing your story. Thank you for the takeaways of preparing through education, sharing with critique groups, and bringing in what we know.
This book looks so fun! And I love how you describe writing being like a puzzle- so true!
Thank you so much Jennie for sharing the road you used on your writing journey. So inspiring!
Great post, Jenny! Thanks for sharing the ways you put the puzzle together. And congrats on all the upcoming books – can’t wait to read them!
Thanks for sharing your journey and inspiration! I look forward to reading your books. Congratulations!
Love hearing the journey of a book!
I love how you found your voice, thank you for sharing your beautiful story!
Thanks for sharing your journey. And congratulations on the publication of your books. It’s interesting to hear how they came together.
Jennie, thank you for sharing your journey and process – what a beautiful book! Congrats!
Great post. I like how you mix and match ideas. Thanks for sharing!
Love how unexpected perfection can pop out of combining elements and removing elements~
Very inspiring and insightful! Congratulations on your successes and future projects.
I love the idea that one piece is always connected to the next. Thanks for the post.
Thank you for sharing!
Since I am just getting into STEM writing for kids I found this to be such an interesting and useful post. Thank you! Andn the idea of incorporating geometry into a young kids book is simply genius 🙂
Wonderful post!! Loved reading about your journey, Jenny!
Thanks for sharing your process. Congratulations on your success!
Jenny, it is very true. Writing PBs is like working on a puzzle. I have been comparing this work to completing a crossword puzzle for a while now – because that’s what I do. But comparing it to a jigsaw puzzle is better since a completed jigsaw puzzle will be a picture! Anyway, enjoy puzzling and I hope to read your current and upcoming books.
I love that you played to your own strengths – we can all learn from that! And thank you for sharing – I love puzzles, and writing picture books, so now I can combine the two!
Thank you so much for sharing. That was a beautiful way to think about writing. Now I feel inspired to explore what piece of me I can use to connect with others through my writing. Thank you!
Definitely sounds like you solved the puzzle and found the right way to put the pieces together! Congrats!
What an amazing new perspective finding the puzzle pieces that fit! I always see my work as post-its and notes on scrap paper (probably because that’s what a lot of them are) scattered across my desk, waiting to be arranged in some form of order. The idea of puzzle pieces suggests that there actually is a specific way they fit together literally linking them all! Thank you Jenny for sharing your insight, and congratulations on you upcoming releases.
Jenny – you are managing this writing puzzle with such strength and creativity. I look forward to reading Again, Essie? and your next six books!
I’m a list maker and spreadsheet maker and never thought to create a spreadsheet of ideas, words or phrases, and themes. Love it! Thanks for sharing your journey. We find ourselves as we find the heart of the story.
I love PBs about really unique subjects. Lowriders–who would’ve thought?
This was just the inspiration I needed today! Thank you!
Jenny, your words and advice and story are beyond inspirational and sweet! Thank you!
Thank you for spreading the inspiration to adapt and persist. Amazing journey that’s just getting started. Congrats on Again, Essie and the SIX forthcoming books. WoW!
I loved your story. I was particularly inspired by how you overcame the fear of exposing yourself and your passions. Thank you for sharing so many helpful ideas.
What an interesting dissection of your process–personal and craft-wise. I loved how you described your ideas, words, etc. as part of a big puzzle. Such a visual way to look at it. Very cool!
Jenny,
I love how you put the ideas of your story into a puzzle. A PB about low riders- wonderful! I have a story about a Hispanic girl that I’d love for you to critique.
Sue
Thank you for inspiring us with your story!
So inspiring! Thank you for sharing your story.
I love how you took apart an old manuscript and completely revised it! Congratulations on your success!
When asked to write a post for 12×12 you felt uncertain that what you had to say might not be of interest to others. I think we all feel like this quite a lot of the time. Despite the challenges you cope with on a daily basis you have succeeded and we have all benefitted from what you have shared with us.
Thank you for sharing your journey, process, and how you connected pieces to find the right fit! Great post!
Jenny, thank you for sharing your author journey with us. I appreciate how you kept trying until you got the pieces in the right places.
Good luck with your future books and congratulations!!
Thinking of story as a puzzle; I like that. It does all have to fit together, doesn’t it?
Your insight about what we care about mattering is so poignant. That’s absolutely how we connect. Thank you for the thoughtful post and congrats on your access!
Your insight about what we care about mattering is so poignant. That’s absolutely how we connect. Thank you for the thoughtful post and congrats on your success!
I enjoy reading your article. I know that feeling when you have many ideas and wonder how to connect them together. Sometimes you need to choose the best line for your story.
The inspiring personal journey woven through your story engages young readers in a meaningful way. You may not have intended to be a writer, but it is your path in life. All the best on a long publishing career!
Thank you for sharing your writing journey, Jenny! I relate SO MUCH to the puzzle concept. And huge congrats on your upcoming book, too!
Great analogy for how putting yourself in your work makes your work … work!
Thank you for sharing your story … it is encouraging that we can still believe in our work fitting in with the rest that life is throwing at us. And the revise, revise, and revise message comes through loud and clear! Thank you! Blessings to you!
Super happy you’ve found yourself in your writing! I know sometimes the obvious takes awhile to find! Loved your reflection on yourself. Best of wishes with your health!
Thank you for sharing your journey and your process, and congratulations on your upcoming books!
Thanks for your insight!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I too think of picture books as puzzles – I need to figure out what pieces fit together and how.