Rejection slips aided author’s writing

Press, 30 August 1986, Page 5

Rejection slips aided author’s writing

By

JENNY LONG

in Rangiora

A first-time children’s author, Juliet Martin, of Rangiora, says receving rejection slips helped her writing. “I sent a few stories to school journals, and they came back with rejection slips, but very helpful comments.” The result was “Boring Mrs Bun” who works in a bakery shop. For those who see her only during the day, she leads a dull life. But her creator, Juliet Martin, believes there is always more to everybody than is first seen. “Nobody is boring, and life is fun,” said Mrs Martin. After she leaves the bakery at the end of the day, Mrs Bun gets up to all sorts of antics. Inventing activities for Mrs Bun was something Mrs Martin’s husband and three daughters, aged eight, nine and 12, helped her with. “We had brainstorming sessions quite often after dinner.” Mrs Martin is a former high school English teacher who had always enjoyed writing, but it was not until her youngest

daughter was at school that she began to think more seriously about it, and took a W.E.A. course. “I fell into writing really,” Mrs Martin said. “I was looking for a permanent job, and when I couldn’t find one, decided I would try writing.” Mrs Martin took a disciplined approach, giving up relieving teaching, and devoted every morning to writing. “I did not worry if the housework wasn’t done, but I did not ever write when the children were home, because I wanted to do things with them.”

Mrs Martin is not sure where the idea of Mrs

Bun came from, but knows her first draft took only an hour or two. “I sent it to Whitcoulls, who said they liked it, and helped considerably, suggesting quite a few aspects that I needed to work on.” From there, it was 18 months until publication. Mrs Martin is now working on two more books for children. “I enjoy writing, so I think I would be doing it even if I had not had an acceptance.” Mrs Martin readily admits she will never make a fortune — but she has no intention of returning to a regular job.