Guest Post for Kidlit Zombie Week 2025, Day 3: THROW YOUR HAT IN THE RING! by Anne Sawan (6/25/2025)

Dear Kidlit Zombie Week friends,

Welcome to the second post for 2025’s Kidlit Zombie Week! If this is your first time joining us, you’ll find this is a deadly-fun week full of discussions about how to bring your dead manuscripts back to life, with tons of incredible prizes to boot!

Today, I’m delighted to share our next inspiring post written by multi-published author Anne Sawan! Without further ado, here we go!

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THROW YOUR HAT IN THE RING! by Anne Sawan

The expression, “Throw your hat in the ring!” comes from the 1800’s when spectators at street boxing matches would literally throw their hat into the ring to show that they wanted in on the action. I can imagine it now: a dusty street, women in long skirts, men in bowler hats, everyone cheering, and an onlooker getting caught up in the excitement, thinking, “I can do this!” There’s a rush of adrenaline as they fling their hat into the ring! Instantly followed by a thought of, “Oh no, what was I thinking?”

Like many of us, I didn’t know anything at the beginning of this book writing journey beyond, “I have this great book and surely someone will want to publish it.” So, fueled by naïve confidence I spontaneously threw my hat into, sending my story about a basketball-dunking grandma to several publishers-cringe- and, was instantly rejected. Ouch. This boxing thing was painful. Wounded, I retreated. I was certain I would never become a published author. It seemed impossible. 

Then, I began taking a writing class at a local center, and from there I joined a writing group, attended numerous webinars, read blogs, scoured articles—learning all I could about writing picture books. Slowly, I began to understand that writing a good story was only the beginning. The real magic—though also the real work—happens in revision.

At first, revision felt like defeat—like proof I hadn’t done it right the first time. But I came to see it as a gift: a second chance to find the heart of my story. I learned how to tighten the pacing, sharpen the voice, and restructure scenes so the emotional arc could shine. Sometimes that meant moving one word; sometimes it meant rewriting entire sections. And while not every change made the story perfect, every revision made it stronger. 

Still, for a long time, I was afraid to enter that boxing ring again. Until, one day, when I came across a post for a contest focused on picture books that celebrated grandparents. First prize was a publishing contract with Clavis Publishing. I got out my old story about the basketball-dunking grandma and brought it with me to my writing group. I listened to their feedback about ways to make it tighter, where to move the action along, and perhaps most importantly, to consider making it more diverse and inclusive. Then with my revisions done and my writing group cheering in my ears, I decided to throw my hat in the ring once again. I pressed the send button, and the doubt quickly crept in. What was I thinking? Who was I to enter this contest? How ridiculous of me to even hope I would win! Fast forward to many months later, I was home, caught up in the throes of trying to get some spaghetti on the table for five hungry children when the phone rang with an unknown number. I ignored it. It kept ringing. Aggravated, and certain it was a telemarketer, I barked, “Hello”, in a very curt tone and the person on the other end said, “You won!”  

My first picture book, What Can Your Grandma Do?, was published by Clavis in 2017. 

It’s scary. Anytime we take a leap into something new it’s scary. It doesn’t matter if we are entering a boxing match or trying to get our book published. It doesn’t matter if we are 5, 12, 37, or 60 years old. It doesn’t matter if we are humans or eagles. 

Eagles?

I have been watching the live stream of two baby bald eagles, Gizmo and Sunny, from Southern California. What a fascinating window into the amazing beauty and strength of nature observing these two remarkable creatures develop from fragile eggs into curious eaglets. Nurtured by their attentive parents they grow bigger and stronger each day. Lately, the camera has been busy capturing the now juvenile birds as they prepare to leave the nest. They have been practicing-spreading their wings, flapping, rocking back and forth, jumping around, leaning forward-all in preparation for their eventual journey out into the world. The world watches as they flap, jump, move to the edge of the nest and then… retreat. Over and over, it goes flap, jump, edge, retreat-for days -until, finally, driven by what I can only imagine was a moment of, “I’m going to throw my hat in the ring!” Sunny takes a leap of faith and (a little shaky at first) flies away! Gizmo anxiously watched her sister, not yet ready herself, but a few days later, with her own surge of nervous conviction, she too overcame her apprehension- and soared!

These eaglets provide a perfect metaphor for those of us on this writing journey. The support and nurturing from the more seasoned “parents,” the necessary development, learning, and revising that takes place until we are ready to venture out on our own. Every time you revise, you’re flapping your wings a little harder, jumping a bit higher, building the strength and confidence to soar.

Is it scary? Yes!

Will it be rejected? Maybe! 

Will it eventually find a home somewhere? We can only hope!

But there is no way to know what will happen if you don’t throw your hat into that ring. So, channel your inner Sunny and Gizmo and let your story soar, because until you do – you will never know if you can fly.

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Thanks so much for reading and participating in Kidlit Zombie Week! Now, hobble your zombie self on over to our Kidlit Zombie Week Bluesky account and join in on the conversation. Don’t forget to check out the prizes for the week and invite writing friends to participate in our 2025 Kidlit Zombie Week, where we talk about revising manuscripts and have great prizes too!

Sincerely,

Kaitlyn Sanchez