Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only)

Instead, I wish them luck. 🩷

My next career goal: to *debut* as a middle grade author. I continue to work hard on my craft and am delighted to be able to carve out more focustime for writing while I continue to mentor and help in other areas.

Pls do wish me luck, eh? Thank you!

I no longer use phrase "you got this" because esp since the pandemic, there are many who are still facing behind-the-scenes challenges (directly or indirectly), or have been struggling to achieve a longterm goal over MANY yrs.

While well-meaning, "you got this" can have opposite of intended effect.

I know I'm lucky to be in a position to be able to afford to do this and am grateful.

For those who don't know, I began as an MG writer, not an illustrator. See debbieohi.com/2024/05/pers...

Before you say "you got this!" please keep reading... 😉

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1st time in a long while that I haven't had a book contract waiting in wings, so it's a bit scary NOT to have that safety net.

As much as I love illustrating pbs, I found I was always having to put aside my MG writing for book illustration deadlines.

Time to do something about it.

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Five pencils arranged horizontally, each with a small black-and-white cartoon character drawn beside it to appear as if sitting at the pencil like a desk. Characters are using laptops or writing, with one character leaning back in a chair and another with a cat curled on top of the pencil. Illustration by Debbie Ridpath Ohi, ©2017, with credits along the left side.

Scary but exciting!

Starting this week, I'm putting all picture book ideas/projects on the back burner, turning down pb illus, focusing on my MIDDLE GRADE WRITING. For the past 15+ years, it's been other way around.

Time to be proactive and (finally) get my MG projects finished. #KidLit

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My next career goal: to debut as a MIDDLE GRADE AUTHOR.

I began as a MG writer. It's how I found my agent at Curtis Brown. For those who didn't know about my writing roots, see: debbieohi.com/2024/05/pers...

I'm also learning to set boundaries: debbieohi.com/2026/01/2026...

Wish me luck, eh?

Starting Mar/2026, I'll be without any outstanding book contracts for first time in 15+ yrs. This is both terrifying AND exciting.

Also on purpose: I've been declining #KidLit book illus contracts because I figure it's the best way to *finally* guarantee I'll have focustime I need to WRITE.

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Able to WRITE again.

Starting each day with freewriting, not being picky about what I write, just *writing*. Also purposely scheduling in 15 min reading for the JOY every day, which is helping. Some days I'm able to read for far longer, but I find it essential for my writing to be consistent.

3/ My priority these days has been to support the family and friends who have been going through especially difficult times.

Still looking for the balance between that & putting on my own oxygen mask. I know some of you are going thru the same. 🩷

2/ Trying NOT to beat myself up about not being more productive lately. Focusing on my own journey at my own pace.

It's one reason I've been pulling back from social media a tad, even though I know pre-holiday season is when I should be posting more about bookstuff but it's been a challenge. 🩷

Haven't been posting much here lately, apologies.

It's been more of a challenge to focus on pure writing lately because I've been stressed about certain family and dear friends who have been going through a rough time (some of whom are continuing to go through a rough time).

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Cartoon of a paramedic dragging a struggling writer toward an ambulance labeled “Writer’s Block Emergency.” The writer shouts, “It was a dark and humid night… no, that’s not it. It was a stormy night? No wait! It was an overcast and steamy night ARGH I’M SO CLOSE!!” Artwork by Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

Trying very hard NOT to be like the writer in my comic as I work on a first rough draft. My tendency has been to edit as I write. Some writers can do this successfully but it always keeps me from finishing, deciding it's not good enough.

I WILL FINISH THIS DRAFT.

@work.debbieohi.com #WriterSky

Four-panel comic of a writer at her laptop. Panel 1: She smiles and thinks, “I’m having a good writing day,” with a blue angel saying “Good for you!” and a red devil saying “So what?”. Panel 2: The background fills with red, self-doubting thoughts while the devil whispers more negativity and the angel looks worried. Panel 3: The writer yells “STOP! I know that things may change tomorrow. But right now…” as both the angel and devil react. Panel 4: She calmly returns to writing, thinking again, “I’m having a good writing day,” with only the blue angel remaining. Art by Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

6/ He's asked me NOT to get it critiqued or run it by beta readers, that he's happy to provide feedback.

Goal: to get it into good enough shape to warrant a contract.

So now I'm just WRITING. ❤️💛💙💚🧡

Wish me luck, eh?

5/ My editor at Simon & Schuster expressed in seeing anything I was working on. Around a month ago, I told him about two books I've been working on; he is interested in both! Going to focus on one at a time.

He likes my detailed synopsis & writing samples, asked me to send him a rough draft. cont'd

4/ I connected with my awesome agent Ginger Knowlton (Curtis Brown Ltd) with my MG novel writing. We got close a few times! But no contracts. 😢

Once I started doing picture books, I stopped submitted MG.

But now? I'M WORKING ON MG AGAIN!!!!

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3/ As much as I have been enjoying writing/illus picture books, more & more I've been missing longer form writing.

I have been paid for my writing in the past (nonfiction, short fiction, poetry) & have edited a book for Writers Digest Books, was columnist for Writersmarket.com.

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2/ Since being discovered as an artist (not as a writer!) in 2010 at the SCBWI Summer Conference, I have focused on picture books. Tho I've made attempts to work on my MG novels, it always took the back burner, never enough time for me to focus on MG. I decided to just embrace PBs. 🩷

But....
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UPDATE for those who missed earlier news:

I'm taking a break from picture books to go back to my original career goal of becoming a published middle grade author. See my Perseverance post.

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Two people sit across from each other at a restaurant table, smiling at the camera. The table has drinks, a glass teapot, and a water bottle on it. The restaurant is busy, with diners and waitstaff in the background.

Wrote a longer post about gratitude, @jpchanda.bsky.social, and embracing my next career challenge:

www.instagram.com/p/DLh5JJBuggH/
#Gratitude #KidLit

Just heard back from my editor at Simon & Schuster Children's, and he loves my writing samples for my MG novel! 🎉🥳 He already approved my detailed synopsis.

He's asked me to send him a rough draft, to NOT worry about finessing (I can revise later). See @work.debbieohi.com for earlier updates.

I'm about 1/4 way thru fast-drafting my rewritten MG novel. So happy to be able to finally include evil SQUIRRELS in a book, woohoo!!! It's been heavily revamped since earlier versions but is still a spooky MG with Japanese yokai.

Follow @work.debbieohi.com for updates or debbieohi.com/newsletter/

If you aren't interested in my work but are looking for my #BlueSkyTips, #CommunityPolls, #KidLit posts, and ramblings about my various geeky interests, pls follow my MAIN acct at @debbieohi.com instead.

For both accts, pls don't count on DMs to reach me. Instead: debbieohi.com/contact Thanks! - D.

Screenshot of a Bluesky profile for “Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Work-Only)” with a large red arrow pointing to the bell icon. The arrow indicates where to click to manage notification settings for the account.

Screenshot of a notification settings pop-up labeled “Keep me posted.” A large red arrow points to the toggle switch for “Posts,” which is turned on. The “Replies” toggle is off. A blue “Save changes” button is visible below.

I'm using my @work.debbieohi.com acct for work-related updates. I promise NOT to post daily wordcount updates etc. 😜 Will aim for a post a week, I think, & will try to include tools/resources I am finding useful.

If you're interested in what I'm working on, I encourage you to turn on notifications.

Wrote 1039 wds today, also outlined next scene.

Resisting the urge to revise as I write (as is my tendency). Also not worrying about voice or details. This first draft is going to be SUPER ugly but my goal is to have the bones in place asap, based on the detailed synopsis that my editor approved!

Thanks to those who have offered to be beta readers, but JP has actually asked me to send the rough draft directly to him, NOT to get it critiqued or run it past beta readers.

After working together on picture books for 15 yrs, I trust him. Plus I suspect he knows that I'm prone to over-thinking. 😊

Diving into my MG rewrite starting TODAY! Much easier, now that I have a detailed synopsis that's been approved by my editor. Wrote 1200 wds earlier this morning.

Fast-drafting (using a lot of placeholders & not worrying about voice), will revise in next pass. Editor has asked for a rough draft.

Detailed MG synopsis of my proposed rewrite APPROVED by my editor, woohoo! Current goal: To get my MG into good enough shape to warrant a contract.

For those wondering about the context of the above, see my @work.debbieohi.com feed for updates.

Two people sit across from each other at a restaurant table, smiling at the camera. The table has drinks, a glass teapot, and a water bottle on it. The restaurant is busy, with diners and waitstaff in the background.

Wrote a longer post about gratitude, @jpchanda.bsky.social, and embracing my next career challenge:

www.instagram.com/p/DLh5JJBuggH/
#Gratitude #KidLit

Holy cow. My editor has already responded and is interested in helping provide guidance as I revise (!!!!). Feeling incredibly lucky, grateful and (this is a biggie) FULL OF HOPE.

Whew. I just sent out my middle grade book proposal to my editor @jpchanda.bsky.social at @simonkids.bsky.social. I AM BOTH TERRIFIED AND EXCITED AT THE SAME TIME.