Writers' Conference

Last month I attended the SCBWI-NE conference. The first year I went, I came home so revved up with editors' names and I sent out so many manuscripts. This year, there were so few editors/agents who were interested in picture books, I just want to cry.
Actually, I don't. But I either need to seriously do this or move on.
I'm going to start leading a story time at the B&G Club library. Maybe I'll read one of my stories and have the craft be drawing pictures of the story. These are kids who don't know me and they can say whatever they want about the story. Maybe they'll give me some good ideas.

Working --- not.

I wish I were working. It would be easier to get the words out. I am so stuck on this middle-grade fantasy. Actually, I want to just get to the end. Also, the j on my keyboard is stuck. I might have to change one of the characters names.

Okay...so I have a thought. Mrs. J can be the wicked witch leading the children falsely to their mother and they get captured by the same evil spirits that have their mom. But why? Why is she captured? Why is she still alive? How did they get out? This is what baffles me. The text is so complex and detailed in the beginning, yet, now that they are in the world, it's simple. Less detail, fewer descriptions. Am I bored with this story? I'm not sure. Even the hazards are not overly compelling.

Does Chris get entrapped each time b/c he hasn't listened? I'm not sure. Is the story about him or about Cass? So many questions. And now that I've read Going Bovine, the whole snow globe thing seems passe--but I thought of it before I read it--really.