I was reading a children’s book about a band of cute rabbit-like animals called pikas that were on a grand adventure. So far, they had traveled for miles, encountering danger in the form of predators, rushing water, and getting lost. They kept their spirits up by singing pika songs and giving one another pika pep talks.

It was one of the worst stories I had ever read.

The plot line was unfocused, the characters weren’t particularly likeable, and the story sounded a little too much like another book I had read and loved.

This author has no talent, I thought. No one is ever going to want to read this book.

Unfortunately, that author was me.

Becoming a Children’s Author Was Way Harder Than I Expected

In my defense, I was about 13 or 14 years old. The story in question was my first attempt at writing a book. I had just finished reading my favorite book of all time, Watership Down, for about the millionth time, and I was inspired.

I want to write something like that. My teenage mind was filled with visions of a 500-page novel that was exciting, inspiring, and made readers long for more. It was like I had something creative inside of me that I just needed to release upon the world.

But when I tried to express the feelings in my heart on paper, the result was nothing like I had imagined.

It was just as Issac Bashevis Singer described:

“Every creator painfully experiences the chasm between his inner vision and its ultimate expression.”

I felt the chasm in my case was wider than the Grand Canyon.

Wait, You Have to Share What You Write?

I’m sorry to say that after reading the draft of my book, I was so disgusted, I threw it in the trash.

All 50-plus pages.

Keep in mind that this was way back in the Dark Ages before everyone had a computer.

Okay, before personal computers even existed.

I had typed those 50 pages on a study manual typewriter, banging on those keys like a pianist playing fortissimo.

In other words, it was like hitting the “delete all” button. Once it was gone, it was gone forever.

And just like that, my dream of becoming an author was trashed as well.

Of course, if my story ended there, I would hardly be offering you any source of inspiration or hope.

That is not my intention.

But I need to be honest here. The story gets worse.

I still had dreams of writing. I entered college, and declared myself an English major. It made perfect sense for someone who wanted to write.

Everything was going fine as English classes meant reading lots of books (yay!) and writing papers about the books.

But then it came time for me to take a writing class.

Here’s the problem with taking a writing class. You have to share your work. As in let your fellow classmates read what you write.

The idea of having my peers judge my creative writing sent me into a full-blown panic. There was NO WAY I could do that.

So, I quit my second attempt at becoming a writer.

How to Guarantee…Failure

The thing with heartfelt dreams is that they don’t ever go away. No matter how deep you try to bury them, they have this pesky way of popping up and taunting you.

When I became a parent, I was reintroduced to the world of children’s books. I read A LOT of books to my kids.

And all that yearning inside to be able to create something that touched the hearts of others came bubbling up to the surface in full force.

The reason I wasn’t realizing my dream was because I was missing one key element.

When I first started writing, I didn’t tell anyone what I was doing. I started out by focusing on copywriting.

But writing for children? To share my dream was outright embarrassing.

I’d never done it before. I had no training, no experience, and, I thought, no talent.

But there was also one more thing I lacked.

I was running out of time.

I was nearing 50, and all I had done was try to write a couple of stories. I had sent them to a few magazines, and they were quickly rejected.

Was I going to walk away for a third time?

Was I going to let failure become inevitable?

What You Need to Succeed

Writer Nikos Kazantzakis once famously said, “In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can.”

I had finally come to understand that I had to stop waiting for success before allowing myself to believe I could be an author.

The belief had to come first.

I had to start calling myself a writer. I had to start telling other people that I was a writer.

My whole life, I was so afraid of failing. I believed that by avoiding failure, I could protect myself from disappointment.

But of course, that’s not how it works at all.

Or if you just try halfway, you are left in a state that is much, much worse.

My friend and author, Cerece Rennie Murphy, calls it being stuck in “almost.”

The thing is, you don’t even have to believe 100 percent that you can achieve your dreams. I heard one motivational speaker say you only need to believe you have a 3 percent chance of succeeding.

I don’t know about you, but surely if you want something enough, you can believe you have a chance of at least 3 percent.

Embrace Your Dream: Say it Out Loud

You may laugh, but this was seriously hard for me.

I’m the kind of person who never tells anyone when I’m about explore something new. So when I began taking tiny steps toward becoming a children’s author, I was too embarrassed, too filled with self-doubt, to tell anyone.

Not even my family. Especially my family.

It was such a vulnerable step to tell them: “I am trying to become a children’s writer.”

But when I finally did, it was a complete non-event for them. “That’s cool, Mom,” one of my kids replied. “Good for you,” the other said.

No gasps of disbelief. No peals of hysterical laughter.

They just accepted my statement as something ordinary.

And completely possible.

I told more people. I mentioned it to my friends. I told my dad.

I went to conferences and meet-ups for children’s book writers, and everyone accepted me without question.

All of these steps helped strengthen my belief that I could succeed.

I landed a project co-authoring a self-published book for children. I got an article published in FACES Magazine, part of the Cricket Media group.

I began exploring work-for-hire for the educational market. (Side note: this involves having a publisher assign you a book where they come up with the concept and retain all rights to the book).

I got hired to write a nonfiction book about snakes. Then another nonfiction book for high schoolers.

These were books published by legitimate publishers, with MY NAME as the author!

I had finally become a children’s book author.

None of this would have happened if I had continued to sit alone at my desk, pining away for my dream, hoping I could finally tell people when I succeeded at publishing a book.

You have to start with the belief. You have to start with being vulnerable, risking judgment and failure, and step out into the world to make your dream come true.

If you keep trying, and learning, and working, and not giving up, you will reach your goal.

And when you do, you can give your imaginary pika friend a high-five.

Want my FREE Resource Guide for anyone interested in becoming a children’s book author? 

The post Want to Be a Children’s Author? You Need This One Thing First appeared first on Make a Living in Kidlit.

And if you’re like just about every other person on this planet, you are feeling a bit overwhelmed and distracted because there is just SO MUCH stuff going on in the world!

How in the world are we supposed to get anything done, let alone write a children’s book manuscript?

For one, we are still deep in the throes of a pandemic. That alone is enough to make me want to curl up in a ball under the covers and sleep until the “all clear” bell sounds.

But not only that, it’s been an election year. Don’t worry, I’m not even going to talk about that topic–you get enough of that elsewhere.

And then there’s regular life happening (except that nothing looks regular these days). There’s work, and school if you have kids, and the latest creation by Shondaland, and the aftermath of the holidays, and AHHHHHHH!

So what in the world does this have to do with what I usually write to you about, which is about writing for kids?

It just seems like many creatives are struggling to get any work done on their kidlit stuff because it is hard to get in the right headspace with so many major distractions flying around in our heads.

We are not writing stories. We are not making art. We are not generating ideas.

But despite all that, I’m actually having one of my most productive years ever. I’ve got a book coming out. I’ve got three new work-for-hire projects going on simultaneously. I’m trying to keep up with my website and keeping in touch with you guys.

It’s not been all smooth sailing. I have days where I feel as if I’ve been banging my head against the wall and all I’ve produced is a big, fat headache.

Other days the words feel like they are being s-q-u-e-e-z-e-d out of my like an old glue bottle where the glue seems to still be liquid but my vise-like grip only produces a tiny drop.

(I mean, someone explain this to me. The glue is moving around in there, so why oh why can’t I get anything out??)

But then there are those days when I sit down and the words flow. I feel energized and excited about what I’m writing. I am learning interesting facts about what I’m researching and I can’t wait to share it with kids.

How can we get more days like that?

I thought I’d share a few of the things that I think are helping me have productive and enjoyable days.

Number one: Sit quietly.

Okay, don’t laugh. I know this can feel impossible sometimes. But I’m not even talking about a long time. 

I am a huge fan of meditation. I started exploring it a few years ago, and at first I was skeptical. Thoughts would ping around in my brain so fast I’d open my eyes feeling like I had completely failed.

Don’t go there.

Meditating is a practice. And it requires practice.

I started with baby steps. I downloaded the Insight Timer app and looked for guided meditations that were only ten minutes long. Or less.

Sometimes all I would do was one minute. 

But over time, you get better at focusing on not thinking. And I’m telling you, if you can stop your mind for just ten seconds, it helps. 

Seriously.

I now have a streak where I’ve meditated over 650 days in a row without missing a day. 

I know I am a calmer person than I was a few years ago. I’m less anxious and stressed.

And I’m able to write.

Number Two: Extend yourself some grace.

What I mean by this is don’t try to be a superhuman. 

You are doing the best you can. Sometimes the best you can do is get out of bed and change out of your pajamas. Or maybe you stay in your pajamas. But still.

You are doing the best you can.

Just keep trying to do what needs to be done. Even if it’s the bare minimum, remind yourself you can try again tomorrow.

Just don’t give up. But stop beating yourself up that you are not cranking out 10,000 words or drawing 100 sketches and also getting dinner on the table and your teeth brushed.

Number Three: Remember you don’t have to figure everything out right now

This one has actually been huge for me.

Because the truth is, we start to feel anxious and overwhelmed when we look at our to-do list or start going through the million and one things we are supposed to take care of and you think you can’t possibly get it all done and you’re going to fail and everyone is going to laugh at you or lose all respect for you and you may as well just stay in bed and definitely not change out of your pajamas.

Instead of going down that path, stop. 

Decide what are the one or two things you absolutely have to do. Then just focus on those things.

And when other things pop up, ask yourself: Do I need to figure this out right now? 

Even if you have a deadline coming up next week or a payment coming due and you don’t have the money in your account to cover it–if you don’t need to figure out that one thing AT THIS MOMENT, then tell yourself:

“I don’t have to figure that out right now.”

Because if you did have to deal with that one thing, well, that’s what should be on your must-do list. 

Everything else you tell yourself you will get to it later. But don’t obsess over it until then.

The amazing thing about this approach is that in many cases, the problem resolves itself, a solution presents itself, or you realize the problem wasn’t as bad as you thought.

For those times when you are still struggling to figure out an answer, go back to Number One: sit quietly. Try to settle your mind and then ask the question: what is the next best step? This approach has helped me many, many times in my life. You may be surprised by what comes up.

Are you wanting to write for children, but don’t know where to start? Check out this post: Want to Write for Children–But Have No Idea How to Start?

If you are feeling ready to exercise your creative muscles, and want to dive into some stories, check out this post: How to Brainstorm Ideas for Your Children’s Book.

And if you have any other great tips for managing being overwhelmed by life, let me know! 

The post Are You Feeling Creative? (Insert hysterical laughter here). appeared first on Make a Living in Kidlit.

Toward that end, I worked hard to keep up perfect grades, studied overtime for the SAT, and dutifully participated in extracurricular activities such as student government, sports, and volunteer activities.

When the slim admissions letter arrived, my heart sank. I knew I didn’t get accepted.

But my best friend did.

I wanted to be happy for her. I wanted to hug her and jump up and down screaming with excitement, sharing in her joy.

But the pain and disappointment I felt over someone else winning my most coveted prize made my heart shrink. I could barely congratulate her without bursting into tears.

Publishing is Brutally Competitive

As children’s writers, we face this same landscape of too few slots available for far too many applicants. Many who are rejected by colleges are extremely qualified—and the same holds true for those seeking a publishing deal for their book.

It’s difficult to find any actual numbers, but it’s probably safe to assume the odds of getting published, especially for a first-time author, are very low. Like single-digit-percentages low.

With such a low chance of gaining a coveted spot with a publisher, it’s understandable if you struggle to celebrate someone else’s success. Even if that person is your best friend.

Because for every person who gets a publishing contract, doesn’t that just shrink the field of possible contracts for the rest of us? Didn’t your dream of being a published author just get a little bit harder to achieve?

Let’s Do a Mindset Shift

In a culture that embraces striving to be number one, it’s hard not to see your fellow children’s writers as your rivals.

But I think this is the wrong way to view the world of children’s book publishing. (And really, the world in general).

Not only does adopting a highly competitive attitude put you in a scarcity mindset, it does nothing to increase your chances of landing one of those rare, coveted spots.

Deciding which books are given a publishing deal is a highly subjective process. I’m sure you have read many books and thought–Why on earth did this get published and not my book?

Many beautifully written stories never get published. The same holds true for highly imaginative ones or stories with a clever concept or imaginative story line.

You are not actually competing against your fellow author.

It’s not as if one person getting a publishing contract means that opportunity is taken away from you.

Think about it. Let’s take my Stanford example. If the school had decided not to accept my friend, it wasn’t as if they would have looked at the enormous list of applicants and said, “Right, let’s not take this one; we’ll take her instead.”

My friend got in because the admissions people were looking for someone with her qualifications (and they were excellent, by the way).

A publisher takes on a book because it has the various elements they happen to be looking for.

Your goal shouldn’t be to try to write a better book than the next person. Your goal should be to write the best story you possibly can.

The better the story, the better your odds of getting it published.

Other Authors Are Your Allies

The kidlit community is a remarkably supportive one. Online and in person, it seems the vast majority of writers go out of their way to encourage and help other writers.

One big reason for this is because people who write for children are motivated by a cause that transcends the individual.

We do it because we want to touch the lives of children. Whether that means inspiring them, giving them comfort, making the laugh, or igniting a passion within them, we want to make a positive impact on kids.

So when one person succeeds, the larger goal of reaching a child’s heart is achieved.

And every one of us, published or pre-published, can feel good about that.

How to Support Your Fellow Authors

After the initial sting of disappointment from my Stanford rejection faded, I was able to do a bit of self-reflection.

I realized that during all the years of our friendship, my Stanford-bound friend had been a tremendous positive influence on my life.

It was she who encouraged me to explore activities outside my comfort zone. Because of her I joined the track team, ran for student government, and did volunteering work.

She and I often studied together, and helped each other through the horrors of our high school’s social life.

She supported and encouraged me, and together, we both flourished and grew.

The same approach should be used when it comes to our fellow kidlit authors.

The truth is, the children’s writing community is made up of some of the most supportive, friendly, and generous people I have ever encountered.

Fellow writers go out of their way to help support one another. Whenever anyone asks for help, needs advice, or shares their news about their latest book triumph (or tragedy), other writers immediately jump in with answers or cute pictures of baby goats to boost everyone’s spirits.

We are not competing with one another. Because this is not a sport where there are only winners and losers.

It’s more like we are all trying to climb a giant mountain. Along the way, many of those ahead of us will throw down a rope to to give others a boost. And there is plenty of room at the top of the mountain. And with everyone offering a helping hand and encouragement, we will all get there a little faster.

How you can help your fellow writers

No matter where you are on your own journey, there is plenty you can do to help out others in the kidlit community.

It doesn’t matter if you are just starting out or have many published books.

If you need some specific ideas about to you can support others, check out my post on 11 Ways Authors Can Help Other Authors.

If you want to keep learning and exploring how to nurture your kidlit author career, sign up below and let’s be email friends!

The post How to Be Happy For Another Author’s Success appeared first on Make a Living in Kidlit.

The other day I was listening to the audiobook, and Rachel told the story about her traveling with a group of friends to San Francisco so they could run a half marathon.

And while Rachel is an avid (and quite competitive) runner, this time she wasn’t racing. She went along on the trip simply to cheer her friends on.

The day didn’t start out so well. Wandering the (outrageously hilly) streets of San Francisco, Rachel finally found the finish line just before the first runners showed up. Tired, grumpy, and coffee-deprived, she questioned her decision to act as cheerleader.

But then then runners started arriving.

As she watched them striving to reach the finish line, before she realized it, she found herself cheering her brains out. Not just for her friends, but for every random person who had chosen to lace up their shoes and run the 13.1 mile race that day.

And as she witnessed the gazelle-like elite runners cross the finish line, and observed the thrill and pride of her friends as they finished their first race, and watched another friend achieve a personal best time, Rachel experienced something transcendent.

Her heart overflowed with joy, and the overwhelming emotions coursing through her body made it feel as if her friends’ achievements were her own.

And in a moment of supreme clarity, she understood how much she would have missed that day if she had instead run the race herself. “Imagine all of the things you would have missed today if you’d only been out here for yourself,” said the voice in her head.

Cheer Others On As if Their Success is Your Own

One of the reasons I started this blog was because I was so inspired by the community of support I discovered when I attended my first writer’s conference.

(For more on embracing the mindset of seeing other authors as supporters rather than competitors, check out my previous post How to Be Happy For Another Author’s Success).

I watched as successful authors shared stories of their rocky roads to publication, of their trials and triumphs, who made us feel those triumphs could soon be part of our own futures as well.

I saw the genuine happiness others felt when learning that someone else had landed an agent, or a publishing contract, or had a successful book launch.

I saw how the group would take news of one person’s success as an indication that it was just a matter of time before that success would be everyone else’s as well.

It was incredibly inspiring and uplifting.

Imagine what the world would be like if we all viewed the achievements of our friends, neighbors, and random strangers as evidence of the abundance and opportunities that exist for us all.

That’s the world I want to live in.

To that end, I encourage you to support your fellow author. Do what you can to help boost other people’s books, guide others on their journey, and cheer them on as loudly as your kid’s tug-of-war team on field day.

Here are my top eleven suggestions for ways you can support your fellow children’s book authors:

1. Promote other authors’ work
   • Buy their books, check them out from the library (or request them if your library doesn’t carry them), read them
2. Write reviews of other people’s books
   • Post them on book selling sites as well as on social media
3. Follow each other on social media
   • Comment on their posts, retweet, share, and like them
4. Participate in writer events
   • These include chats on social media, writer contests, and giveaways.
   • Plus, you might even win a free book, cool swag, or a critique!
5. Guest post on other authors’ blogs
   • Share the post with your own audience so you both expand your reach
6. Offer tips and suggestions whenever you can
   • Answer questions people post on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (or any social media platform). Give them your best advice.
7. Cheer on other people’s good news
   • Hug them, high-five them (either in real life or virtually). Send them chocolate.
8. Attend conferences and classes
   • These are often led by other authors. You can learn some valuable lessons and support them at the same time.
9. Offer giveaways, especially to teachers and librarians
   • There’s a special place in heaven for teachers and librarians—show them the love! Plus, they are often your biggest fans.
10. Critique other people’s work with thoughtful, useful feedback
    • Not only will you be helping your fellow writers, you also hone your own skills when you do critiques
11. Be inspired and see others’ success as evidence that your day is coming
    • Because it is! Just keep going and you will get there!

The great thing about supporting your fellow authors is how much you get back in return. There is no way I would have stepped out of my comfort zone (actually it was more like tip-toeing) without the support and encouragement of other writers.

So keep cheering on the kidlit community. Keep reading their books, writing reviews, helping them over hurdles, and just being an overall giving person.

You will find it all comes back to you ten-fold. A million-fold.

What better way is there to celebrate your success then surrounded by others who share your joy?

If you want to keep learning and exploring how to keep growing your career as a kidlit author, sign up below and let’s be email friends!

The post 11 Ways Authors Can Help Other Authors appeared first on Make a Living in Kidlit.