Without a Net
It is both scary and exciting to be above the crowd without a net, like a tightrope walker who prays that their foot will land true. That’s me, right now as I embark on my career as an author of children’s books. There’s no paycheck to fall back on. There’s no department to share the load with. There’s just me.
By Wiros from Barcelona, Spain [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...)], via Wikimedia CommonsTo be fair, I have a muse–a three year old, walkin’, talkin’ spitfire of a daughter. I also have a loving, caring wife, an inspiring brother, and my faithful pooch. What more will I need to succeed in my career choice?
What more will I need? That’s what other paragraphs are for. And I plan to be writing many more of these boxy awkward jumbles of words.
Why author children’s books? I know that part of it is that I have always been a story teller. I love the connection between folks when they are sharing in a story. Also, I have so many story ideas that they are trampling my other thoughts. They are in a rush to please, educate, sooth, or distract my daughter. Perhaps if I put them on paper, they will find other brains to illuminate.
Why would other people want to read my stories? My friends and family love them, so they must be good! Reality check: my friends and family love me, and they see me in the stories. That’s why they like the stories.
My other reason that people might want to read my stories is that I love to write. I work hard to craft something interesting, readable, and hopefully beautiful. There are many writers in this new age of zero-cost publishing. But many of these writers don’t know the painful joy of the twelfth rewrite. Others write only to tap into the stream of money that gushes through the internet. I’m only human. I’m no better than any of those good folks. But, I do understand what it takes to be a professional. Also, I’m willing to put the time in.
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