Time to Create!

Hi Y'all!  2019 is gone and 2020 is officially here. What? How can that be? 1990 was just ten years ago! Hahaha!  2019 was a rough one for my friends and family. We had to say goodbye to too many wonderful people. So here's to hoping 2020 is a better, happier year for all!

I am not one for making New Year Resolutions but I do try to set some accomplishments that I would like to do that year. These are usually related to my writing.  This year is no different.  I want to get a new children's book written in 2020. I have oodles of ideas and started one back over the summer. Writing is the easy part though. It's getting all the illustrations and formatting complete that is the time consuming part.  Over the years I have gotten better at the whole process thanks to experience and help from others. It's great to have supportive friends in this career.  That is my first tip to anyone who is considering taking the self-publishing route.  Find a group in your field that you can talk to and bounce ideas off of.  There are so many wonderful free groups on FB, you just have to join and see which one fits you best.  There are also paid sites that can be very beneficial, especially if you live in a area where you can attend meetings and conferences. I liked being a part of SCBWI (Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators). Since I haven't been able to focus much on my writing the last couple of years, I didn't renew my subscription.  However, this organization is a wonderful source for any writer/illustrator.  https://www.scbwi.org/

Write, write, write! Create, create, create! That is my next tip. It doesn't matter if what you write or create turns into anything significant. If it is something you really love doing, it can be a great stress reliever. It seems to be a part of you and setting aside some time to do is good for your soul. At least, that's how I feel. Who knows, you may surprise yourself. 

My first painting in 2020. 

Formatting makes me want to bang my head against the wall. Haha! It's really not that bad but it is time consuming and can be frustrating, so be patient.  My number three tip is to really read up on the platform you want to publish in first.  For example, if you plan on publishing in ebook and hardback on Amazon, then read the how to guides first to understand how you need Word setup, or what image size you need for your illustrations.  Knowing this ahead of time will save you a lot of time, because everything will already be ready to upload and you won't have to go back and change everything. 

That's all the wisdom I have to share right not but I want to leave you with one of my favorite quotes.