“I’ve got a great idea for a children’s book…”
I hear it a lot. And, oftentimes, these ideas ARE really great! But I am guessing that maybe 10% of these ideas become books.
An idea is much like a beautiful, little seed. I don’t know about you, but seeds amaze me. I could contemplate them all day. All that potential! All that magic that is tucked inside that tiny shell! My imagination bursts with images of all that it could become.
This makes me pretty happy for a while, but, without some action, it loses its appeal and I either become frustrated or uninterested. As someone who has not only illustrated books, but written a children’s book and is in the process of writing more, I have thought about this:
What makes us plant the seed in the ground? What helps us transform our book ideas into reality?
Here are a few of my initial actions that help me to plant the seed:
1. I talk to people about my idea. Sometimes this is easier said than done. We all have doubts in our heads. We worry people won’t think our idea is good or that we are being silly spending time on such a project. I encourage you to do it anyway. Usually people love to talk about ideas and the excitement builds and motivates you to take action. Furthermore, talking about my ideas always develops them! Others often ask great questions and/or contribute ideas of their own to your concept. Own it. Share it with confidence. And people will take you seriously.
2. Write it down. Get it out of your head and onto paper. This act alone makes it a bit more concrete and real. As you write, more thoughts will come. Just put them all down without needing it to make sense or be in any kind of order. Capture it all and feel the floodgates of your imagination open. You may even see some images. Go ahead and doodle it out! (No need for “talent” here...) Lastly, maybe put something that you wrote down or doodled somewhere where you will see it often. This will encourage the ideas to continue to flow.
3. I create accountability. Often, this naturally comes from talking with people. For me, if I tell someone I want to do it, I feel extra motivated to make it happen. I am blessed to be surrounded by quite a few people trying to make things happen. So, I will reach out to one of them as well to just tell them what my idea is and my plan to make it happen. I also write it down for myself in my bullet journal.
4. I do a little research. There are always logistical parts to every project that need to be figured out. So many people stop because they don’t know how to do something, but we live in the age of Google and YouTube! It is amazing how empowering it is to get the information you need! The trick is to not be overwhelmed. If you are prone to feeling this way, simply take notes and then ask yourself, “Where is the best place to start?” And start there. Or talk through it with someone who can help you to figure it out. People love helping other people achieve their dreams!
Now that your seed is planted, it will take some tending to. Next week, I will share what helps me to nurture that seed so that it breaks the surface and begins growing into its potential!
We would be happy to talk more with you about your book idea and have services to help you from writing and illustrating to self-publishing and promoting! We also offer creative coaching if you need that extra support in planting and nurturing that great idea.