I’ve been following Julie Hedlund since 2012 when I joined her 12×12 in 2012 program. While my writing focus has been more on chapter books rather than picture books, I participate in her 12 Days of Christmas program and enjoy her insights into the writing life.
Yesterday, she sent out her newsletter and said ‘Pay attention to what you love‘.
This sent my brain into overdrive.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve struggled to settle into a particular story to finish a manuscript. I have written a lot of stories in writers groups and I have hundreds of stories that I could work on, but nothing has quite stuck. I’ve been a restless writer who can and does write just about anything.
Julie’s comment about paying attention to what you love got me thinking. What is it that I love?
Many stories in the past have been inspired by my kids and their passions. After all, these are books for kids, so it’s a great place to start. But what about me?
I’ve had so many interests and hobbies over the years, but right now, I don’t have much going on other than work and doing mum stuff… oh, and books.
Books is something I love and always have. For some reason, owning books is just as important as reading them, and I’m surrounded by overflowing shelves full of books. I have at least two novels that involve bookshops. Yesterday, I started a story about a book dragon. Could this be the thing I love that will push me to finish a manuscript or two?
I certainly hope so.
I’ve got a few chapter books on the go, but I think I’m going to focus on the book dragon story for the upcoming Chapter Book Challenge. I haven’t got through the challenge the last couple of years & I wonder how much is to do with the fact I just hadn’t found a story that I really loved.
I’ll let you know how things go.
What is it that you love? How do you bring this to your writing?
