On my mind this week:
I visited eight schools this week for World Read Aloud Day and it reminded me why I’m an author. It’s so much more than putting words on a page and making a book. It’s about telling stories, making connections, and sharing experiences with your readers. Something I always say to kids: I write the words, the illustrator then adds their story, and then when you read it you get to add your own story. It’s a collaboration between all of us. Plus I love hearing their questions and talking about all things books (plus Ringo Starr, how I take my coffee, and what it was like to skydive).
If you’re not already listening to Joanna Ho and Caroline Pritchard’s podcast, Kidlit Happy Hour, I implore you to listen to the latest one with Erin Entrada Kelly (who is my very favorite children’s author). She shared so many amazing craft tips and really had me thinking about how to apply her advice to my own work. I need to re-listen and take notes.
James Clear always seems to have just the right words. Here’s a another gem this week from his newsletter:
"Stop paying so much attention to what everyone else is doing and run your own race. How much time is spent reading other people's posts on social media, watching other people's exploits in the news, listening to other people's ideas on podcasts?
Go have coffee with a friend. Go make something. Go outside. All those hours spent looking at someone else's life on a screen could be used to take action in your own life." - James Clear
A tip to reduce your phone social media browsing: turn it black & white. Here’s how to do it on an iPhone. I set up a shortcut so I can turn it on and off with a triple-click of the side button.
We covered Celebrating Your Book on Kidlit Survival Guide this week. You can see what we have planned the next few months here.
I’ve been reading and reviewing so many great picture books lately. Here is a selection and you can see all my reviews on Goodreads. Reviews are so important to creators so while you’re over there, leave a review yourself!
Tip of the Week
I’m pulling this one from the comments on our last Kidlit Survival Guide post. Always have post-it notes at your book launch. People can write down their names for you to sign their books as believe me, you’ll even forget how to spell your friends’ names when it comes to putting permanent marker to book page.
Happy writing,
Christine