Here's one for all you children's storytellers

That's It ... I've Had Enough

Jon here. And I need to vent a little bit.....

You see, Laura and I have been running Children's Book Insider for 23 years now. And it's been nothing but a blessing.  Well, almost.

There's one fly in the ointment, and it's this:

We keep encountering people who have the talent and the desire to write amazing children's books -- but quit before they've really given it a fair shot. When we poke or prod a little bit to find out why they walk away from their dream, we often hear some combination of:

* I'm too old (or too young, or too male, or too female, etc.)
* I don't have time
* I don't have the right college degree
* I'm afraid of people laughing at me if my work isn't any good
* I don't understand ebooks or new technology
* I'm confused about the process -- it's just overwhelming.

For us, hearing these things are, frankly, kind of heartbreaking. That's because they're all so easily addressed. The truth is this:

* No publisher would turn away a great story because of the age, gender, ethnicity, location or occupation of its author.
* People who are *far* more busy than you or me regularly get published.
* You don't need a college degree to write a children's book.
* Anyone who would laugh at your work is a jerk and a clown. Rule #1 - the opinions of jerks and clowns mean nothing.
* You can learn new technologies. They're really not that complex.
* Same goes for the submission and publishing process. It's easy stuff, actually.

We try to tell folks this, and we often manage to sway them and help keep their dream on track. But, we've found, far better than telling them is to show them. (Hey - "show, don't tell"! It really *is* good advice!)  So, in case any of you are doubting your dream right about now, I present Debbie Dadey and Cyndie Sebourn.

Debbie was a first grade teacher and librarian who did more than just daydream about writing for kids. She took action. The result? Debbie Dadey has authored more than *150* children's books!Recently, she sat down with Laura for a discussion about her life as a writer. Watch it and you'll soon discover that Debbie is not some superwoman. She's a regular, down-to-earth person with a lovely disposition and
a well-rounded life. And she's proof positive that desire, a willingness to learn and persistence are what makes a great writer. And those are things that any of you can develop and practice. Debbie did it, and so can you.

Here's where to watch the video:  http://bit.ly/dadey

Cyndie Sebourn, a member of the CBI Clubhouse Fightin' Bookworms, was struggling to find a foothold as a children's writer. When we launched our CBI 1-2-3 System back in January, Cyndie saw her opening immediately. Inspired by our interview with Karen Robertson, CBI's App Publishing Expert Guide, Cyndie decided that creating a children's app was her path to success. She contacted Karen, learned what she had to learn and now she's the proud author of  "Smarty Britches: A Southern Boy Discovers Nouns", a wonderful new app.

Cyndie is the perfect example of a "regular person" who's charting her own course to success. She didn't know anything about creating an app a few short months ago, and now it's her career!

Is there any reason you couldn't do something similar with apps, ebooks, self-publishing or print on demand? Nope. Not a one. You just need some direction and some encouragement and, hey, that's what we're here for! :)

Read Cyndie's story here: http://cbiclubhouse.com/2012/02/fightin-bookworm-spotlight-cyndie-sebour/

So take heart, writer. You *absolutely can* do it. And, if you're truly committed, you *absolutely will* do it!

Jon Bard, Managing Editor, Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children's Writers.


PS: If you're not already a CBI member, take a moment to join the Fightin' Bookworms and surround yourself with great information, acclaimed Expert Guides, private critique groups, and the most "can do" bunch of writers on the planet!

All the details -- and a special offer -- are at http://cbiclubhouse.com/non-members