My publisher wants me to work on a second Buffalo Joe book (this time, about Yellowstone)!! This is something I have been so excited about! It’s a good sign that book #1 is doing well- and I really had the best time working on my first book. So I am thrilled to get going on another one. But I’ve been going through a little phase of writer’s block. Blame it on being a new mother, on having a lack of ideas flowing, whatever- I’ve had a really hard time with it. I will sit down and stare at my laptop during Veda’s nap time and just be blank- nothing! No creative juices flowing whatsoever! I’ve even had several people give me ideas, but I can’t seem to fit them all together to create a great story. It’s led me to be frustrated with the whole thing.

So last week as I was organizing my house, I came across this book that I read for my Intro to Illustration class- “How To Get Ideas,” by Jack Foster. I have read it a few times, and it is a fantastic book. I recommend it to everyone!
You don’t even need to be a writer/illustrator/artist, it is just a fun read full of lots of tips and really funny quotes.

I busted it out and read the whole thing in a few days, and I came across several realizations. I loved this quote:

“If you want to be idea prone you must accept two things.
First, you must accept that what you think about yourself is the
single most important factor in your success.
Second, human beings can alter their lives
by altering their attitudes.”

Realization #1: I need to change my attitude

I realized that I have this weird fear of failing at this book (before I’ve even started on it) . . . I had such a great idea for my first one and it was such a great story, which gives me the feeling that there’s no way I can come up with something just as good.

But that’s not true! I’ve published a children’s book once! I’m just afraid of my new idea being rejected. But if I came up with a good idea once, I certainly can again, right? And I will!

Realization #2: Create a Deadline

I also realized that I need a deadline. And according to this book- the shorter, the better. Maybe if I’m under a time crunch, I will get serious here. So here’s what I’ve decided. I don’t have the time to dedicate to this like I used to, but
nap time = my time! No sitting down at the computer, trying to come up with something, and then just goofing around on facebook instead. This will give me at least 2 hrs. during the day to at least be thinking about book #2!

My deadline:

I am giving myself until the end of the year to turn in a manuscript. This gives me about 3 months.

September: Research all I can about the Yellowstone/Old Faithful area. The more I know about the area,
the easier it may be for an idea to pop up!

October & November: Write the story! Have the first draft written by Thanksgiving.

December: Revise, Revise, Revise! Turn in manuscript by the end of the year.

Item #1 this week is to get my hands on some books about Yellowstone and start doing some reading. Which will probably entail getting a library card (something that is long overdue to do!).