Thinking about becoming an author?

Let’s imagine you’re thinking about becoming an author. That’s a huge leap of faith, isn’t it? How do you know you’re making the right decision? Of course none of us know for sure, especially when we haven’t tested our skills yet. Here are some things you might consider when you’re struggling for an answer:

Are you passionate about writing?

Most of all, are you happy and fulfilled when you’re writing? If you stop writing, do you feel like something’s missing? If so then you might get serious about working toward becoming a published author.

Practice, practice, and practice more:

Remember when you start out on any endeavor, you’re new at it. But the more you practice, the better you get. If you play piano, remember how you sounded on your first lesson compared to the way you play now? It’s the same with writing. It’s always an ongoing process. You keep learning and improving.

Are the little voices in your head trying to discourage you?

New adventures always scare me. I tend to make them seem like a huge, scary monster! When I was thinking about writing my first book, Tails of Sweetbrier, I kept having an intuition I should try to write the story. When you’re teetering on the edge of trying something new, think about the absolute worst outcome. Maybe nobody would publish your book. Is the sun likely to come up the next day? I’d say that’s a pretty safe bet. I think when your get those intuitions, you should listen to them. Amazing things can happen. Just plunge in and see where it leads you. You might be glad you did!

Just when you’re ready for the big step your friends put the damper on it:

Okay, you’ve finally decided to take the big leap and see if it leads you to realize your dream of being a published author. But your best friend, Mary, tells you most authors fail anyway and if you don’t want to be disappointed, try something else. Mary is entitled to her opinion, but remember that’s all it is-one person’s view. Does that mean she’s right? Maybe not. She doesn’t know everything. In fact, she may not even know what your dream is. Set out to prove Mary wrong. You could even surprise yourself with success!

No matter what you’re dreaming of, go for it!

We all have dreams. I think whatever your dreams are, you ought to pursue them! You could succeed against the odds. From my own experience, it feels great to do that. It’s well worth the effort.

I hope you’re feeling a little more positive about your goals. As I said in the closing of my first book, “You have the power to make your dreams come true, so reach for them and don’t accept anything less!”

*reblogged from Chris the Story Reading Ape:http://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2015/12/13/thinking-about-becoming-an-author-guest-post/

website: www.childrensbookswithlifelessons.com

Book trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=Rba4hkmmTyc&feature=youtu.be

Presenting a new book trailer/video by Chris Graham!

We're thrilled to announce a new book trailer video commissioned by Chris Graham! His work is extraordinary and we are thrilled with it! I highly recommend him to anyone who's looking for a book trailer to promote their work! here's where you can see it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rba4hkmmTyc&feature=youtu.be

Thank you so much for checking it out!

copyright 2015: Deanie Humphrys-Dunne
website: www.childrensbookswithlifelessons.com

Where do you find ideas for children's stories?

One of the most common problems writers have is coming up with a good idea for a children’s story.

Where do these ideas come from?

Don’t you wish there was a little idea elf who stopped by whenever you need it?

Let’s discuss some ways to find good ideas.

• Start with your own experiences: Did something happen to change the course of your life? That was the case for my book, Tails of Sweetbrier.The decision my dad made to teach me to ride horses truly changed my life and made it possible for me to realize my dream of becoming an accomplished equestrian. Have your children done something amazing or amusing that you can use as a starting point for your story? How about your pets? Many authors have successfully written about adventures of their pets.
• How about stories or movies? Sometimes all you need is for a story to stir a particular sentiment inside you; something you can use as a story foundation. Some authors have mentioned they suddenly get ideas in the middle of the night, or they dream about something that would make a good story subject.

For more of this article: please visit:

http://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2015/11/18/where-do-you-find-ideas-for-childrens-stories-guest-post/#comments

When the end meets the beginning of your children's story...

Imagine you’ve worked for months to hone your perfect children’s story. You’ve paid attention to important details. You’ve made sure that your main character has learned important lessons during her journey. The opening of your story has action to hold the interest of your readers. But what can you do about the ending?

You don’t want to tell your readers everything, but you want them to have a hopeful feeling when they finish your book.

You might prefer to end your story “organically.” What does that mean?

The word “organic” brings vegetables and fruits to mind, doesn’t it? But in writing, “organic” means that you create a natural ending for your story. Sometimes you may choose to refer back to the beginning of the story and have the ending tied to that.

For more of this article, please stop by http://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2015/10/21/38475/

Reblogged From Chris the Story Reading Ape.

Conflict, what exactly is that?

One of the keys to a successful children’s story is conflict.

What exactly is that?

Do your characters have to be engaged in a knock down drag out fight?

No, but one of the building blocks of a good story is a struggle of some sort.

Usually, the main character has to be involved in the conflict you develop.

Another word for a conflict is a problem that involves the main character.

Why does it need to be the main character?

Generally, the main character learns something important by solving his/her problem. The main character has to do something which will bring about the result that he/she wants.

Let’s look at some examples so you have a good picture of what I’m trying to convey.

Reblogged from Chris, the Story Reading Ape.

for more please visit:

http://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2015/09/16/conflict-exactly-what-is-that-guest-post/

The Journey

Excitement was surrounding us. I studied Medical Coding with the hope of securing a job using my new skills. I worked tirelessly preparing for the daunting final exam and scored well. I even got a letter of recommendation from the school for scoring in the top ten percent. But actually being hired was far more difficult than I imagined. It seems that people were hesitant to hire a Medical Coding person who had no experience. Naturally, this adventure didn’t end the way I hoped it would. What path should I take now?
reblogged from Chris the Story Reading Ape's Blog.
 To read more, follow this link:
http://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2015/07/14/the-journey-guest-post/

copyright Deanie Humphrys-Dunne 2015

Writing for Children? Be Sure Your Character Grows

Thank you to Chris, The Story Reading Ape for posting my article about making sure your character changes during your stories. Please stop by to check it out;
http://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2015/06/14/writing-for-children-be-sure-your-character-grows/?c=52095#comment-52095