By Lori Mortensen All right--I admit it. Sometimes, I tie myself up in a mental knot over a story that I’m working on. Somehow the forces of the universe converge in my brain, and in my mind, my manuscript has to be the best darn story ever. So, of course, my mind clogs up like hair down the drain. I try in fits and starts and my words may dribble along for a little while, but all along I’m telling myself that it’s missing something. The important something. It’s fundamentally flawed and it’ll never be the story I want it to be. My mojo has left the building and it’s never coming back. How long does it last? Too long. But I know I can get my momentum back if I just dig into the literary sand and push back the wave of doubt and discouragement that has crept up like a unsuspecting fog. I tell myself that this is just one story. One story. There will be others. Lots of others. When I finish this one, I’ll move onto the next and it’ll be better than ever. I tell myself to write the story I want to read. (That usually starts my heart flickering back to life. What fun to write a story that I want to read.) I tell myself it isn’t brain surgery, for goodness sake. It’s just a story. A story! A story I want to tell. As I get drawn into the story, there are flashes of inspiration. Dare I say--brilliance? No, no--believing such a thing too early would jinx the whole process, so I’m secretly satisfied with the word, phrase, or feeling that gives me an inner smile that what I’ve just written is just darn good. Yes, it’s coming along now, isn’t it? Hey, this isn’t so bad, I tell myself. If I just keep going, maybe it will blossom into the story I want it to be. Hour by hour, day by day, I keep at it, and somewhere along the way, my mojo slips back in through a side door, quietly, unobtrusively. But that’s the way it is with writing. Wonderful words slip in and irresistible characters fight their way to the page while tugging at some inner longing of mine inside. That’s why I stick with it. It’s always nice when my mojo is around, but when it’s not, I just keep going. Lori Mortensen is an award-winning children’s book author of more than 70 books and over 350 stories and articles. A member of SCBWI, Lori is a frequent speaker at schools, SCBWI conferences, and has worked as a writing instructor for the past eight years at the Institute of Children’s Literature. Recent picture book titles include Cowpoke Clyde & Dirty Dawg, (Clarion, 2013), Cindy Moo (HarperCollins, 2012), Come See the Earth Turn – The Story of Léon Foucault (Random House, 2010), and In the Trees, Honey Bees! (Dawn, 2009). To learn more about Lori and her upcoming books, visit her website at www.lorimortensen.com, or read her blog at http://lorimortensen.blogspot.com.
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Mother's Day is around the corner and it usually brings about thoughts of care and love. We think of the holiday as solely for those who have children of their own or have a mother to celebrate. However, I've always felt that the holiday was for everyone who has a mission to nurture and love children. Whether these are your own children or not, it is evident that those behind children's books have an invested interest in the responsibility for what children learn, read, and dream. So I'd like to share excerpts from some of my favorite children's books that celebrate the power of words that children's book writers craft to celebrate motherhood and love. The Children's Book Academy is currently offering so many opportunities to explore poetic technique in writing. These quotes inspire me to see how poetic writing can touch one's heart and soul! On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered, "Life will never be the same." -Nancy Tillman, On the Night You Were Born But if I could be yours and you could be mine Our cozy little world would be twice as nice. -Sandra Boynton, Your Personal Penguin I love you right up to the moon," he said, and closed his eyes. "Oh, that's far," said Big Nutbrown Hare. "That is very, very far." -Sam McBratney, Guess How Much I Love You "Sometimes", said Pooh, "The smallest things take up the most room in your heart." -A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh "If you were a big, scary ape, I'd make you a birthday cake out of bananas, and I would tell you "I love you my big scary ape." -Lisa McCourt, I Love You, Stinky Face I can't promise to be perfect, this I admit is true; But I can promise this my son - I will ALWAYS love you. -Bridget Batson, I Promise: A Mother's Poem to Her Son Happy Mother's Day to all who love children! Do you have a favorite children's book that inspires your love for children? Lani deGuia is an educator, blogger, and mother of three. She has over 13 years of educational experience as a teacher, instructional technologist, and curriculum developer in traditional and online classroom settings for both K-12 and adult learners. She currently works as a freelance curriculum writer, social media manager, and social influencer for both small and large national businesses. You can find her at Rose Tinted Traveler where she writes about anything that crosses her mind including all things family, parenting, travel, and her digital journal of childhood memories. |
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