December signals the end of a year is near. For most of us, memories of 2020 will remain bittersweet. We may recall the joy of accomplishment, the frustration of uncertainty, and or perhaps the pain of loss.
Like a story, the calendar year has an ending, but it also had a beginning. So have our journeys to become the writers we are today. Do you remember your story?
Tip 1. Remember how you started on this journey
With many story beginnings, the point when your character’s world changed and their journey began is like the day you became a writer. Maybe it happened this year or years ago. For me, it happened in 2013 when a friend encouraged me to go after my dream to write and publish a children’s book.
I had always loved picture books and how art and text come together to tell a story. As a teacher, I read them to my students and as a parent; I read them to my children. But I didn’t know how to write a picture book. And I didn’t know what I’d write about. But the day I reached inside my kitchen drawer to get a little plastic baby to hide in my freshly baked Mardi Gras King Cake, a story idea escaped. I couldn’t find the amulet and thought my baby ran away! At that moment, I grabbed on to that idea and didn’t let go. That night, I wrote my first draft about a runaway baby based on my cultural tradition of eating King Cake during the Carnival season.
I wrote a story. Now what? I googled, “How to write a picture book and get it published” And I found an online class offered by Laura Backus and John Bard. One lesson recommended joining a critique group to get help from others who write for children. So, again I googled, “Writing for children, Cincinnati” and emailed someone who arranged meetings for writers near me.
Tip 2: Remember the obstacles you had to navigate.
Kerrie Logan Hollihan, the leader of that writer’s group, replied inviting me to their next meeting, and asked me to bring a story to share. I googled her and all the names on that email. You know that advice to never read the comments because of the feelings they may evoke? My research showed that Kerrie is an award-winning author along with Mary Kay Carson, award-winning author, Emma Carlson Berne, award-winning author, Brandon Marie Miller, award-winning author. Well, that was intimidating! They were a longstanding active local SCBWI chapter. Why would published, award-winning authors be interested in a silly story I wrote? I decided not to go.
Whether it is a first or fiftieth manuscript, whether we are pre-published or published, we can become our own obstacle. But I remembered my goal–my dream–my motivation. And on the night of that meeting, I pushed that self-doubt out of the way and off I went, story in hand.
Tip 3: Remember why you started writing for children
At my first writer’s group meeting, I read my draft, got amazing feedback and advice. After, I connected with the writing community and joined SCBWI, 12×12, and formed a critique group. I had a steep learning curve to navigate, but with guidance from mentors, I achieved my goal and published my debut picture book, THE KING CAKE BABY.
Since then I have had more success and a lot more rejection that rejoicing, but what keeps me motivated is why I write for kids.
Once at a bookstore event in New Orleans, a young child translated in French as I read my debut book set in the city. Kids seeing their experiences in books, matter. At another fun bookstore event in Cincinnati, kids caught beads in a mock parade, listened to Mardi Gras music, and ate King Cake. After reading the story that includes a multiethnic cast of characters, I shared my collection of King Cake babies and a little girl pointed out the one that matched her sepia skin tone and beamed with delight. Kids seeing themselves, and people who look like them in books, matter.
And this fall, after a long amazing day celebrating the book launch of NO VOICE TOO SMALL: FOURTEEN YOUNG AMERICANS MAKING HISTORY, once again something happened that reminded me why books matter. The same day a blog published an interview where I wrote about the power of story. That evening, after all the events and book buzz ended, I received a video and photo of Judy Adams, one of the youth featured in the book. Judy is the founder of Dimes for Down syndrome and speaks up about living with Down syndrome. Judy’s reaction is evidence that youth seeing their stories in books, matter.
The need for new and inclusive content centered on unsung heroes inspired me to write OPENING THE ROAD: VICTOR HUGO GREEN AND HIS GREEN BOOK. While the difficulties of traveling while Black is not new, this true story introduces how Victor Hugo Green and a community bypassed the oppression, humiliation, and inequality of legal segregation. Kids learning about inspirational people, their ingenuity, and historically true events in books, matter.
When creating stories, as writers we think about what motivates our characters. It’s also important to think about what motivates us to write for kids. I write stories that invite kids to see their world, the one that is familiar to them but also worlds that are different, too. I believe the power of story helps us all learn about and from one another. Stories can be a bridge children use to connect the past to the present so they can think about how to build a better future. And kids want to read about their experiences, see their reflections, and share their stories with others, because books matter.
Keila V. Dawson is a former educator and co-editor of NO VOICE TOO SMALL: FOURTEEN YOUNG AMERICANS MAKING HISTORY, and the forthcoming No World Too Big: Young People Fighting Climate Change. She is the author of THE KING CAKE BABY, and the forthcoming OPENING THE ROAD: VICTOR HUGO GREEN AND HIS GREEN BOOK, Dawson is a New Orleans native and has lived and worked in the U.S., the Philippines, Japan, and Egypt. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Find her on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or her website.
Keila is offering a Kindle edition of OPENING THE ROAD: Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book to one lucky 12 x 12 check-in winner.
120 Responses
Congratulations, Keila! Words and books do matter. I look forward to your new book and to featuring you on my blog soon!
OH So proud Of you Keila. ❤️
What an absolutely splendid post. It was a good day to be reminded to be brave, even though you are afraid. I’m so glad to hear from the author of these splendid books – brava!
I love hearing your story about how you became a writer!
The power of the pen…the power of story…connections of all kinds…a bridge to the past that links to the future; I loved this post. It is why I, too, write for kids.
I love your backstory, Keila! I’m so glad you decided to take the plunge, despite being intimidated and worried that no one would care! Go you!!!!
Thank you for sharing your story!
Thanks for reminding me I can all be my own obstacle!
Hope your New Year is filled with love and success!
Amazing story, Keila. I’m so excited to read all of your books. They all sound so interesting! And I want to try King Cake!
I’m so excited to read all of your books, Keila They all sound so interesting! And I want to try King Cake!
You were so lucky to be blessed with a great group of mentoring picture book authors. Would have loved that opportunity. I mentor writers in the mystery genre. Congratulations and continued success!
Thanks for sharing your writer’s journey with us, and for the reminders that we all need to remember the how’s, what’s and why’s that have made up our own personal stories so far. Great tips!
Thanks for sharing your story, Keila! And congratulations on your success.
Books matter! I love that and love your story! Thanks for inspiring me. I fail forward daily!
Wonderful words for us! Thanks for taking us on your journey. Congratulations as well!
Great post, Keila! Thank you for sharing your story with us!! I’m always fascinated to learn how, and why, someone decides to became a writer! I definitely connected with you when you said that, “We can be our own obstacle!”
Lovely post Keila – YES, YES, YES, the power of stories is always worth remembering. I love the idea of being your own obstacle – definitely true in my case. So, 2021 … get out of my own way!
Perfect year end reflection; thank you! And congrats on your books this year!
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing!
I always love to hear journey stories and to think I sat down next to you, Keila, at the SCBWI Marvelous Midwest conference not knowing who you were, that you were a published author! You made me feel so welcome and for that, I will be forever grateful. And though we didn’t talk about it that night, it’s so ironic that we both had the Green Book idea. Mine was just that, an idea and a replica of a Green Book I bought on Ebay. You, though, took it beyond that and I cannot wait to read your story. Such an important one for kids to read. 🙂
Congratulations on your books, Keila. Thanks for sharing your journey.
I so enjoyed reading your story. It is so very affirming when stories matter:) Congratulations!
Thank you so much for an encouraging post!
Thank you for sharing your author journey with us, Keila. You write books that matter!
Thanks for sharing your tips!
Thank you for your encouragement to keep on writing and trying. And where you got inspiration and ideas to flesh out. It encouraged me even after years or self doubt and writing more and more this year.
What a great post full of helpful advice. Thank you! And thank you, Keila, for sharing the story of your journey with us. Congratulations on all your success!
I knew when I met you at the annual Northern Ohio SCBWI conference that your enthusiasm and support of the children’s writing community would take you far. Congratulations on your road to publications. Best wishes always. Carole
Thanks for making what in our lives matter a reason for writing and not being fearful of expressing it.
Wonderful post, Keila. Thank you for sharing your experience and lessons learned. I look forward to reading your new book!
Perfect post to end the year. Thank you!
Congratulations on your success, Keila! Great post!
What an exciting journey for you! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing your story. Congratulations on your writing!
Congratulations, Keila! I’m so happy you held on to your dream and went to that first writers meeting with all those awarded authors. I’ve never heard of King Cake, but now I want to experience it, along with your story.
Congratulations on your new book! I enjoyed reading your book writing journey.
Congratulations and thanks for the awesome motivation!
Way to GO!!!! . . . and thanks for the awesome motivation!
Congratulations! And thank you for reminding us not to be our own obstacles.
Congratulations, Keila! Thank you for sharing your journey with amazing inspiration.
Thank you for sharing your writing with us! All your books sound amazing! I had a similar experience starting out where I tried going to a writer’s group meeting with many published authors, and then backed out at the last second. But the following month I returned, and it has been great! Published writers want to share their stories and expertise, they’re not monsters, ha ha! Congrats on all your wonderful books!
Congratulations on your continued success! Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you Keila, always remember why we write and don’t let our own self doubt get in the way 🙂 Great advice. Thank you for sharing your story.
Thanks so much for sharing your journey with us. A bigger thanks for reminding me to remember why I write! It’s easy to forget sometimes when I let other things distract me.
Thank you for sharing your inspirational story! Congratulations on all your published books!
Thanks for sharing your story! It’s so helpful to hear that you felt intimidated but decided to go for it anyway! I love that!
What an inspiration you are to me, Keila! Thank you so much for sharing your journey as a picture book writer. Your books have great value.
“Remember the obstacles”–such sage advice! After all, the obstacles help mold us into the people we are today & we couldn’t grow without them. Congrats on your work & a big YEAH for King Cake! (It’s sooo hard to find where I live, LOL!)
Keila thanks for sharing, and urging us to remember why we write.
Thanks for prompting a very appropriate and timely look back!
A great post to start the New Year! Always great to reflect back to how I got started, what I have had to navigate, and why I am doing this! thanks and congratulations!
Excellent reminder to focus on WHY we write for children. Thank you and congratulations!
Fun fact: you’re only the second person I’ve encountered with the name Keila (the first was a classmate). Also, wonderful reminder to own your story. Congratulations on your books!
Wonderful! Congrats, Keila! Thanks for sharing.
Great post and a reminder to keep remembering why you are writing for children especially when the going gets tough. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your story!
Thank you for sharing and for these important reminders!!
Thanks for sharing your journey, Keila… it’s inspiring. And congrats on your hard-won successes.
Thanks, Keila, for these great tips as we close up 2020. It is always nice to be reminded of the meaning of our work! Congrats on this new book. Can’t wait to read it.
Thank you for this inspiring story.
Such a great blog post to end the year on. I’ve been reflecting on my writing journey this year. Your post reminded me how far I’ve come in the many years I’ve writing and who my amazing mentors have been.
Congratulations of all of your books! I’m so glad you fought past the self-doubt. I hope our paths cross in real-time some day.
Inspiring post, thanks so much for sharing!
This was just a pleasure to read. Your story is amazing. Thank you for sharing this Keila!
Thank you for sharing your journey Keila. Great tips and ideas to take into 2021:)
Thank you for a good post and ideas moving forward.
I had never heard of the Green Book before that movie several years ago. My husband mentioned that his grandma (who was white) traveled to California decades ago with a friend (who was black) and they had to figure out where to eat and stay with the Green Book. Hard to believe we still have so far to go to make things equal. Congratulations on your perseverance and publication!
Your story rings so true. Thanks for sharing your insights and for inspiring all of us.
Great lesson from that first critique meeting : the greater the risk, the greater the reward. And kudos for taking that risk. Love that you wrote about the Green Book. As a product of Atlanta and the world of Driving Miss Daisy, I know of its tremendous value in the South. Keep up the good work writing about such important topics. Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
Congratulations Keila on both your latest books. I can’t wait to read them.
I’m so happy to say I knew you when! I’m even happier for the road trip you’ve been on since then. Congratulations!
Thanks for the advice and for sharing your story! Congratulations on your books!
Thank you for sharing your journey to becoming a kidlit writer and your motivation to write stories in which kids can see themselves.
Thank your for sharing your journey and tips. Copying your three tips to my 2021 planner to begin the year and keep the next twelve months on track.
Thanks for the reminder about being scared or feeling intimidated and still taking the risk. Hearing your writing story was inspiring. Thank you
Thank you for sharing your story, and congratulations on your success!
Great post Keila! Thanks. Congratulations on all your books, especially No Voice Too Small!
Hi Keila, Thank you for sharing. It’s good to go back to basics and remember why we started writing in the first place.
Hi, Keila. I love your tip to remember why we write. Congratulations on your well deserved success!
Thank you for sharing your encouraging story and “pearls of wisdom.” I look forward to reading your books!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us and for all the *remembers*. Congrats on your success!
Congratulations Keila! I love hearing about the inspiration behind your books! Happy New Year!
Thanks for the inspiration. Sorely needed this year.
Good words for 2021!
Keila,
i have your book No Voice too Small in my office and so enjoyed reading it. i look forward to reading No World Too Big and Opening the Road. i admire the success you have attained in a relatively short time. I know that behind that is lots of work. I congratulate you on your accomplishments.
Sue
Thanks for sharing your story. It’s always nice to know what inspires writers. A you are right, books matter.
Congratulations on your books and thank you for sharing your journey with us!
Congratulations on your picture books. Most of all, congrats on being brave and going to that first critique group meeting! I would have been VERY intimidated!!🙃
Thanks for sharing your journey!!
Thanks for sharing your story and the much-needed reminder of why we do what we do. And congratulations on your success.
Ohhhh, I needed tip #3 especially right now. Thank you, Keila! Looking forward to Opening the Road.
Keila, What a wonderful reminder to be brave. Thank you and congratulations!
Thank you for sharing your writing journey with us. It is so important for children to see themselves on stories. What a way to inspire wonder, learning, empathy, compassion, and love!
What a thrill to have such enthusiasm for your stories from children and young people. Making a difference in people’s lives is what it’s all about, isn’t it.
Thank you, Keila! And congrats on your books!
I’m so glad you changed your mind and went to that meeting! Thank you for the tips and the reminders why what we do matters.
Great post!
Congrats Keila! I can’t wait to read your book! Thank you for an inspiring post to start our new year off!
Thanks for sharing. I love hearing about your writing journey.
What an inspirational post! Congratulations and thank you Keila.
Thanks Keila. I neede this little boost even though it is already January!
What an eye-opening story. Thank-you for writing it.
Congrats on your writing success! Thanks for the inspiring post.
I keep coming back to point three – to remember why you write. I find this easier in my first draft, and harder as I revise and revise and revise. I definitely benefit from taking time away from an MS, and then thinking about the heart of it again.
Thank you for this reminder!
Great post! Thank you! I remember I started writing for kids because I wanted to help foster reading and learning. Congrats!
Thank you for bringing back memories of how I started my own writing journey!
So great to keep in mind!
Lovely and inspiring. Thank you.
Congrats Keila!!! I loved hearing how your stories came alive and look forward to reading more. Thank you for sharing your journey!
Great post, but I don’t think it is the one for January 2021 that I am supposed to be commenting on….
“Kids seeing their experiences in books, matter.”
Wow! So much of this post resonates with me. We all want to be seen. Some of us won’t be except, just maybe, in a book. This post is full of great reminders! Thank you, Keila.
Congratulations and thanks for sharing such an inspirational post!
King Cake Baby sounds fun!
Thank you for these words! I needed to remember why I write for children, and how important they are. 🥰
Kelia – Congratulations and I LOVE both of your books!!! Thank you for sharing! Shelly
I love this collection of works, thanks so much for sharing with us.
So inspiring, Keila! You must have been so proud of yourself when you pushed your self-doubt out of the way and went to that writer’s group. Always exciting to hear about how someone started their journey. Continued success!
I love your stories about kids seeing themselves in your books. So inspiring!
Thank you for your inspiration! I agree…children must be able to see themselves in a story. Congratulations on your success!
That’s what I need to do, remember how I started writing for children in the first place. Thank you for the inspiring story and the tips! 🙂