Let Your Passion Be Your Guide!
By Donna Cangelosi
Hello, fellow 12 x 12ers! Thank you for dropping by. I’ve been a member of 12 x 12 for ten years and I’m so excited to be the featured author this month! When Kelli asked me to write this post, I searched for something new and inspirational to write. The answer came to me when I attended a talk by Dr. Jane Goodall entitled, “Inspiring Hope Through Action.”
Dr. Goodall began her talk with a question: “How did a little girl grow up to be this woman greeted by all of you?” She then described one of her earliest memories. When she was just 1 ½ years old, Jane took a handful of earthworms to bed. When her mother found them, she told Jane that the worms would die indoors because they needed the earth to live. When Jane and her mom returned the worms back to the garden, Jane’s curiosity surfaced. And her love of animals grew. As a young girl, she read DR. DOOLITTLE, TARZAN, and THE JUNGLE BOOK, and dreamed of living in Africa. As a young adult, Jane worked side jobs to earn enough money to make that desire a reality. She didn’t dream of becoming famous. She just longed to learn about animals. Thankfully, she followed that passion!
Although I had been writing picture books for many years and felt excited about all my stories, I hadn’t experienced that kind of deep passion until I started working on my debut picture book, MISTER ROGERS’ GIFT OF MUSIC, illustrated by Amanda Calatzis (Page Street Kids). The inspiration for the story began from my work as a child psychologist, seeing more and more kids who were being bullied.
Feeling frustrated, I decided to write a picture book biography about someone who helped kids overcome bullying. It didn’t take long to think of Fred Rogers, and my research began. I pored over countless episodes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and cried many tears watching interviews and speeches. See for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upm9LnuCBUM)
The more I learned about Fred’s life, the more touched I was by his kind, gentle spirit. Writing Fred’s story was the first thing I thought about when I woke up and the last thing I thought about at night. After many revisions, I finally get to share Fred Roger’s story with kids.
My experience writing MISTER ROGERS’ GIFT OF MUSIC taught me the value of tapping into our true passions. Who we really are. What we stand for. What lessons and messages we want to share with kids. Robert Frost wrote “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader….” To touch our readers, we must be deeply touched by the subjects we write about. Our enthusiasm will shine through in our stories.
We’ve all heard the advice to “write the story only you can tell.” What will your great story be? I hope some of the following ideas will help you tap into your passions and inspire your writing.
Find Hints from Childhood
Make a list of activities you loved as a kid. What kind of kid were you? What were your hopes and dreams? To help you remember, try looking at old pictures, diaries, and books, watch your favorite movies or shows, and listen to your favorite childhood tunes. Try interviewing family members and old friends.
And my favorite: talk to kids. I recently spoke with a little boy who told me about his dream to become an archaeologist. The conversation reminded me that I also wanted to be an archaeologist, something I hadn’t thought about in years. Chatting with him sparked an idea that added a new layer and fun twist to one of my old manuscripts.
Reflect on your values, hobbies, and talents
Think of the ideals that are important in your life, such as friendship, loyalty, creativity, family traditions, and advocacy. What beliefs and interests add meaning to your day and make you…you? Do you stargaze or arrange flowers from the garden? Do you dance when you’re happy or blast music when cleaning? Can you sprinkle these elements into your stories to give them a unique flair that will make them stand out?
Find your Magic!
Sometimes our passions are found in the art, words, or music of other creators and great thinkers. Listen to music, visit museums, read, and listen to TEDtalks. While other people in museums take photos, I usually take notes for story ideas. If museums aren’t your thing, try the woods or outdoor gardens, and whenever possible, travel to new places—however near or far. Meeting new people and experiencing new adventures makes us more open-minded which fosters creativity. And don’t forget to play. Color, scribble, dance, swim, run, and get together with friends. Having fun may be one of the best ways to remember the things we’re most passionate about.
What happens after you’ve written your passion project? If you’re like me, your manuscripts may receive quite a few passes. But keep going. During her talk, Dr. Goodall shared that people laughed when she told them she was going to go to Africa when she grew up. But not her mother. She told Jane, “If you really want something, you’re going to have to work hard, you’ll have to take advantage of every opportunity but don’t give up.”
The takeaway for kidlit authors: Let’s follow our passions and write the stories we need to share with the world.
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Donna Cangelosi is a children’s author and psychologist. She has a background in child development and creative arts therapies and is passionate about helping children deal with social-emotional issues. Donna hopes her stories will connect children to themselves and others. Her debut picture book, MISTER ROGERS’ GIFT OF MUSIC (Page Street Kids) has been listed as a Best Book of the Year by Bank Street College of Education. Learn more at www.donnacangelosi.com and follow Donna on Twitter @DonnaCangelosi2 and Instagram @donnacangelosi2
Donna is offering one lucky 12 x 12 member a picture book manuscript critique at our August check-in! Jump in and write a new draft today!
12 x 12 may earn a commission from books purchased through the links in the post. Proceeds go to fund 12 x 12 diversity programming and scholarships.
76 Responses
Donna! So excited to see you this morning in my inbox! 🙂 What a wonderful post! xoxo
This was such an inspiring post! I’ve been reminded and must never forget to write with readers at the forefront.
Such a great post to read first thing! It’s a great reminder to find inspiration everywhere and write not just what we want, but to write who we are. Thank you!
Hi Donna – thanks for a thoughtful post. I love the Jane Goodall inspiration! Congratulations on your debut!
I so agree with you about mining your own passions to make a picture book sing. The text of a good picture book comes straight from your heart. I am a debut author as well.
Following one’s passion(s) is so important when choosing stories to write as they demand we spend hours and hours with them, so why write something that doesn’t interest us deep down. When I realized this truth, it became easier to pick ideas I want to pursue, even when doubt creeps in about my ability to write that story. I then remind myself that this is what I really care about and that others will care about it too if I stick to the project and work really hard at it.
Thank you for your inspiring post! My favorite line is: “Meeting new people and experiencing new adventures makes us more open-minded which fosters creativity.” I wholeheartedly agree.
Hi Donna, thanks so much for sharing – so many wonderful gems of inspiration here. And a huge congrats on your debut! 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Donna!
I love imagining a world where everyone follows their passions. That’s when we find the best stuff right? When the fire within us is the driving force. Thank you for sharing!
Yes! Whatever sparks interest, curiosity, passion… Thank you for an inspiring post!
Congratulations, Donna! Your book sounds great! Thanks for sharing!
Such great ideas, and finding our magic is top of the list for me. Congratulations on your debut!
Thanks for the encouraging and inspiring post, Donna! And congrats on your debut–it’s great!
Inspiring post! It is important to mine our passions and remember what’s important to us.
Donna, I’m also a huge fan of Mr. Rogers; one of my treasured possessions is a response letter from him from a fan letter I sent him back in the day. 🙂 I’m also in agreement that enthusiasm for a story shows in the work itself!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us! Congrats on this book–and the ones to come!
Thank you, Donna. This was a wonderful and inspiring post! Mr. Rogers was wonderful, and your book gives voice to all that he encompassed.
Thank you, Donna, for sharing your path towards publishing and your background. I look forward to reading, “Mister Rogers’ Gift of Music”. And thank you for the tips on revisiting my childhood and looking for the origins of my passions. I made notes as I read your post and I already have three ideas for picture books.
Best wishes and blessings for continued success with your writing.
Thank you, Donna! What a wonderful reminder that inspiration is closer than we often think. 🙂
Thanks for all the inspiration this morning, Donna! Getting in touch with our kid selves is so important if we want to connect with young ones in our stories. I love that you chose to write about Fred Rogers. Such an incredible individual. Our youngest son wouldn’t miss his show for anything! Great messages, learnings, and values. The world could use more like him!
Ohhhh, this is a pull quote if I ever saw one: “Having fun may be one of the best ways to remember the things we’re most passionate about.”
Thank you for this dose of inspiration, Donna! I look forward to checking out your book!
Thank you for this post. I agree, it is so important to follow our passions and don’t forget to play! Congratulations on your book!
Thanks Donna, for this on- the- money post. I find writing from the heart so much easier when I hearken back to my childhood. It’s a great way to get story ideas!
What an inspirational story! I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Both my daughter and I loved watching Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Mr. Rogers was an incredible role model for people of all ages.
Thank you for this inspiring post! Many helpful tips. I loved watching Mr. Rogers when I was a kid. Congrats on your book!
What a delightful, encouraging post, Donna, about one of my “heroes.” ! I enjoyed the reminder to follow our curiosity right into playful moments and spontaneous opportunities. That your idea for the book had its origins in your work on social / emotional learning with your clients is poignant. My students are special education teachers or paraprofessionals aspiring to become teachers. When they sound discouraged about their work in discussion posts, I often reply with this quote:
“If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” – Fred Rogers.
Congratulations on your new book!
Congratulations on your book Donna, you and Mr Rogers are an inspiration. Your advice to follow one’s passions and to enjoy writing is spot on. Thank you for a great post.
Thank you, Donna, for your inspirational post! This world could use a lot more kindness, so it’s wonderful you’re helping bring that message to kids. All the best!
Thanks for the reminder Donna. I’d write more, but I need to go find my passion!
So glad you followed your passion and didn’t give up! (P.S. I’m always looking for someone to go on a dig with me bc my family won’t!!)
What a great feeling to see your passion come to life! Thanks for sharing your story.
I love Mr. Rogers and can’t wait to see your book! Thank you for reminding us to go back to childhood and dig deep!
Donna, this was truly a post that was chock-full of great tips to help us mine our childhoods for PB inspiration and engaging facts about Mr. Rogers and Dr. Jane Goodall. I also loved the quote by Robert Frost, one of my favorite poets. I am going to remind myself of that quote as I write. Best of luck to you in your career. I am a big Fred Rogers fan too and I look forward to delving into your book.
Thank you for sharing Donna. Congratulations on your success.
Thanks for an inspirational post, Donna. I’m glad that writing about Fred Rogers sparked your passion, and I appreciate the ideas that you provided for us to kindle our own passions!
Congratulations Donna! I can’t wait to read your book. Mr. Rogers was a gem! I’m looking forward to digging out my childhood diary to see what inspiration strikes! Thank you!
Thank you, Donna! I watched Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, as a child. He was truly an amazing human being. The child in me has a lot to say about getting along with others and more important, taping into one’s true self and liking oneself. An insecure child is at risk for so many challenges. I’m sure your book is going to make a difference.
Enjoyed reading this post. Next week I am entering a raffle to win two tickets to see Jane Goodall at the RBG. The beginning of your article was especially interesting. I also love Mr Rogers. Years ago I mentioned to my son that I would like to marry Mr Rogers. He said “mom,you would be mad at him everyday for tossing his shoes from one hand to the other”. Lol
Congratulations, Donna! I loved watching Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood as a child. Your book looks delightful! Thank you for such an inspiring post! 😊
Thank you for an inspiring post!
I just read Mr. Rogers, and it is such a wonderful book (and beautifully illustrated too). Thank you for writing it and for the inspiring post. I’ll definitely make use of some of your ideas.
Thanks for sharing, Donna. Congrats on your book!
Oh, such a wonderful post! I love your early days with worms 🙂 and the wonder of nature. And then Mr. Rogers! Lovely. Thanks so much for sharing encouraging words with us!
Lovely post — I love the anecdote about Jane Goodall! Congratulations on your beautiful book.
Donna, you wrote an important post encouraging us all to write about what we are most passionate about. I recall vividly how my young son was comforted by watching Fred Rogers. Lynn Moore
Thank you, Donna. Your post and the reminders of Mr Rogers helped me rethink a manuscript!! Congratulations on your book.
Thanks for sharing your passion! Your ideas are inspiring and exciting, and I will go back and re-read your post a few times to absorb more. I absolutely LOVED Mr. Rogers when I was a child (I even him once!), and I look forward to reading your book. What a wonderful idea, to write about this gentle spirit in the context of bullying (or rather, not bullying). Thank you!
I never watched Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood growing up. But I’m glad to have learned about Fred Rogers in more recent years.
I started watching Mr. Rogers when my daughter was born. He was a favorite of my children, and then grandchildren. I appreciate your suggestions which have sparked a few new ideas. Now I must get this book! Thanks for sharing.
Working hard and taking advantage of every opportunity needs to become my mantra! Thanks for the reminder that we CAN follow our passions!
Thank you for your inspirational post. Congratulations on your book! I can’t wait to read it.
Passions. I made a list one day of my passions. I was surprised. I thought I would only have a word or two, but when I was finished I was surprised at the number of passions I listed. The world is such an exciting place and there is so much to share. Thank you for your inspiring post.
Donna, I read and loved your book about Mister Rogers. It is a mentor text for my passion project. Thanks for sharing your writer’s journey.
Wow, i love the idea of tapping into your passion. Thanks for the tools of where to find what those passions maybe. So happy your book of your passion is out in the world.
Donna,
I am so inspired by your post. We all need to uncover what is magical to us. It’s in all of us. It’s inspiring to dig deep down in our past experiences, memories, feelings, and concerns. Thank you so much for reminding me of what I already hold.
You are so inspiring, Donna. This helps me unearth the stories that are inside of me. We all carry magical memories, experiences, passions and disappointments inside us. You remind me to dig deeper. There are stories inside I need to write. Thank you!
Thank you for your post, Donna, and the advice you gave us to find the stories inside of us.
Congratulations on your wonderful picture book! I love, love Mr. Rogers.
Congratulations, Donna. We know we must write from our passion but you are so right that we don’t always know where our passion lies and we need to take a step back before deciding where to focus our creativity.
I look forward to reading your next passion project and your next and your next.
Love this, thank you Donna! I really want to read your story about Fred Rogers. He is a very special person to me.
I loved watching Mr. Rogers as a kid. And I think you give great advice about writing to your passions.
Thank you for this wonderful post and reflection.
Thanks for a good dose of inspiration!
So glad Jane’s mother encouraged her to study hard to make her dreams come true. Love that you found inspiration for a manuscript after speaking with a little boy about his dream. I love their beliefs that it will happen. Congratulations on your book!
I am excited to read your book about a man who has inspired me for years.
Great post, Janet! I really connected with this, especially your advice of “don’t forget to play”!
Thank you for giving us a peak at your writing journey. We all need to follow our passions and to remember your 3 simple words, “Why Not Try”!!
Oops! This is the wrong post! That’s what I get for working into the wee hours of the night. Here’s the correct post!
Great post Donna! Thank you for giving us a peek at your writing life. I totally agree with you about following your passion(s) and would add “write for yourself”… don’t write to follow the current trend. Trends come and go in the blink of an eye… but your passions will always be there to add that special “magic” to your writing.
Thank you, Donna, for sharing this great and inspiring post! Find your Magic, find your passion – it’s very encouraging. Congratulations on your success and looking forward to reading your book.
Suhasini
Such an interesting article, thank you for sharing!
Inspiring curiosity in children is most of what I try to do. I believe children are the keystones of our future, and if we can inspire them to take a proactive interest in the environment and the world around them, that can only be a good thing for our future and the future of our planet. I have been delving I to my childhood and found myself writing a new pb about fear of the dark.
I like the phrase “find your magic”. It’s what keeps me going.
I didn’t discover Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood until after I grew up, but it’s easy to see how his kindness and gentle manner touched others’ lives. Thank you for writing a book about him. I look forward to reading it.
Thank you for sharing your story and for inspiring all of us in our idea generation!
Thanks for all the helpful insights, Donna! Nostalgia definitely helps provide ideas for writing.
Thank you for such an inspiring post, and congratulations on your debut picture book! I can’t wait to read it!
WOW! Thank you for your inspirational post, Donna. I love Mister Rogers. After reading this post, I have so many new ideas. Time to get writing!
Jane Goodall, Fred Rogers, and inspirational advice–what’s not to love about this post? Thank you, Donna, for reminding that the passions in childhood are the seeds of stories.
Thank you for the inspiration! Can’t wait to read your book soon! 🙂