I confess that my love of children’s media spills over from picture books into music. One of my favorite songs is Hope Machine by the Grammy-Award winning children’s duo, the Okee Dokee Brothers. Throughout the dark days of 2020, I had this song on repeat, and it was instrumental (sorry – pun intended!) in lifting my spirits. If you haven’t heard it, take a listen:
Now that your toes are tapping, take a beat to consider: in your writing life, how do you keep your hope machine running strong?
It’s easy to get bogged down with writer’s block, revisions that just won’t work, and piles of rejections. That’s to say nothing of the world beyond our desks, filled with book bans, policies that do not support children’s well-being, and most devastating—violence and war. Sadly, I could go on and on. It’s understandable if your hope machine is creaking and whining.
But there are ways we—together and as individuals—can stay hopeful and carry on with the creative work our world needs. I reviewed the Hope Machine lyrics and chatted with colleagues from my debut group, PBSpree, about how they stay hopeful. Here are four themes to keep your hope machine running strong, sprinkled with wisdom from PBSpree friends.
Lyric 1: “Learn people good, but learn myself the best”
Lyric 1: “Learn people good, but learn myself the best”Yes, it’s a good idea to keep tabs on the current publishing market, but don’t stray from themes and topics that matter to you. Writing quiet, lyrical picture books is meaningful to me, so I keep going—despite warnings that “quiet books are tough to sell.”
One of the best things about 12 x 12 is seeing the variety of genres, styles, and themes represented in members’ work. There’s room for everyone’s stories—and I find that quite hopeful! PBSpree member Stephanie Wildman agrees. She said, “I think 12 x 12 has helped me keep a broader perspective about each story finding its own path.”
Reflect on what inspires you, makes you curious, and makes your heart sing, and then write about it. Your unique perspective and passion will come shining through and will result in writing and art that’s truly inspiring.
Lyric 2: “A little bit of fun, a little bit of growth. Hopefully, a little bit of both.”
I love the phrase “a little bit of growth!” I sometimes worry I’m not doing all the things I should be doing to improve my craft. If this resonates with you, take note of how far you’ve come on your writing journey. Stay focused on forward motion—every “little bit” counts!
Also, remember your 12 x 12 writing community friends are ready to help you take those small (or big!) steps forward by offering wisdom, camaraderie, and often—a boost of hope! Take a minute today to thank someone who helped you grow and lifted your spirits this year.
Lyric 3: “Work when you can work, but don’t forget to rest.” And another related lyric because it’s too good: “Dance when you can-can.”
Friday Dance Party, anyone?
It’s been said before, but it’s worth repeating: find ways to keep FUN in your writing life, and take time for rest and activities you enjoy. When I take breaks to exercise, play music, or cook a meal, my spirit is restored. As a bonus, my mind relaxes so I can consider new possibilities when I return to my desk. I came up with the concept for Winter: A Solstice Story while snowshoeing on a moonlit December morning!
Bonnie Kelso says she’s discovered a profound sense of hope through the gentle practice of gardening: “Tending to fragile green beings and coaxing them to flourish fills my heart with optimism.”
Spending time with kids (our readers!) is also a fun way to fuel up your hope machine. Susan Johnston Taylor says, “Kids give me hope through their playful spirit and resilience.” Erika Lynne Jones adds, “Kids are filled with joy and hope, and they believe they can do anything and seem to love everybody. That’s so infectious!”
Lyric 4: “Open hearts, open minds.”
This is exactly what we do as children’s book creators: We open children’s hearts and minds. What a powerful and hopeful thing! Our stories can help children grow into the thoughtful, caring, compassionate, and innovative people the world needs. Lydia Lukidis says, “Children can feel the power of our stories, and they need them. This continually inspires me!”
Jyoti Rajan Gopal shared that she feels hopeful every time she hears a child say, “That’s me!” when they see the cover of her book, and when adults share that her stories resonate with them, too.
Zainab Khan sums it up well: “The next generation will make the world better because the seeds of empathy and kindness were planted in them through our diverse books. This gives me so much hope for the future.”
A new year is just around the corner. What will you do to stay hopeful? How will you spread hope to others—through your writing, and in your daily life?
The repeated line in Winter: A Solstice Story is “I can help to shine the light!” Remember you too can shine a light, and you already are, through your stories. You’re part of one big 12 x 12 “hope machine,” opening young readers’ hearts and minds. I don’t know about you, but that definitely gives me hope.
Best wishes for a joyful and relaxing holiday season!
—Kelsey
Kelsey E. Gross is the author of Winter: A Solstice Story (2023) and Summer: A Solstice Story (May 7, 2024), both illustrated by Renata Liwska and published by Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster. Kelsey lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with her family. When she’s not writing, she looks for owls and other forest friends while hiking and skiing in the woods. Kelsey aims to write books that inspire readers of all ages to take care of one another and the natural world. Find her online at www.kelseyegross.com.
Kelsey is offering one lucky 12 x 12 member a choice of a signed copy of Winter: A Solstice Story (U.S. only), or a PB critique under 700 words. Cozy up with your next great idea and get your December draft done!
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.
80 Responses
I SO needed this! Thank you for your spark of hope 🌺🌺🌺
I love the practical ways to find hope. Thank you for the positive post.
Thanks for the inspiration!
You’re obviously rocking it with that quiet book if you got paired with Renata Liwska as illustrator! Can’t wait to see it.
I’ll be toe-tapping this cute song in my head all day! Thanks for your inspiring post. I got some upsetting news yesterday but good news the day before, so I’m trying to focus on the good stuff to keep my hopes up!
Thank you so much for these words of wisdom…and some fun music, too!
Thanks, Kelsey! I love how you wove in the lyrics.
Great advice, Kelsey! I love your book, too! Well done!
I needed to hear this, at this very moment. Thank you for your insightful advice. I have renewed hope for 2024 and an open heart for enjoying the rest of 2023.
This was such a terrific post with amazing advice and inspiration. Thank you so much!!
What a lovely post full of inspiration from you and PBSpree–such a great way to end the year and take us into the next! Congratulations on your new book!
Kelsey, Thanks for the inspiring post. And the reminder to rest and find what brings ourselves joy. Best of luck with your book; the cover is gorgeous!
What a lovely article and inspiring song! Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful thoughts with us.
Thanks for your toe-tapping advice.
Love the idea of keeping one’s hope machine running! Thank you for sharing.
Everyone benefits from a little hope and inspiration! Thanks for this!
Thanks for sharing your words, Kelsey.
What great advice and a great song!
Thank you so much for the HOPE!!!
Love the Okee Dokee Brothers and you thoughts on the lyrics. Especially loved “Dance when you can-can.”
Your book is beautiful! Keeping my hope machine going is quite hard for me at the moment. I’ve started a new job, and my time and motivation to write has dwindled. However, I must keep trying! Thank you for your inspiration!
Thank you all for your kind comments! The support in this community truly gives me so much hope! Wishing you all the best as you wrap up this year and head into 2024 🙂
This book is so beautiful and Kelsey herself is beautiful inside and out. Thank you for sharing. Wishing everyone a wonderful winter solstice, a season filled with light, and good things as we enter the new year!
Thank you, Kelsey! I appreciate hearing that a recreational excursion (snowshoeing) led to a wonderful book idea! 🙂
Thank you for the lyrics of hope and reminding us of the powerful impact our stories have on the future.
I am so excited for you and for this beautiful book! Thank you for sharing these words of wisdom with us! xoxo
Thank you, Kelsey, for being so inspiring and for sharing these uplifting quotes from other authors. I am an optimistic person and your writing contributes to that. I look forward to reading both of your books and thank you for sharing with us.
Thank you, Kelsey, for your down to earth inspiration on having hope. The ideas of centering on your own needs resonated well with me. I need to do that more often.
So fun to be introduced to the Okee-Dokee Brothers. Of course, now I need to do an internet search and learn more. Got to keep it playing in the background a bit longer!
Your thoughts on how to keep our writing hope machine operating in top-notch fashion came at a perfect time. Daily, I am made weary by the dreadful wars going on across the globe. I printed your featured author page to keep on my desk so that I read it at least once a month. That is how deeply I need to add to my stores of hope and good cheer.
I fell instantly in love with The Winter Solstice! The lyrical words carry the reader along to each forest animal in such a comforting way!
Here is what I wrote on Amazon (as you can see, I got completely caught up in the story):
Solstice comes on the shortest day, bringing dark and cold. Most of us are tucked inside beside the warm fire or under a cozy comforter. We’ll never see how the animals living deep inside the forest welcome solstice…unless we venture out into the snow and experience the quiet of solstice night. In the pages of this wonderful book, we can witness the well-kept secret of solstice in the woods. The subdued, captivating illustrations evoke the stillness of a forest in deep snow. Forest animals come together to offer their contributions, each one chosen to bring light and hope to the gathering. But the forest holds a surprise on this solstice night: Would the peace and comfort hold?
Love the idea of a hope machine – and being introduced to The Okey Dokey Brothers’ song. It’s such fun!
Congrats on your gorgeous book. There’s something magical about the solstice. And you’ve captured its essence beautifully.
Thank you Kelsey for a wonderful end of year author post. The Okey Dokey Brothers toe tapping Hope Machine combined with your wise and encouraging words are a great way to start the new writing year. And I love your quiet and lyrical book.
A great way to weave music and story telling together in order to open minds and hearts. Thank you for your inspirational words.
Thank you for sharing an inspirational post and wisdom of hope! Congratulations on your success, can’t wait to read your quiet lyrical books.
Thanks Kelsey for elevating everyone’s sense of hope! I look forward to reading your books.
This is great advice for the (sometimes) gloomy days of winter in the Midwest. I look forward to keeping your advice in mind as I write my way through December. Thanks, Kelsey!
Thank you Kelsey for bringing Winter: A Solstice Story to life. Your book is placed in a prominent spot on my overflowing bookshelves to remind me of hope and generosity of others.
Congratulations! Thank you for your advice!
Thanks for this uplifting post, Kelsey!I love, “…take note of how far you’ve come on your writing journey” as this certainly resonates with me. If I look back a year at a time, I can take note of what I’ve tried and learned and feel hopeful about my growth as a writer.
Have a great holiday!
Thank you for the wonderful post!
Kelsey, what an inspirational post—many thanks!!!! I’ve already texted the YouTube link to my family members! I enjoyed how you broke down the lyrics as they pertain to writing. Looking forward to reading your books! 😊
Great tips for staying hopeful during the darkest time of year! Congratulations on your books!
What a lovely post and song! Thanks for the inspiration, Kelsey, and congratulations on your book! It looks wonderful!
This is such a beautiful book and your advice at this time lifts me up and inspires me to continue to let my light shine through my creative efforts. Thank you
Wonderful advice!
Thanks for sharing. I listened to a lot of kids’ songs on the “record player” when I was little. I even had albums from Disney movies–The Jungle Book, Mary Poppins, etc.
I am full of hope for 2024- hope for more peace in my heart and in the world, hope that I can continue to rise up and sing my song, that I learn people good and learn myself even better. I have spent so much time the last few years in struggle, health challenges for me and family members, fears of aging, fears of losing time. But your post reminded me that I am turning the corner and facing the sun- as long as my heart centers on the positive and fail forward, it’s all good!
So much to love here 🎶
Congratulations Kelly on your beautiful book, Winter. A Solstice Story. Your message of bringing light into a dark world is so relevant and drawing inspiration from music opens another door to PB writers. Thank you.
I thought I typed Kelsey, sorry it came up Kelly! All the best!
Great post, Kelsey! Thank you for giving us a peak at your writing journey. I really connected with this post, especially your advice to “take note of how far you’ve come on your writing journey” and to “find ways to keep FUN in your writing life, and take time for rest and activities you enjoy.” I wouldn’t call weeding fun, but there is something about getting my hands covered with dirt that relaxes my mind and also brings out the kid in me.
There is always a place and time for quiet books and I love reading them to students.
Great discussions can evolve after a story such as yours and I think kids who are on screens so much need this type of down time to hear themselves. Can’t wait to get my hands on this for next Winter Solstice!
Congratulations!
Megan
Thank you for hope. Congratulations on your Quiet book. More hope.
Great post to head into the new year!
Thank you Kelsey. Such inspirational advice. Best of luck in 2024!
Thanks for a wonderful and hopeful post. I look forward to reading your books!
Thanks for this amazing post!
Inspiring post Kelsey! And I love your refrain, something we all can learn from and live by. Thanks and Happy New Year.
What an inspiration! Thank you!
When I was 3 1/2 years old, my dad, an Air Force pilot, was killed on December 21, the shortest day of the year, which became the longest day of my mom’s life. But I have a good friend and a friend’s daughter who were born on this day, so I’m always reminded of not only the cycle of life but also happiness and celebration on 12/21. Thank you for including the song–I sent it to my friend whose son is battling leukemia. Thank you, too, for your optimism and hope as we step into 2024. 🙂
WOW! My eyes swelled up reading your post! In a good way! Every single lyric of the song and their specific message was amazing! Your words give me such hope and motivation as I find the time and the joy to continue writing. Thank you so much! Wishing you health, happiness, blessings, love and yes, writing in the New Year!
Great post! I especially loved how you talked about writing what’s meaningful to you!
Ahhh…yes. So happy to hear I’m not the only one whose heart is in the quiet the lyrical, the poetic. And to know it’s OK! I have hope!
What a perfect post to end the year on. Great (lyrical!) tips for keeping spirits bright throughout our writing journeys.
I’m so inspired by you! Thank you for giving me new perspective for 2024!
So much to love! The hopeful song and lyrics and the idea of WINTER: A SOLSTICE STORY coming from a fun snowshoeing experience! Thank you for sharing and happy 2024!
Your post was a wonderful way to start the new year – inspiring and full of optimism!
What a wonderful sentiment to start 2024 off! Thank you, and let’s keep that Hope Machine going!
Thank you
Such a lovely story. Both the book and the post! Thank you for sharing with us! And congrats!
This was a lovely post and a lovely upbeat, positive song. I especially resonated to “rise up and sing your song.” Sometimes I rise up with a story – but somehow for me that’s the same thing. So to all of us, in this New Year, keep on keepin’ on. Can’t wait to see the new books we produce.
I am reading this as the new year begins and your post has me feeling so hopeful! Thanks for introducing the (new to me) Okee Dokee Brothers!
Your book is beautiful and I am so looking forward to Summer: A Solstice Story
Hope and light are perfect themes for 2024! and always. Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing with us!
Thank you for ending the year with hope and helping to pass it on. (everything is better with a banjo). Congratulations on your book.
The “Hope Machine” video blew my mind! What a great and encouraging and thoughtful and feely post. I loved it and I soaked it in.
We all need some hope! Thanks so much for sharing some with us, and congratulations on your books!
Thanks for these inspiring, hopeful words and tips! …and for sharing your favorite song, I can see why! 🙂
Your words and the Hope Machine song are a perfect reset for the new year. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and inspiration to come through the winter of writing into hopefully, a new sunny day! Your book looks beautiful!
Thank you for this post. I’ve been a bit down and I’m feeling some positivity tingles. Love the song!