Becoming a children’s picture book author / illustrator
One of my illustration experiments
Hey there, fellow wildlife lovers! I wanted to share with you all that I am currently working towards a new passion and I am really excited about it!
I am currently on maternity leave after having my second baby, but that hasn't stopped me from pursuing my dream of becoming an author and illustrator of children's picture books.
Being a mum to two little boys has been both challenging and inspiring, and I've found myself drawn to my passion for nature and art even more. During my time off work, I'm making the most of my free time to work towards my goal and learn new skills.
One of the first things I did was to set specific goals for myself. I wrote down what I want to achieve during my maternity leave. By the time I go back to work I would like to have at least one children’s picture book manuscript submitted to a publisher. By breaking down this goal into smaller, manageable tasks, I can work towards them every day, whenever I have time.
Since I can't always find the time for creative pursuits, I've created a schedule to keep me on track. I set aside specific times when my eldest is at childcare and my newborn is napping to work on my writing and illustrating projects. I am sure it wont always run smoothly, but it feels good to have a plan. This way, I can still spend quality time with my little one and focus on my passion too.
My first step towards my goal is to sign up for the Australian Writers Centre course Writing Picture Books. I will write another blog post to expand on my experience of taking this course and what I think about it.
I also plan to take some illustration classes. My lovely partner has bought me a year subscription to 21Draw online illustration courses for my birthday. I am so excited to get started and learn to bring my picture book ideas to life. As I take these courses I will aim to share blog posts about my illustration progress.
Once I have some draft manuscripts written I would love to get in amongst some of the writing groups. Getting critiques from other children’s picture book authors and illustrators will be so helpful to improving my work and getting it ready for submission to a publisher. I am sure I will learn so much and feel supported by a group of like-minded individuals.
Finally, I will work to build my online presence by updating my artist website to reflect this new direction. I will also share more about writing and illustration on my existing artist social media accounts. I want to showcase my work and connect with potential clients and readers who share my passion for nature and children's picture books.
In conclusion, being on maternity leave is allowing me to pursue my dreams of becoming an author and illustrator of children's picture books. By setting specific goals, creating a schedule, joining a critique group, attending workshops and conferences, and building my online presence, I'm making progress towards my dream every day. Thanks for reading, and I can't wait to share my work with you all soon!