Children’s Book Week 9 – Future Works

[cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]It’s week 9 and 60 days have come and gone with this 60 day challenge. I have no book deal, no publisher, no literary agent – my time is up, I guess it’s time to quit.  Well, not really, I knew this particular challenge would take more than 60 days. And while I originally intended to do six 60 challenges it looks like I will end with two 60 day challenges and 2 longer challenges to end the year. That’s ok, it happens.

I have learned that plans are simply things that will get interrupted and changed. I have yet to see a plan go all the way through from conception to finished product completely as originally intended. For people who have control issues that can be a hard thing to swallow. This can include me sometimes. Yet it is ok if things change, and that means plans as well. Life is messy, plans can’t change that.

Looking Ahead

Coming back to the current children’s book challenge, as I mentioned before, publishers are not looking for one hit wonders. They are looking for authors and works that will have staying power. Since I decided to pursue the traditional publisher route over self publishing I have to think ahead. When I finally meet with a literary agent and publisher I need to show them I have other works in mind and/or in progress. That is something I have been working on, starting with this first book I am working on getting published.

If you noticed in the picture from my last blog the title of my first work is Farmer Dale’s Dilemma. Farmer Dale of course lives on a farm outside the city. For the second book Farmer Dale has a cousin named Betty who lives in the city. One day she comes to visit Farmer Dale and some stuff happens. (I don’t want to reveal too much at the moment). The third book would be about Cousin Betty hanging out with a friend back in the city and other stuff happens. My idea is a series of books, each one expanding the universe some with it all coming back full circle in the last book with Farmer Dale. I am thinking maybe 12 books, 1 for each month. Or possibly 6 books, I do not know yet.

In addition to the Farmer Dale series I have other book ideas floating in my head. I am a big on teachable moments and books are a great way to both entertain and teach. New words, new concepts, other cultures and traditions can be conveyed through books. That is what I have in mind with other book ideas I have – introducing things to children to help them grow and be more well rounded. I do understand that kids at the ages of four, five or even eight may not get the full impact of a well-rounded life. However, I do believe it is important to plant seeds, without a seed nothing can grow.

That’s where I am at, looking to develop future works so the publisher will be more apt to publish my first work. And even though the 60 days part of the 60 day challenge has come and gone the challenge still remains – getting my first book published. It’s a process and a challenge I am starting to enjoy. I look forward to knowing what the end result will be. Until then, get out there and try your own 60+ day challenge!

Attempt it. Chance it. Try it. Get to It![/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section]