Rest and Restore

Posted on 12/09/2023 by Artelle Lenthall

Hello again Fellow Children’s Writers and Friends,

The images below are artists’ impression of my brain over the last year. It seems I’m not alone in this, do a quick Google search of brain overload or messy brain and you will find hundreds upon hundreds of images, artist impressions (some quite troubling) of what it’s like when you have too much to: think about, plan, do, desire to achieve, create.

Blurry for a reason!

Notice the order of this list. It’s squif! Realistic but squed. As a creative I have found that creativity gives me energy and yet I often leave it till last, completing all the things I am obligated to do first.

Oh don’t feel bad for me, along with the practicality of being a night owl who creates better at night, we all have obligations and in reality there is also a fair amount of procrastination, giving into the inner critique and genuine fear of creating. Well, not actually fear of creation, more like fear of creating crap and the time I’ve wasted creating it. Logically, I know you have to create crap to be able to create awe-inspiring, but life is so busy and so performance driven that it’s easy to forget the this. It’s easier to fall into the trap of believing all I create must be awe-inspiring or it’s a waste of time. Children, who still thankfully, have some time for the pure joy of creating do not have this issue.

Kids joyfully creating, or me finally seeing sense, either way🤷🏽‍♀️

So once this happened, I finally took the break I needed to think things through and much more importantly, to rest. Funnily enough, in that time I was actually able to achieve more, with much thanks to my family especially my husband who picked up the slack. Guilt of course, followed my every move, however, I learned both to delegate and to let some things go. It was worth it for this alone, if nothing else.

Some way to go yet, but taking a calmer route.

Therefore, I still have an overloaded brain and the child’s bedroom cupboard of my brain does still have stuff jammed in there, behind it all. However, this is what my brain looks like now and I’m happy enough to leave the metaphorical cupboard for another day, week, month. . .

Image taken from https://pin.it/7LLznzX

So until next time, for a hopefully far more writing related blog,

Farewell fellow travellers,

Savour the quest,

Journeygirl.

Posted in Creativity, Work/Life Balance | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Conundrum Contemplation

Posted on 07/07/2023 by Artelle Lenthall

Dear Fellow Children’s Writers and Friends,

Today I want to talk about a particular conundrum of the KidLit and likely general writing for publication journey. Experienced writers talk of their apprenticeship, a time before and even after early publications where they were still learning about the craft and the industry. This is often followed by an unnerving admission that they still feel like they aren’t sure what they’re doing after all these years. As though each new book is like they are starting the journey again and I guess they are, but hopefully with a bank of knowledge and skills to draw from.

The conundrum lies within the duality. When, if ever is the apprenticeship completed? I can relate, despite umpteen years of teaching and knowing I am competent and experienced, every new document and technique mandatorily implemented makes me question myself and my tried and true techniques. I’m not sure if every teacher or for that matter every creative feels this way, but likewise I know I’m not alone.

A beautifully worded rejection this week, brought about my musings on the conundrum of the aforementioned apprenticeship and admission. A rejection, no matter how beautifully worded is always difficult, but I’m far enough along now to know that a personal one, let alone one so thoughtfully penned is another step forward on the journey. One to be celebrated, for there are certainly enough steps back to wallow over.

After my first embarrassing attempt at a Picture Book when my son was born 25 years ago, followed by several years of being too busy to even consider attempting another, to finding a correspondence course about five years later. I do not recall completing this, it wasn’t really what I was looking for, When I finally joinied my somewhat local FAW face to face and two pivotal online writer’s groups, the sadly no longer active CKT and the still quacking Duck Pond, the former being instrumental in the publication of my debut Picture Book, Star, I sensed that I had completed at least the first part of my apprenticeship. I still feel that way, in fact I’ve had an inkling all year, that this would be my year. I still feel that way too, but it’s been shaken a little as the year enters it’s second half. This paragraph feels as convoluted as the journey, which in a strange way makes sense.

So what do I do now? More of the same: read, write, critique, learn, network, attend events and amplify my submissions. Something I’ve been meaning to do for sometime, but the necessary time to do so having eluded me. Some shifts in working habits in both my day jobs and my creative pursuits will now allow me to tackle this task head on.

We are in peak conference and event season, with CYA on now, plus Book Week and Love Your Bookshop Day to name a few upcoming events , so that’s it from me for now.

Farewell fellow travellers,

Savour the quest,

Journeygirl

Posted in Creativity, Networking, Road to Publication, Submitting For Publication, Writer's Conditions, Writing Conferences, Writing Events, Writing Groups | Tagged , | 3 Comments