Children Serve As Inspiration: My little "co-workers!"

I think one of the biggest aides in becoming a Children's Author is having children to help you along the way! I have been blessed with little brothers, nieces, and nephews that I use as testers for my stories! It's during these times that I find myself being the most creative. Especially with my niece and nephew! They love to be read too, but even more so, they love when they visit me because they know if they beg enough, I will tell them stories!

Many nights we have laid next to each, snuggle up... lost in the world of the stories I tell. You can see in their little faces that they are imagining themselves in the magical worlds I create. It's an amazing experience as a writer to be there for that... to watch them hold on to every word that escapes from your mouth. To witness the sudden fits of giggles break through the air! All of it serves as inspiration that I wish I could capture in a jar and save for later... for the moments when inspiration runs low. But instead, I store away the memories... grateful for my little co-workers. Grateful for those moments... because in that time... we are all three away on an adventure... discovering roads that we create as we go along. And when their eyes grow heavy with sleepiness, and soon they are off in their own dreamlands... I remain there, thinking of how easy it was to tell a story on the spot!

After I am sure they are sleeping, I sneak out, tucking them in before I go… and I record my evenings “work.” If you can call it work! To me, children are my biggest inspiration; after all, they are your best customer in the end!

COMING SOON: Children's Book Reviews

I have decided, for more than one reason, to add Children's Book Reviews to my blog! It's a good excuse to read more books (not that you ever need an excuse ;) to read a children's book); and it is something I need to be doing anyway for one of the workbooks I am currently working from! So, soon there will be new additions to my page, posted just as I would any other entry! I am going to try and have at least one book a week. More if I have adequate time! It is important to note that the reviews I list are written by me, and are solely my opinion! Therefore, if you disagree with me, that's fine! In fact, feel free to respond and we can start a new forum! I will not be harping on any author (as I feel that is cruel), but looking closely at what makes that book appeal to it's audience, if the illustrations fit, and the overall plot-line. I'm doing this... to learn! There are so many different styles of writing and ways of presenting a story... studying someone's work is a good way to widen your horizon...even if it isn't the normal genre you work with (or read)!
So, look for the reviews here within the next few day's! Who knows, maybe you'll find a book you hadn't heard of and in doing so, enrich your reading list!

Recorder brings new method to the creative table!

Between living out of Rubbermaid tubs, to using them as a dining room table, to using them as bookshelves: I have not had a lot of room to spread out my creative materials! It has been somewhat of a pain, but I recently picked up a technique that I used to use and had forgotten how useful it was! Recording: it saves time and requires little space!

Working a full-time job and getting settled has proven to be a handful! Furthermore, getting used to living alone and all the other changes that come along with it has also been a bump in the road of creativity! I have noticed that things are starting to flow more smoothly as each day passes, but one thing remained the same! It seemed like I had a writers block that was firmly in place until the least opportune moment! For example, in the middle of cooking, or on a quick break from work... or during the last few minutes until I fell into a deep sleep! Not good moments to abandon everything to pick up a pen and paper! That's when I remembered recording! When I first started this I was in high school! It started out as a tool for my journalism work; but one day I found myself babbling off a story that had popped into my head. Since then, it has helped me in many time crunches. As luck would have it, I even have a brand new recorder that I received as a graduation gift from some very close friends. So, about a week ago, I found myself running for it in the middle of a creative explosion! It gives me a way to make sure I have recorded the thoughts that I have... either word for world or simply the idea. After that, it is as simple as the click of a button to save the recorded file and it is there until I have adequate time to translate it to my computer or a story board!

While this practice is one that may not work for some, it is one that works extremely well for me! I now carry my little recorder with me wherever I go! It's kind of an added bonus that it was a gift from two of the people I love the most, because it inspires me as well. I think these two things alone.... finding a way to manage your work-life and writing-life and grabbing hold of inspiration.... are key to being a successful writer. Either way, they make me smile and it gets the job done!

Toothaches, Book Ideas, and Other Things That Fill the Hours!

Here I am, once again apologizing for not writing for a few days! But this time, I truly have a good excuse! Shortly after posting my last blog, my lower, right wisdom tooth decided to become a huge pain in my mouth! I made a dentist appointment and the soonest they could get me in was Thursday, by which I was in extreme pain. Long story short, I went in with a painful tooth, and walked (ok stumbled) out with no tooth and loopy as all get out! The dentist claimed it was an emergency and before I knew it he was hooking me up the the laughing gas (first time experience), and I had needles coming at me. Many shots, nurses and two hours later... my tooth was out of my mouth and I... I was out of my mind. Luckily, the laughing gas wore off pretty quick. Then, I headed to work. That night, after I left work four hours early because of the unmeasurable amount of pain, I had almost fallen asleep when the tornado sirens went off. Needless to say, the rest of the evening was... hectic... and painful.

So, the last few days I have been laying low and, so far (knock on wood), seem to be healing pretty well!

I did come up with a cute idea for another book one of the days while I was laying in bed! It's a cute one! But, as always, I refuse to share until it is further developed! I have the basis of it plotted out but as far as characters being named I am not quite there. With me, I either have a character pop into my head and I try to tell their story; or, I have a story and I try and locate the characters who best portray what I am seeing in my head! This time around it was the story!

Other than that, I am on kind of a dull road as far as my writing goes. It is always this was when there are numerous changes happening. It takes awhile for me to settle into a creative environment. I think once I get my desk and set up a special area that things might start popping. I was excited to come up with the idea this last weekend because it's a sign. Nothing huge, but a start is a start!

Well, off I go into librarian mode! Until we meet again, stay creative and out of trouble!

Truly,
Kat

Life Under Construction... Warning... Hard Hats Advised!

Construction, a word defined on google.com, as the “general term referring to the combination of creation and completion actions that result in a usable unit.” My definition: Me figuring out who I am and where it is that I want to go in the middle of a hectic process called life. Also, a good excuse for not being able to make a post on this blog for quite some time! Because, in fact, life for me has been under some major construction lately in hopes that I would (referring back to the first definition), become a so-called “usable unit.” Which, I am delighted to announce, may just be happening!

The first monumental step that was made was that I did graduate! And not only did I graduate, I managed to walk away with ALL passing grades, getting a C in the class that I thought I was going to fail miserably! All going to prove that miracles do in fact happen every day! Also that, if you work hard enough it will pay off in the end. Now, no, I am not exactly proud of getting a C in that class, but, considering the whirlwind of a year that occurred, I would say that was pretty good.

Next, I did move and now live on my own in a cute little apartment WHERE I no longer have to share a bathroom with a suite mate who, well, let’s just say was a few nuggets short of a happy meal! I have my own kitchen, bathroom, room and living room. All of which is decorated in my own unique way; excluding the living room which… well… it’s under construction! I am hoping to get a couch in the near future and a desk. But I will be quite honest here… the desk definitely holds precedence over the couch. I am ready to create my writing area. Currently, a Rubbermaid tub is serving as my desk……. And dining room counter chair, and area to stack stuff, etc, etc! Needless to say, there is more construction yet to come!

Another MAJOR change is that I, (happy dance), landed the job as Library Assistant at ESU. A job that I didn’t think would happen for the next several years! But one thing led to another, the job popped up, and before I knew it I was jumping up and down, bubbling with excitement as I told my family I had just gotten the phone call that they wanted me (same day I got the new keys to my apartment)! I am nearing the end of my second week and absolutely love it!

The same week that I discovered I had a “big-kid job” and moved into my new apartment, I received yet another exciting phone call that I would be an aunt…again… in January! My oldest sister is pregnant with her 4^th child! Which, I think is a girl and furthermore I think its twins. But that’s just me!

The last few months have been a crazy mess. Time has seemed to fly by in a whirlwind of tears, smiles, lessons and life changing experiences. But in a weird way, I don’t feel like I am losing time… and I don’t find myself looking back. I feel like I am only just beginning the start of something that may be amazing. New people to meet, books to write, a career to pursue… and overall, life to live! So, I can soundly say I am back to the blogging universe. However, like my life, like everyone in this world… the construction will go on. Because without construction, nothing would ever change; and without change…well…. This blog would be boring!

Yours truly,
Kat <3