My little bumper shoots of joy, it feels far-fetched imagining our little froggy friend is now a teenager. (Although, you’ll note, he still fits neatly on a dime!)
In celebration of my blog’s 13th anniversary, I wish to wish you 13 wishes. (And that’s not just wishful thinking. Although, thinking about wishes is filled with wishes. I’m sliding off track again, aren’t I?)
Let’s dive in!
Wish 1: I wish you a “Now Day.” That’s 24-hours of existing in the present. No regrets or frets about the past. No worries or woes about the future. Nothing but appreciating the present.
Wish 2: I wish you an avalanche of gratitude. May you be overcome by the thought of all the good things (and people) in your life.
Wish 3: I wish you a day with no mirrors. (No side eye glances either!) Be blissfully thoughtless about your outsides (despite their obvious charms!)
Wish 4: I wish you a new friend — yourself. Lavish the kindness, compassion, encouragement, and thoughtfulness on yourself equal to what you generously bestow on your favorite people.
Wish 5: I wish you bravery. Write that query letter. Enter that contest. Go to that event. Ask that question.
Wish 6: I wish you patience with your progress. There are typically a lot more days spent in the process and progress phase than there are the shiny new success days. Be patient and appreciate how far you’ve come.
Wish 7: I wish you a playful heart. Being silly, spontaneous, goofy, uninhibited, whimsical, and free-spirited is energizing. Let your inner child take the lead and welcome the joy.
Wish 8: I wish you a lane change. Use that blinker and get on over. Try reading or writing in a new genre, a new workshop on a topic you’ve never explored, a novel way of drawing, or a different way to build a poem.
Wish 9: I wish you a day of liberty – no cell phone, no social media, no computer, no Google, no scrolling, no online shopping, no TV, no 24-hour news cycle, no outside noise.
Wish 10: I wish you time to treat yourself. There’s that book shop you’ve driven by a dozen times, but never stopped, treat yourself and go on in. Whatever you consider a treat–a nap, a long walk, a lunch with a dear friend–g’head!
Wish 11: I wish you deep, restorative sleep, and dreams that ignite your creativity with ideas you really do recall when you wake.
Wish 12: I wish you discovery — a new author, a new writing technique, a new plant or animal, a new color, a new place to explore, a new song that makes your heart soar, a new recipe (especially if it’s a dessert), a new way of looking at an old problem.
Wish 13: I wish you a day to start “The Thing.” Whatever that Thing is–getting back to an old novel, learning a new technology, reorganizing your desk or files, outlining a new book–go ahead, and at long last, take that first step (or hop, skip or jump).
Don’t underestimate the power of consistent progress. Small things become big things. ~ Brian Reese
Congratulations to Elizabeth Sundling–winner of the WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN! Please use the Comment page to provide your mailing address and Frog on a Dime will be hoppy to send you your prize! Many thanks to everyone who entered and for all of your kind comments for Leslie.
Enter to win your very own copy of Leslie’s NEW picture book from Macmillan Books–WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN–a beautiful heart-warmer, illustrated by Keisha Morris, about community rising up when the rain comes down. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post by noon on Friday, May 24.
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Okay, my little Forget Me Nots, now let’s jump into our guest post. Take it away, Leslie!
“The first art director I ever spoke to about my work asked me this question: If you could only do one thing, would it be to write or to illustrate? I was annoyed. Couldn’t I do both? ‘KEEP WORKING ON IT,’ he said. I know he was trying to get me to focus on one thing at a time. Trying to do two things well, can take longer, of course. But I wanted to do both.
“The first manuscript I sold was called THE SMUSHY BUS. The publisher wanted someone else to illustrate. They were looking for a project for Salvadore Murdocca, the well-established illustrator of THE MAGIC TREEHOUSE BOOKS. He was a known name and I was not. So I agreed and was sure I would illustrate my next book. Meanwhile, I would KEEP WORKING on it.
“The next art I created was for BIG CHICKENS. But . . . it had no emotion, no character. Another well-established illustrator, Henry Cole, got the nod for this project. I agreed. Just look at how much character these chickens have!
“A few books later I wrote WOOLBUR. I was sure I was ready to illustrate. But no. The publisher was insistent that someone else do the art. It was a big publisher and the only offer I got. I ultimately agreed.
“I next wrote FAIR COW and that same publisher was interested BUT . . . again, they wanted someone else to illustrate. I paused.
Should I pass up this chance to have the book come out with a big publisher?
Should I allow someone else to do the art or should I keep trying?
Should I stick to one thing like that long ago AD suggested?
“While I was pondering, I set up a critique with an award-winning illustrator. I told him about the offer and asked his advice. Without hesitation, he said he would let someone else do the art. I was crushed. I felt like giving up. But . . . I kept working.
“I asked for and received lots of advice. Friend and well-known illustrator, Matt Faulkner, helped me focus on character: ‘Is this an Eva Gabor pig or a Phyllis Diller pig?’
“Illustrator Lori Eslick reminded me to paint for myself. I painted more and worried less. Ultimately, I sent FAIR COW out to a small press with new art and . . . the publisher loved it.
“Since then, I’ve illustrated 5 of my 17 titles. Sometimes editors want a different style for a project. Sometimes I agree and sometimes I do not. I still have to work at it.
“I have two projects out this spring, one I’ve illustrated and one I have not. The first is GATOR’S BIG MOUTH, where three alligators face the big bad winds of a hurricane. I had a lot of fun writing AND illustrating this one.
“And WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN, written by me and illustrated by Keisha Morris–a beautiful heart-warmer about community rising up when the rain comes down.
“I saw that illustrator who crushed my spirit a few years after he dismissed my work. He complimented my current work and asked to see more. He didn’t remember his earlier comment and certainly had no idea how hard what he’d said hit me. Some feedback can give you hope and some can drop-kick you into working harder. Maybe it has taken me longer to reach my dream of being an author/illustrator than if I’d focused on one thing. But maybe I got where I needed to be right on time.”
Leslie, thank you so much for your transparency. Your story is inspiring and your picture books are treasures for young (and not so young!) readers. We look forward to many more books written AND illustrated by you!
I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way—things I had no words for. ~ Georgia O’Keeffe
Many thanks to everyone who hopped by to celebrate Frog on a Dime’s 10th Anniversary.
Special congratulations to lucky giveaway winner — Pam Patterson! Be watching your mail box for an extra special, tintastic package packed especially for you!
My heart is filled with gratitude and joy because of the kindness and encouragement all of you have given me. You make me look forward to the year to come.
Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.
Please GO before it’s too late. Not to worry. A horde of flatulating zombies isn’t trudging your way. I want you to get out to discover what being outside can do for your writing.
Non-obligatory disclaimer: Common wisdom says to creating a designated writing space in your home helps the brain associate the space with writing and engage more readily. But it’s summertime! And I live in Michigan. Gnats stick around longer, so I want to enjoy the benefits of being an outsider before it’s too late.
Photo by Vicky Lorencen
Before you head out, here’s what to pack:
Two snacks. (One will be your real snack to refresh you when you need it, and the other is to eat shortly after you head out because once your brain knows that snack is there. We both know it will nag you–like a six-year-old who hears the ice cream truck coming–until you consume it. Do so without guilt or worry. Snack two is there for you.)
Hand sanitizer. This relates to the aforementioned.
Sunscreen. You want to produce masterful writing, not squamous cells and saggy skin, right?
Bug spray. One less distraction.
Water. Do I have to explain?
Electronic stuff. Fully charged phone for taking photos, recording ideas or even sounds, calling your agent to tell her how lucky she is to have you, and so forth. Fully charged laptop.
Legal pen and pens/pencils. Even if you don’t typically write the “old school” way, you may need it if your laptop stops.
An ID. This is for emergencies, like when you are blinded by your own brilliance and need help returning to base camp.
Something to sit on. (This one is destination dependent.) Think beach towel or a wee cush for the toosh.
To me the outdoors is what you must pass through in order to get from your apartment into a taxicab. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Oh, Fran. Fran. Fran.
And now, shall we step outside?
Sit on your deck/balcony/patio. Now, be prepared. The writing molecules in your gray matter may go all fizzy, but that’s temporary. Once you’ve acclimated, start a fast-as-you-can-type list of everything your senses are delivering to you. Describe those physical sensations. How do they make you feel emotionally? As a result, what childhood memories come for a visit? Be sure to keep your list in a folder for future reference to add depth and authenticity to your story.
Photo by Vicky Lorencen, 2022
Head to the beach. Listen to the water and the gulls, of course, but tune your ear into children at play, the sounds of distant volleyball match, the flap-flap-flap of a beach umbrella. Record what you see, how your toes feel in the sand, and the smells, both inviting and repulsive. (Is that a dead fish? Seaweed? A diaper?!)
Foamy and frothy/ribbons white/reflecting soft sunbeams/to our delight/foaming in crests/rippling warm sands/tracing their patterns/on the dry land. ~ Poem from “Seashore” by Suzy Davies
Photo by Vicky Lorencen
Linger at a sidewalk cafe. You’re not eavesdropping. You’re doing research. This is your chance to snatch random phrases, tone of voice, and humans interacting in their natural, caffeine-laced environment. What does the rude person say? (What’s making them behave this way?) How does the barista respond? (What’s really going on in her head?)
Photo by Vicky Lorencen
Walk around the block. Pay attention to the houses, yards, driveways, front stoops and porches. Record whatever captures your imagination. Why is that front door wide open? Why is that woman running with a leash and no dog? Is someone cooking sauerkraut? Oh, my gosh, I think those kids are having a pet funeral. A bike with a basket? I remember those. What’s with that beat up car? I never saw that bumper sticker before. Look at that poor dog. Oh, he must belong to Leash Lady!
Maybe freedom really is nothing left to lose. You had it once in childhood, when it was okay to climb a tree, to paint a crazy picture and wipe out on your bike, to get hurt. The spirit of risk gradually takes its leave. It follows the wild cries of joy and pain down the wind, through the hedgerow, growing ever fainter. What was that sound? A dog barking far off? That was our life calling to us, the one that was vigorous and undefended and curious. ~ Peter Heller, Hell or High Water: Surviving Tibet’s Tsangpo River
Photo by Vicky Lorencen
Hit the trail. Walk or bike, either way, see what the woods or a desert pathway can do to stimulate your senses. Close your eyes (once you’re off your bike!). Perk your ears. Suck in a chest full of that fresh air. Watch for critters or signs of their presence. What natural magic do you find?
None of your knowledge, your reading, your connections will be of any use here: two legs suffice, and big eyes to see with. Walk alone, across mountains or through forests. You are nobody to the hills or the thick boughs heavy with greenery. You are no longer a role, or a status, not even an individual, but a body, a body that feels sharp stones on the paths, the caress of long grass and the freshness of the wind. When you walk, the world has neither present nor future: nothing but the cycle of mornings and evenings. Always the same thing to do all day: walk. But the walker who marvels while walking (the blue of the rocks in a July evening light, the silvery green of olive leaves at noon, the violet morning hills) has no past, no plans, no experience. He has within him the eternal child. While walking I am but a simple gaze. ~ Frédéric Gros, A Philosophy of Walking
Photo by Vicky Lorencen
Park it. Take a blanket for flexibility or pick a park bench. Watch kids play. Listen to random bits of phone conversations as people pass. What’s the status of the remaining wildlife here? Are the squirrels timid or cheeky? How do the birds behave? What are they pecking at? Is that . . . ooo, I smell popcorn. (This is fortuitous since you’ve already snarfed down Snack 1 and Snack 2, haven’t you?)
Fewer and fewer people are raised outside of cities as the decades progress. Nature is sometimes not available for generations of children. Sad state of affairs. ~ Efrat Cybulkiewicz
Oh what a pleasure it is to proclaim the winner of this year’s Summer Open House giveaway drawing.
Congratulations go to Lori McElrath-Eslick! You will receive your very own, one of a kind doodle, personalized with your initials or those of someone you love.
Please send me a message with your preference and mailing address, and I will get to doodling!
Heartfelt thanks go to everyone who entered the drawing. Your comments and kindness are most appreciated. I will think of you as I doodle more curlicues, spirals and paisley patterns. I hope you will doodle away the summer too!
Doodle by Vicky Lorencen
Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don’t they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers. ~ Ray Bradbury
Some of the encouraging mail that’s arrived in recent weeks.
Like a lot of creative people, I’m comfy with my own company. As a writer, in particular, my introvertuosity is an asset. Just me and my muse, that’s it. (That is, IF Edna isn’t too busy getting her bunions buffed or some such fiddle faddle.)
It’s one thing to choose solitude. It’s quite another to live in pandemic-necessitated government-mandated isolation. Oh, yes. Quite. a. nother. You know that for yourselves, don’t you my little mini muffins.
Despite our natural desire to go solo in our shells (crisis or no crisis), empathy compels us to seek ways to reach out. I want to suggest one such way we writers can make a difference and you can do it all on your own–you can give your words.
I got a squirrelly postcard! Original artwork by Rebecca Van Slyke
Over the last three weeks, more “no special occasion” cards and little surprises have arrived in my mailbox than I might receive in six months. In addition to encouraging notes, a friend who is an illustrator created a custom made activity book, and a writer friend made me a hand painted postcard–featuring a springy squirrel! On top of those came gifts of note cards designed by the sender and pretty note paper (Mmmm. I do love paper.) Even my cat, Finny, received a kind card with a birdy on it and catnip tucked inside. As you can imagine, being the recipient of all that sweetness pumped helium into my heavy heart. How did I get so lucky?
I’ve been sending personalized doodles, notes and silly surprises too. Taking a moment to center my thoughts on someone else while I write a message and imagine the smile (I hope!) it will bring, is a welcome antidote to these dreary, disorienting days. I want you to experience that too.
You might enjoy sending an unsuspecting someone a silly card, a sweet postcard or actual letter. No fancy stationery? No worries. You say you have the handwriting of a 4th year med student? No sweat. Type a message and print it out. (Have fun with the fonts!) When it comes to sending NSOIJTOY (that’s No Special Occasion I’m Just Thinking of You) mail, anything goes–so long as you give your words. That’s the best part, my little apricot tarts.
If you’re not up to writing, even a letter, you’re not alone. And listen, there is zero judgement here. The brilliant Emma Dryden shared this article on social media that explains why it’s okay to resist the pressure to use these unexpected extra hours to be productive (aka, write, do a major revision, create new art, etc.). It really is okay. Please don’t feel pushed.
And if reading this post all the way to here —-> is all you can manage today, my little warm buttered toast, that is 110% okay. Honestly. And I’m not just saying that because you chose to expend your energy and ebbing ability to concentrate to read my blog post. I’m saying you’re 123% okay. (I’m terrible with numbers, but that sure seems like a lot of okay to me.)
If you feel like writing a teensy bit (like .5%), you can leave a comment below. And then, if some flabberjabber has the nerve to ask you what you’ve written lately, you send them on over to Frog on a Dime, and say “Looky there!”
In the event you should feel an energy shift and get a hankering for something writing-related as a distraction, here’s a whole list of options. Please enjoy, and again, no pressure. Your pace is up to you.
Whatever you choose to do, in whatever way you do it–and whenever you’re ready to do it–please, give your words.
There is no small act of kindness. Every compassionate act makes large the world. ~ Mary Anne Radmacher
December birthdays can be bummers for some, I suppose. But Frog on a Dime is fine with a sidebar birthday. It’s still fun to celebrate! And the best part, my darling dangling participles? The best part is the birthday giveaway! This year’s prize package is filled with all manner of goodies sure to solicit “Oh, wow!”s from the lucky recipient.
Might that lucky duck be you?
Meet Mister Moses Frenchpress
To enter Frog on a Dime’s 7th Birthday Celebration giveaway, leave a comment with this blog post (or with the Facebook post). Your comment MUST INCLUDE your favorite (or least favorite) 7-letter word.
The day for the drawing giveaway is Lucky Friday, December 13 at 6 p.m. (Eastern Time). Can’t wait!
I grabbed a pile of dust, and holding it up, foolishly asked for as many birthdays as the grains of dust, I forgot to ask that they be years of youth. ~ Ovid
I am thankful for librariansand teachers. So long as there are people who devote themselves to the tender loving care of children and of books, I feel like we’ve got a reasonable chance at a smart and civil society.
I am thankful for friends who make me offers I can’t refuse. Who am I to decline a generous offer of thoughtful feedback or to teach me a new writing technique or (better still) tell me where to find a new brand of writer refreshments?
I am thankful for the opportunity to revise. If only life always gave us that option.
I am thankful to be a fool. When you don’t have a clue how hard novel writing will be, it sure makes it a lot easier to dive right in.
I am thankful for long-suffering manuscripts that allow me to fiddle with them until I’m finished. Okay, I mean, really finished. Well, almost. I am a literary glacier.
I am thankful to present at schools and spend time with curious, uninhibited kids who love to read their stories aloud and show their artwork to anyone with eyes and ears. They inspire me.
MOST MOST MOST of all, I am thankful for YOU. There was a time, just after the Earth’s crust cooled, when I didn’t know a single soul who wanted to write for children. And now, here you are, my little cranberry cupcake! I am always grateful for you.
No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks. ~ James Allen
Welcome to Frog on a Dime 