Recently, I was asked “When and where do you find you get most of your inspiration and ideas for stories?”
That could have such a quick and simple answer like – teatime in the kitchen or shopping in Ikea – but it really isn’t as simple as that.
I mentioned before that I think ideas are living things, like viruses, they are looking to “get you” to make their idea come true. If you are not the right person, then they fly away to look for someone else – sometimes they even leave you feeling lost and empty – bereft – and sometimes jealous or angry when you see someone else have success with the same idea!
In this video I explain where and when I get ideas and what I do about them when they come knocking on the door!
This is a live session about Walker, the boy who can talk to Dogs, that I made for the Big Dog Children’s Book Festival for Dumfries in Scotland, organised by the Wigtown Book Festival.
Go to https://www.shoorayner.com/shoosonlinebookstore/ to buy copies with signed with free poster
Sadly, due to the corona virus lockdown, the Big Dog Children’s festival is unable to go ahead as planned,but the organisers have put together a fantastic online alternative programme. @wigtownbookfest https://www.facebook.com/BigDogBookFestival/
I have been working out what to do with the rest of life for the past year or so!
Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with me, but there is a lot wrong with publishing. I’m planning on making some videos about the state of publishing quite soon.
I want to keep making children’s books. I have loads of ideas for new characters and stories. I actually love the physical process of creating and manufacturing books, and I’m coming to enjoy the marketing and promotion side of publishing too.
I also love to make videos and share my experience in drawing, illustration and making books. But I can’t do both… until now.
As I say, I’ve been working this out. I’ve been on quite an emotional journey this last year, working through monthly business seminars to guide me. I realise it’s time for authors to take control of their lives and become the entrepreneurs that they really are.
I have now set up my patreon page so that I can teach drawing, illustration and picture book making, by sharing my practice and process as an independent author/publisher. Bringing the two strands of my interest and expertise together in one place.
Patreon is a sort of crowd-funding platform for creative people. But now it is morphing into a membership platform where you can join me and support what I do from as little as $1. In return I’m offering rising tiers of rewards, offering drawing, illustration and publishing lessons. Join my creative crew for hangouts to ask questions, get advice or just shoot the breeze with similar-minded people all around the world.
Go to my Patreon Page now to get all the details and join a growing group of people who are all on the same creative path as you.
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