1st Draft down! What have I gotten myself into!

So, the spark was lit a couple weeks ago as I was shopping with my best friend. She mentioned wanting to write children's books and just like that I was taken back to being a teenager when I used to submit my stories to the Institute for Children's Literature. I got accepted (I doubt it was that hard since it's pretty gimmicky), but I never actually went through with it. Writing books has always been in the back of my mind as something I want to scratch off my bucket list. So, while shopping with Becky in Pier One and the discussion was once again in my life, I felt that old feeling come back with a vengeance!

This time, I actually did it! I actually sat down and wrote a first draft! It's a done deal. The idea is out there. I have a completed story. The clay in which I now have to mold many times over in order to create something worthy of sending to a publisher. I am so new to all of this and I have been searching online for hours pouring over articles on how to get published. I have a million questions and one by one I am getting them answered. Do I need an illustrator? No. Do I need an agent? No. Is this a complete and total long shot? YES! I am trying to just go into the process as a way to learn it, not succeed from it. If I get published...cherry on the sundae! If I don't...I learned. Either way, I win.

I looked into paying a professional to critique the story for me. And I will go that route eventually. But, I realized that I have such a diverse group of people at my disposal who can help me revise the book that I am going to pick their brains first. Right now, I have  2 teachers (one an English teacher), a friend who was in Journalism school with me and a NY Times bestselling Author looking at it for me!! I think I am doing pretty good for just starting out. Laurie Notaro (the best-selling author) became an acquaintance of mine when I worked for Barnes & Noble (long story) and we have kept in touch through Facebook ever since. She offered to take a peek at it for me. I am so thankful for that! It's not everyday that someone in the business is willing to look at your work for free!

It has helped me believe that this is all happening for a reason. At the right time. I am willing to ride this train until the wheels fall off to see how far my little children's picture book can go.