The First Stages To Writing Your Picture Book

As my second picture book is in the final stages of illustrations and will be released summer/fall 2025, I have decided to share, in the next few newsletters, how my first book came to be.

The impetus of Help Me Be Me came after completing the conscious coaching program with Dr. Shefali. Her program made me realize the importance of having your child feel really seen for who they are and not who you'd like them to be.

As a teacher, I noticed many children were needing this from their parents and families. They wanted respect and independence and were battling for this with unwanted behaviour in my class and on the playground. In addition, many parents were sharing with me more of their home life and the difficulties they were having at home with their children.

It was also during this time that I discovered that I was not a fan of individual coaching of parents and couples so I turned my attention to writing which was something I had done off and on for years.

And...

Help Me Be Me was born... at least the germ of an idea.

Next, I sat. And sat and sat. I sat in our living room by a large window where I would watch the life outside. As I did this I wrote down in my notebook any ideas, any illustrations, anything that came up. I tried so hard not to judge the ideas and be neutral.

Be prepared with a notebook or your phone as ideas come when you are not expecting: driving, in the shower, making dinner, playing with your children etc.

Be open to it all. This can take time.

So if you have an idea begin here:

 Write down any and all ideas that come to you.

• Do not judge anything that you write down.

• Commit to a minimum of 10 minutes a day to be with your story.

• Be patient. 

  
  

The germ of an idea is all you need to begin:)

Next time, after you have decided on the story you'd like to tell and why, I'll share what can help you discover your why? Why this story? Why now?

Until then,

Sam