Caterpillar (short story) by Leanne Dyck

Do you find change or transitions difficult? I do--and to help me try to overcome, I wrote this short story...

(photo by LDyck)

One fine day in early spring an ant met a caterpillar. 

"When are you planning to spin your cocoon?" the ant asked.

"I'm not," the caterpillar told him.

The ant just stared at him. "Pardon me?"

The caterpillar spoke louder. "I'm not!"

"I heard you. I just don't understand. Why would you continue crawling in the dirt when you can fly up there in the beautiful blue sky, among the fluffy white clouds?"

"I like it down here in the cool black soil," the caterpillar said.

A bird perched on a branch overhead flew down to the caterpillar. "Ever since I broke out of my egg, there's nothing I'd rather do than fly. Caterpillar, you have a right to be apprehensive. Change is scary, but don't let that fear limit you. Listen to your friend, the ant. Embrace your destiny," she sweetly sung to him. "Close your eyes."

The caterpillar closed them.

"Imagine the sun shining on your beautiful wings. Imagine the wind carrying you." 

The caterpillar felt the sun on his face, the wind on his wings.

"All that can be yours if you only believe in yourself—in your potential."

The caterpillar spun his cocoon, he rested, his wings grew, and then he flew.

Living your successful author dream by Leanne Dyck

(photo by ldyck)

Martin Luther King Junior had a dream. Do you? Have you made a vision (dream) board?

Do you imagine a brighter tomorrow? What does it look, smell, feel, taste like? What foods will you eat? What clothes will you wear? Where will you live? Where will you travel? Who will be your partner, your friend? How will you help others? When asked for the secret of your success, what will you credit?

Find images or objects that will make your dream tangible. Visualize your success and write about it in your journal.

Keep your dream close. Affirmations are keywords assist in visualizing your dream. For example, "I am a best-selling author."

Using "I will..." creates distance between you and your dream. "I am..." gives strength to your dream and helps you visualize it.

Write your affirmations on index cards. Keep these cards by your bed, in your car, in your pocket-- anywhere that they may be easily accessed.

What steps will you take today to bring you closer to success?

-Visit a bookstore or library. Imagine your book on the shelves. 

or

-Read books on the craft of writing.

or

-Write a short story

or

-Work on a novel

or

-Network with others in the publishing industry (connect with them on LinkedIn; email your favourite author)

or

-Visit a publisher's website and buy one of their books

or

-Write an article for your blog

or

-Participate in a blog tour for a new release

or 

-Join a writing group

or

-Enter a writing contest

or

-Attend a literary event

or

-Send a manuscript to a publisher

or...

Realize that you are the only one who can make your dream reality.

Stay positive.

'I just wish people would realize that anything's possible if you try; dreams are made possible if you try.' -Terry Fox

More 

Plan to Achieve Your Creative Goals in 2017 by Joanna Penn 

Why Success is Hard

What's wrong with writing multi-genres? by Leanne Dyck

"Down that road, I go." by Leanne Dyck

My muse dances and I follow. I write picture books for children and short story collections for adults. I just gave my novel for young adults to my first reader. (Hurray!) To me, writing across genres is like trying all the flavours in an ice cream shop and not gaining weight. 

But...

Oh, so now you're writing in (new genre), Leanne

-literary agent

The emotion behind her words wasn't lost in her email. She was clearly frustrated. How could she package me when I didn't fit in any box? I wasn't surprised when she refused to represent me.

Or...

Everyone is mixing and mingling; the host steers someone in my direction. "This is Leanne. She writes."

"Oh, what genre do you write?" someone asks.

"Fiction for adults and..." as I continue the list, "someone" has a weird look on her face. And I wonder, am I boring, confusing, or frustrating her? If I could simply say, "I write mysteries," she'd be able to walk away with a name and a genre. What can she do with the armful of information I've just unloaded on her? I fear the answer is nothing.

But I have to continue to dance with my muse.

I wonder, how do established multi-genre authors handle these situations?


Next post: Sunday, August 21 (around 5 PM PST) 
You've read about my experiences (and fears). What does an established multi-genre author think?
Please visit this blog next week when my special guest will be award winning multi-genre author Maggie de Vries.

Update:  Thanks to author such as Maggie de Vries, I've learned that it's okay to follow your heart. That it's okay to be a multi-genre author. And I've learned to say, "I write fiction for adults and children."

Photo by Leanne Dyck

Picture Books in Canada

Children's literature courses at the University of Winnipeg

Field of Children's Literature

Picture Books for Children

Canadian Children's Literature

A few years ago, I took a children's literature course at the University of Winnipeg and learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Photo by Leanne Dyck

Sharing my author journey...

Last Tuesday, a Facebook post invited Mayne Island writers to

4 books that changed my life by Leanne Dyck

What are the books that changed your life?

Here's my answer...

I can't remember life without a pen. And before that I told stories to puppies and kittens. When I wasn't telling the stories I was listening to them. All this listening and all this writing inevitably lead me to want to write a book.

1st Question:  Can I write a book?

It seemed like an unreachable goal. In a blog post I wrote 'even a short book is over 100 pages'.

So how did I achieve this goal?

By writing one short story after another.

an audio book a collection of knitting-themed short stories

published in 2006

2nd Question:  Can I sell my book?

is a short (approximately 35,000 words) mystery 

set on Mayne Island 

published in 2009

As I wrote the final chapter, I worked on the marketing plan. I envisioned my target reader and devised plans to reach her. These plans included a book launch featuring Mayne Island musicians. This book served as an introduce to the publishing industry. I learned what is involved in the publishing and marketing of books. I sold over 200 copies (through several bookstores and directly to readers). Maynely A Mystery was a Mayne Island best seller.

3rd Question:  Can I find a publisher?


The success of Maynely A Mystery inspired me to take (what I viewed as) the next step--finding a publisher for The Sweater Curse a novella-length paranormal thriller. Novellas are challenging to place. I searched the Internet. Bono Bookstore (imprint of Decadent Publishing) taught me how to work with a publishing house. My writing benefited at the hands of skilled editors. I worked with other authors to develop marketing plans for our books. 

Link to a YouTube video of me reading from this book

4th Question:  Can I build a writing career?

Novelty Yarn taught me that I could write a book.

Maynely A Mystery taught me that I could market a book.

The Sweater Curse taught me that I can find a publisher.

You, dear reader, taught me that I can build a supportive community.

And now I'm ready to work with publishers to build a career in writing.

(photo by Leanne Dyck)

More...

Please click this link for my complete publishing history

?

Next post:  July 17th (around 5 PM) 

(a clue from me to you) Logline:  An operation to increase intellect fails, but the experience teaches a man with down syndrome that there are more important things than intelligence. 

The book is... 

(photo by Leanne Dyck)

Picture Books in Canada

'Victoria Children's Literature Roundtable is one of many Children's Literature Roundtables across Canada. We are a varied group of educators, librarians, parents, authors, illustrators and other professionals who meet 5-7 times between September and June to celebrate and promote children's literature. Our programs are varied and offer something to everyone. Children's literature enthusiasts are always welcome.' -quote from the Victoria Children's Literature Roundtable website 

For more information, please click this link and this one 

  Sharing my author journey...

A black blanket, studded with a sliver moon and twinkling stars covered the earth...

Are you called to write? by Leanne Dyck

Are you called to write?

I’ve been a storyteller since childhood. In elementary school, one of my poems was published in the school newspaper—one of my short stories in the community newspaper. I’ve continued to write throughout my life.

What is stopping you from doing it?

It’s always been my dream to be an author. But I’m dyslexic. So, I told myself, how can I be a writer when I can’t even spell?

I’m still waiting for that large ‘Monty Python’ foot to stomp on my dream.

What keeps my dream alive?

Fine examples such as Jules Verne, John Irving and Agatha Christie. Prolific authors who used their fertile, creative, dyslexic minds to spin a lifetime of stories.

How can I give up when they never did?