I've found myself!

Before my SCBWI meeting last night, I was ready to quit. I can't write. Everyone knows it.

There's something about being with a group of writers that gives me that boost of energy I need to keep going. Last night, our speaker, Barri L. Bumgarner, gave a very interesting and entertaining speech, "Hook, Line and Sinker," on how to write a book that gets attention.

As she talked, she handed out some worksheets and had us start one. I had been thinking about question #1 earlier that day--list three things you'd like to write about (even when we say we're going to quit writing, we just can't turn off the brain, can we?). I quickly scribbled about 10 items on my list. Common themes, things I'm passionate about that keep popping up in my writing. The next step was to twist these ideas to see what interesting potential plots arose.

She also provided a sheet with a whole bunch of questions to answer about our character. When I put these together (we didn't actually complete all these steps there, but it sure jumpstarted my brain!), I had a fun, quirky character that preschoolers would love.

I sat down today to work on one of the ideas I started last night. Naturally, I lost focus and started down another path. But, this is a good thing. I'm so excited. I think I've found myself. I think I have my own style! (Okay, it's maybe not that dramatic, but I do know what I'm shooting for this time.) I have a wild, playful, yet educational, picture book in progress! My girls are giggling already (um...you know...not like I'd tell anyone but my best blogging friends that!)

It's amazing how I keep stumbling upon the perfect inspiration each time the need arises.