Writers and illustrators can find themselves isolated, especially when they get engrossed in a project that wont go away until they've seen it through. Sometimes however, no matter how brilliant the idea is, both writers and artists lose focus and give up, because it all becomes too hard. That's the time to find like minded people to offer encouragement and perspective AND, if you're up for it, a spot of collaboration.
Find the right person to put words to your illustrations, or illustrations to your words, and the whole idea springs to life once again. Phrases stick in your mind sometimes. I read this one 16 years ago when I started a Backpackers Hostel in Albany, and I stuck it on the wall in reception where, the last time I looked, it still is, although I'm long gone.
It could be the definition of many things. Character, success, life, relationships. Apply it to whatever feels right. I am applying it in this instance to creating brilliant children's books, and making them available to all children, wherever they are in the world: 'THE ABILITY TO SEE THROUGH AN IDEA LONG AFTER THE ENTHUSIASM IN WHICH IT WAS CONCEIVED HAS PASSED.'
If you have an idea for a story or book that has been going back and forth through your head for years, but haven't done anything with it, go back to it. Don't let it go. Share it with someone you trust and enroll them into the possibility of seeing it through.
Life is not a rehearsal for something else. This is it.
Robert Daniel is a children's author, who tours schools around the world doing the work he loves as a creative writing, memory and self-esteem presenter. He lives in Albany, Western Australia with his wife Paula and two teenage children Gareth and Sian.
Visit Robert, or Danny as he's known, at: http://www.chocmint.com for details on how to book his show, to download free children's books or buy A Tale's Tale by Robert Daniel and English illustrator Elizabeth Stringer.
Danny works with Dave McCleery and John Arnott, two superb artists, cartoonists and illustrators. Visit them in their online studi10C1os at: http://www.artwanted.com/johnarnott-art and http://www.artwanted.com/davemccleery
Our minds shape our surroundings
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