Fan art and children's writing

[emmagrant01]

One of the bedtime things I do with BG is that once the lights are out, we get under the covers and I tell a story. He picks the theme or topic and often the main character, and I tell a story based on that. It's kind of like writing original fic on the spot, given a prompt. Sometimes the stories are mediocre (I can't figure out how to wrap up the plot and just give it a crappy ending), but sometimes they're rally good. The good ones we end up telling over and over and embellishing, improving, and so on.

So it has occurred to me on many occasions that those are the stories I should consider actually writing and trying to get published. I have no idea about children's lit, but it's always there in the back of my mind.

Anyway, BG really liked last night's story about a little squirrel named Sammy who started sneezing and couldn't stop. He loved it so much that he just presented me with fan art for it:

I love it! Getting fan art for something I've written is so amazing always, but this was extra special. :-)

Comments

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

That's awesome <3

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

:-D

[oracne.livejournal.com]

Best ever!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I was wondering what he was working so hard on. Turns out it was this!

[lrodell.livejournal.com]

Couldn't hurt to give it a try? Even if it stays within the family, it'll be a keepsake?--which should absolutely be illustrated as well as the story of Sammie the Squirrel^^

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I've thought about it a lot over the years, but I have no idea how to get started. I kind of love the idea of being simultaneously published for gay erotica and children's books though. ;-)

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

The squirrel. I love the squirrel.
*grins* I was raised with Gesundheit but down here it's Salud. So nice to see it used.

Sweet kid and the story must be good to inspire artwork.

Now you have to decide if you want to write your stories for early readers or go for the parent reading the story to the child. I'm thinking the latter because if you're telling a story you probably haven't been dumbing it down to the easier early reading words.

*sends encouragement*

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I was raised with gesundheit too! I thought it was a nonsense word until I was a teenager.

I like the idea of writing it as a book for a parent to read to a child, actually. Maybe I'll think on it a bit more and then ask around. I have a whole series about a dog who is a chef that I've been playing with. Hmmm...

Thanks!

[pauraque]

Too cute!

[helens78]

AWWWW. :D

[lauramcewan.livejournal.com]

that is darling!! you totally should do that.

[aome.livejournal.com]

I love the way young kids spell. :D Also, fan art, yay!

[vivilit.livejournal.com]

More things to write on my imaginary "great parenting tips" for when I have my kid. So cool!

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

It's hard to break into, but why not give it a go? and with BG's art to company!

[foxestacado.livejournal.com]

Awww, I LOVE the ACHOO text design. That's actually pretty well done from a technical point of view: it has good spacing and it expresses exactly what it is illustrating (is there a word for a visual onomatopoeia?) And it has such a good rhythm to it too. He's a poet as well!

[kitty_fic]

This is very awesome!

Awwww!

And I'm kind of inspired to start a storytime with my kids now <3

[write-out.livejournal.com]

I love this! Both the nightly telling of stories and his fanart. So sweet!

[piratesmile331.livejournal.com]

This is adorable!

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

How precious!

[tea-for-lupin.livejournal.com]

That is so awesome :) and a great idea about a way to start working in kids' lit!