June Theme: Wanting to be a writer
by
Stephanie J. Blake
I've always known that I'd be a writer.
THE END.
Just kidding.
Creative Writing came to me naturally when I was in junior high. I wrote a ton of poetry. Most of it was angst-filled and heart-wrenching about my first high school love. I never showed my writing to anyone.
I took a playwriting class my 2nd year of college, and got serious about submitting my poetry to magazines and literary journals. Had a few publications. I got my BA degree in English. My minor was Technical Writing. I come from a long line of teachers and educators.
My father said, "What on earth will you do with an English degree if you aren't going to teach?"
I got a job in telecom. For seven (boring) years, I wrote employee handbooks, policies & procedure manuals, training materials. I drafted proposals and benefits summaries.
It wasn't until I was a stay-home mom of three, in 2005, that I started writing stories for kids. I was inspired by something one of my babies said.
"Mama, if I were a baby kangaroo, I could ride around in your pocket all day."
I wrote a picture book about baby animals. It came very close to being accepted at a small publisher.
I started writing lots of (mostly bad) picture book manuscripts. I wrote a novel. Then, I wrote another one. And another. Finally, I sold THE MARBLE QUEEN.
"Hey Dad, that's what I'm doing with an English degree (and $30,000 in student loans)."
THE END.
Just kidding.
I just sold my first picture book. It's also inspired by my children who are obsessed with zombies.
MY ROTTEN FRIEND will be out next year with Albert Whitman.
Stephanie J. Blake
I've always known that I'd be a writer.
THE END.
Just kidding.
Creative Writing came to me naturally when I was in junior high. I wrote a ton of poetry. Most of it was angst-filled and heart-wrenching about my first high school love. I never showed my writing to anyone.
I took a playwriting class my 2nd year of college, and got serious about submitting my poetry to magazines and literary journals. Had a few publications. I got my BA degree in English. My minor was Technical Writing. I come from a long line of teachers and educators.
My father said, "What on earth will you do with an English degree if you aren't going to teach?"
I got a job in telecom. For seven (boring) years, I wrote employee handbooks, policies & procedure manuals, training materials. I drafted proposals and benefits summaries.
It wasn't until I was a stay-home mom of three, in 2005, that I started writing stories for kids. I was inspired by something one of my babies said.
"Mama, if I were a baby kangaroo, I could ride around in your pocket all day."
I wrote a picture book about baby animals. It came very close to being accepted at a small publisher.
I started writing lots of (mostly bad) picture book manuscripts. I wrote a novel. Then, I wrote another one. And another. Finally, I sold THE MARBLE QUEEN.
"Hey Dad, that's what I'm doing with an English degree (and $30,000 in student loans)."
THE END.
Just kidding.
I just sold my first picture book. It's also inspired by my children who are obsessed with zombies.
MY ROTTEN FRIEND will be out next year with Albert Whitman.
Love this post Stephanie...NOT kidding! Congratulations on the PB.
ReplyDeleteSo excited to meet your rotten friend! Glad you dumped the boring writing job. xo
ReplyDeleteI feel like those opening lines are my story, too, Steph. ;) I can't wait to hear more about MY ROTTEN FRIEND.
ReplyDeleteThis cracked me up! I CANNOT wait to read My Rotten Friend! I'm so addicted to zombies and I'm usually a big chicken butt!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing....looking forward to the book. Sounds like a fun one!
ReplyDeleteI love this! Congratulations on the PB -- you always inspire.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Stephanie! I felt honest-to-goodness anxiety when I read the part about you doing all that technical writing!
ReplyDelete