What COVID Told Me at the Kitchen Sink

If COVID-19 could talk it would say a killer virus makes time stand still. Three months inside feels more like a year. But don’t get comfy in limbo. Time is promised to no one.

As a New Yorker, isolating in the epicenter of a global pandemic, I had an epiphany while washing my bananas (and the rest of my precious groceries). If I had anything to say about what I actually loved doing (writing for children), I shouldn’t let it wait. So, I decided to move forward on KidLit Crossing, a survival blog for children’s authors and illustrators.

What held me back from blogging?

Probably thinking I didn’t belong. See I was waiting for a virtual hug, some book publishing love, though I knew I was up to the task. Maybe I said it better on Twitter:

“I’m a balanced individual:
I have low self-esteem offset by a very high opinion of myself.”

Why did I feel like an outlier in kidlit?

In the 2000s I had a nice run in kidlit: four published picture books and a full schedule of school visits. Then I wrote for grownups in a city office, regular hours with reliable pay. But after a decade of writing black and white newsletters for the financial services industry, the colors of kidlit lured me back.

I returned to fiction and picture book writing but quickly learned that kidlit publishing had changed. There were more people working at the craft and fewer houses acquiring work. If I was going to stay the course without cracking up, I ’d better buckle up for a rocky ride.

So, I got busy writing and gathering advice from agents, editors, podcasters, bloggers, and my hard-working peers. All good stuff. But I also listened to the voices in my head, and the bad stuff was louder: “You can’t blog without a new book. You’ve got nothing to say!” Then COVID happened. The world sort of broke. And I told my head to shut up.

But everyone in kidlit struggles!

Those who acquire books hit emotional highs and lows. And writers and illustrators, at every career level, hit bumps in the road. Still, the children’s book community is a generous clan sharing a deep respect for our mission. We can support one another during triumphs and applaud our productivity and bravery when the publishing love doesn’t come back.

What will I blog about?

I’ll post road-tested advice from fellow writers and illustrators…deliver inspiring takeaways from fabulous podcasts…round up craft guidance from publishing pros…and share remedies for the emotional and physical strains built into creating. Whether sketching or writing, it’s a whole lot of sitting and striving.        

As we phase out of COVID isolation, I invite you to spend time at KidLit Crossing. Tell me what’s on your mind. Send your tips and coping skills. Reveal what derails you and gets you back on track. Together, let’s stay motivated and sane as we do what we love—creating literature for the young.