Some people might think because I write for kids that I get off lightly with the work that has to be done. But let me tell you, this is far from the truth. I have been writing for around 20 years. In that time, I have written 70,000 words of a novel that I still haven't finished, due to getting myself completely stuck with plot. I have written a 75,000-word memoir entitled "Oh My God, I'm A lesbian!" which I spent a year sending out to agents before deciding to turn it into my first hour stand - up comedy show. I did change the title to "Who Let the Dyke Out?" I ended up performing this show 15 times across NSW and Melbourne. I had the highs of receiving nominations for awards and the lows of standing and performing the show to just the sound guy. And none of this was as hard as writing my first children's picture book.
I came up with the idea for the story pretty easily. I was driving home from a stand - up comedy gig and thinking about the word Laugh. What could it be an acronym for? By the time I got home I had it. Let A Unicorn Get High. And I thought to myself........."that's a cool name for a kid's book."
I thought about what it's like to be on stage and have no one laughing at your jokes. Then I thought about how it only takes one person, then 2, then several for the laughter to take hold, and how incredible that feeling is. A whole group laughing together is pretty special. It can get you high. So, there it was. LAUGH! Let A Unicorn Get High.
But that was the end of the easy part.
When writing a children's picture book, you don't just write the story and there you go. You have to break it up into shorter passages that will fit on the pages without overcrowding. You have to think about how the story flows as you turn each page. And you have to think about how a child will hear it, when it's read to them. This along with so much more. Especially if you are illustrating it yourself.
There was so much to learn. And if there is one thing I love, it's to learn new skills.
So, I spent a whole year writing the story, having it edited and then working out positioning and flow and readability. And most of all, whether or not it was actually a good story. A story that would capture a child's imagination. Whether or not a child would ask again and again, "can you read the laugh book mummy." I listened to hours and hours of podcasts about writing and writing for children and learning new techniques. And I absolutely fell in love with the magic that writing for children brings. I also rediscovered my love of drawing and making art. I discovered the simple beauty of the watercolour pencil, which I feel doesn't get enough attention in the art world. I have had the time of my life creating my first book and can't wait for my next one.
Which, by the way is nearly finished already.
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