I Have an Instagram!

Someone in my picture book critique group decided to make an Instagram account, and the rest of us sort of trickled along to join her. I didn't know exactly what to post. I'm not the selfie type. One day I had the idea to draw a little bird, inspired by one of my picture book stories. In the caption I said how one day I  would like to have the time to learn how to be an illustrator. Someone commented, "Why not now?" Hmm...

A couple years ago, I told my mom that I had started writing seriously again. She told me that she always thought I'd write and illustrate my own books. I was shocked she had this image of me. To be fair, I did a lot of poetry when I was younger and took a lot of art classes all the way through college. I was really into both. But I hadn't written stories since third grade. We wrote and illustrated a lot of our own stories in that class. I probably still have all of mine in a box in the basement.

Anyhoo, long story short, I've started drawing. I downloaded a free app for my iPad and am using a freebie stylus I got from school. I've started studying published books. I've started following illustrators and participating in the #kidlitart chat every week. 

At this point, the dream is far from being reality. Will I ever illustrate my own book? Who knows? But I'm having fun drawing again. And I'm going to keep going, one step at a time.

Are you on Instagram? Come check me out!


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