Public Service Announcement #8
milestones matter and marking them + the picture book class of my dreams!
PSA: Milestones matter, whether invisible or out there
Whether big or minuscule, obviously out there or invisible to anyone but us, milestones matter, and by marking them, we honor the energy and devotion we put into reaching each one. We make that far-off thing more meaningful while enabling us to be proud in this moment, right now—the only moment we can really count on anyway.
It makes me think of how we should say to children: “Hey now, you did that!” Why can’t we say that to ourselves as well?
In writing, a milestone is often: The. Book. Deal. But what about each step that adds up to wherever you’re headed? A class, a draft, a title. A critique, a good line, a good try.
For someone like me who’s been in this for the long game (well over 15 years; is it almost 20?), I’ve got to believe that invisible and incremental milestones matter. Otherwise, I’ll succumb to giving up. The process has to sustain us, and part of that process is commemorating victories that could appear to be nothing, ho-hum, or sometimes even failures. The positive pass, the unsuccessful attempt? They may come full circle, and at the very least, you’ve learned something to carry forward, to change you.
Picture books (and two graphic novels) that touch on milestones of some kind, from making a friend to a dawn horse-ride with Dad, from speaking out for change to summer reading, from first love to investigating a country via one historic road, from saying goodbye to welcoming a special, new experience.
Here goes, some things that are blooming this spring for me
The milestone: a new pair of collaborations with incredible artist Billy Ruffian—behold Billy’s stunning, heartfelt art accompanying my words below! Billy has a print of the first one in her shop—all profits go to MECA for Peace, providing emergency aid to families in Gaza!
The milestone: a piece of potentially good news with my agent who has represented me fearlessly and faithfully for a year and a half. It goes to show that when you’re in the boat with the right person (itself a milestone!), you’re rowing in the right direction.
The milestone: Organizing and moderating a panel on unique publishing paths with Leila Boukarim, Robert Liu-Trujillo, and Navjot Kaur of Saffron Press, which was absolutely inspiring!
The milestone: Over fall and winter, I’ve kept writing. Continued to build a life based on creating—connecting, organizing, making—which is my heartbeat of meaning.
The milestone: Horseback riding lessons! Research for a middle grade novel in verse. It is so out of my usual routine and a wonderful, different kind of flow.
The milestone: writing the curriculum and recording my Writer’s Digest University picture book class !
The personal milestones: Three years since jaw surgery and one year of myofunctional therapy. It’s a long long story, so I’ve written a memoir in verse about my jaw saga, its roots in trauma.
Ways I’ve marked and celebrated milestones:
A friend took me to dinner over the weekend to celebrate the potential good news! I’m in the process of writing thank you cards to key folks who’ve been supportive around it. I’ve noticed these markers and shared them with trusted others. I’ve also been keeping a journal as a record of synchronicities that helped this news come about, a play by play that I might not otherwise remember of all the dots that connected. And, yes, there have been bowls coconut-based vanilla ice cream.
So, what milestones do you try to mark in your creative life or otherwise? What are you noticing is blooming this spring that perhaps you planted ages ago?
How do you or will you celebrate these markers?
My six-week writer’s digest university PB class May 16!
It’s almost here, and you’re invited! I’ve created six video sessions for a new course with Writer’s Digest University (a milestone!). I’m super excited about the topics, activities, picture book examples, student assignments, and the opportunity to meet some writers in office hours as well! I’ll get to help others reach their milestones, one of my favorite things.
Writing and Revising Your Picture Book: From Concept to Polished Project
will give you vital tools to write, revise, understand the “why,” “how,” and “what” of your story and develop a plan for next steps.
As a picture book teacher, editor, and one-on-one coach/mentor, my approach has been described with these words: “energizing, encouraging, productive, straightforward, fun, and confidence-building.”
Stories on Tap in LA, Saturday May 18th
And it’s another Ready, Set, Read event on the books to support early literacy!
I’ve talked about this organization before; now, I get to join folks I admire like Chudney Ross of Books and Cookies, artist and author Mirelle Ortega, and the Lunch Bunch to bring kids stories, crafts, imagination, and joy—plus food trucks! Register right here.
So, how do you mark your milestones? Please share in the comments!
Paid subscriber upgrades
What do you get as a paid subscriber? Aside from supporting me as a writer, I host video Q&A’s two-four times a year. Our first one was full of inspiration all around! If you’re a subscriber who’d like to upgrade before the next, you can join in too! And if you can’t, no worries about that either.
Thank you for spending this time with me and for reading! I hope it served you as moments well spent. And please do tell a friend, leave a comment, or stay tuned for the next PSA from Danielle Davis.
What I love about this approach is that it focuses on the process as well as the product. We're often so focused on the final product, in any endeavor, that we forget the joys inherent in the baby steps. You've inspired me to start a list of smaller milestones.
You know I'm all about celebrating along the way! So glad you're getting some good news. You've paid allllll the dues!