The Greatest Show On Earth!

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I never really had the chance to go to the circus when I was growing up.  In my small town by the bayous of southern Louisiana, we had a Duck Festival where we had a Duck Queen, a Duck Calling Contest and a few arcade games or kiddie rides, but no circus.  But even though Ringling Brothers never came to town when I was a kid, it didn't mean I didn't imagine myself becoming a circus performer one day.

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I have big dreams.  I don't mean like training some pups to sit on a stool kinda dreams.  Although I tried really hard one summer to teach my half-Chihuahua/half-mutt dog named Penny to do some tricks but she was more confused than I was on how to go about it properly.  Kinda like trying to teach my brain how to write a great story.  Just when I think I should maybe try my hands at a little writing project, like my version of War & Peace, I decide to try the grand finale of literature tricks and write Picture Books.

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And the only way I'm going to be that star performer is to practice every day. Every week. Every month. Every...well, you get the idea.  I can't just run through the moves of trying to write a picture book...throw a few words on paper...and think it's a good story, much less a great one!  It takes talent, finesse, and a lot of patience to produce a story worthy of performing in front of others.

Some of us can go too quickly and our timing is off.  We fumble and only end up embarrassing ourselves (and those around us) by not getting the tricks right.  

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Then there are some of us who go slowly, honing our skills, studying our craft, and starting out small until one day we realize there are tigers in the room and we aren't afraid to go after them.  We are ready for the big show and can perform at the level editors and publishers expect of us.  

I want to be THAT kind of performer.  A star-studded, fishnet-stockinged daredevil circus star who takes on the most difficult challenges and makes them bow to her flying fingers on the keyboard.  And one day, when I'm good enough, maybe I will even take on the biggest challenge of all...

RHYMING PICTURE BOOKS!

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