Erin Ulrich -

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children's book sneak peek - illustration by be small studios

Finding time for creativity in the midst of the day to day is often a challenge for my husband Phil and I. Wait . . . let me rephrase that. Our job requires us to be creative, but finding time for our own creative projects is difficult. By the time we’ve designed for others, we’re usually spent.

It’s worth carving out time
to bring a dream to life.

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That’s exactly what Phil and I have done over the past few months. We’ve been writing our first children’s chapter book. The story came to life in the early morning hours, during stolen daytime moments, and late into the night. Life and work must go on, but when something is truly important and the time is right, so much can be accomplished. We sent the manuscript to the amazing Sandra Peoples, who read our words and showed us how to make them even better.

With the story ready, we knew there was still an important element missing. What children’s book is complete without illustrations?

It’s an odd feeling to entrust your beloved characters to someone in hopes that they will read and see and bring them to life just as they are in your mind’s eye. You write the words, but do they translate clearly to someone else? It’s a huge question. And it was incredible to see how closely Annie of Be Small Studios managed to capture the personality of our characters in her illustrations.

It won’t be long now . . . the book is coming soon. If you’d like to hear more, sign up for the Growly Books email updates below:

You can also find the Growly Books on Facebook!

find a writing buddy

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find a writing buddy - erinulrich.com

I’ve shared before about how I wanted to quit while writing my book. It’s a common feeling. If you read that post, you may remember that one of the things pushing me towards the finish line was the fact that I had a co-author to think about. A writing buddy.

It’s early in a new year. Most of us are considering goals and plans for 2013. Is this the year you’re going to write a book? There’s really never been a better time. If you have a book in the works, I encourage you to find a writing buddy. You don’t have to write a book together. It can be someone who is writing a book of their own. The point is to find a friend who is working on a big writing project, so that you can come alongside each other and walk through the process together.

It’s easier to take on a big project when you have someone to encourage you along the way, someone to hold you accountable, and someone to give you constructive feedback when you need it. We all need a fresh set of eyes every now and then.

I encourage you to make finding a writing buddy one of your goals for this year. Then work out a system of support and accountability that works for both of you. That might mean a weekly phone call or emails or Skype chats. If you live in the same town, you could meet for coffee and discuss your progress. Writing is by nature a solitary task, but there is strength in community and in the support of others.