Last year I attempted the glorious challenge that is PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month). But somehow, extracting 1 picture book idea a day for a whole month didn't quite happen. I'm grateful I tried. I still had a solid 10+ ideas that sprung from that pass. I was pregnant and feeling zapped physically, emotionally, and creatively.
I pushed those feelings aside and gave it another shot this year. I'm only on day 7 but I feel tremendously good about the challenge so far. What is shocking to me, is that I'm not spending much time at all on it, yet the ideas keep coming. I don't even attempt to keep a notebook handy for jotting down those fleeting ideas. I'm a stay-at-home-mom to nearly 3 year old boy and an almost 6 month old girl. I'm lucky if I manage to keep the house (and kids) from imploding on a daily basis, much less keep track of a notebook and pen that are also out of my son's scribbling reach.
Here's my reality. In staggering order, I put both kids down for an afternoon nap. I tiptoe away (usually returning umpteen times to get everyone really sleeping). I take care of any immediate needs and plunk myself down anywhere with a battered old notebook. I try not to 'internet' for more than a few minutes, just getting down to business. The toys on the floor will wait.
And then the magic happens. I've never had ideas just appear like this before. I'm grateful and trying not to question it too much. I think the memory of last year's creative funk has fortified me. I've fully accepted that my illustration career looks a lot different from my helm as Captain Mom. I'm sticking to my resolution of just doing what makes me happy. I'm tapping into my childhood more as my older son approaches the age my own memories begin. I'm not letting the lack of time for making books stop the ideas from them coming to the surface. This magic spell might wear off tomorrow, but who has time to worry about that?
