I was chatting with an author friend the other day and we both lamenting on how our passion for writing books has led to an unfortunate side effect. That dedication to our work (which includes sitting on our bums all day) has resulted in an increase in the size of our jeans!
It reminded me of a cartoon I had seen many years ago that depicted a patient who had gone to the doctor about weight gain. As the patient sat on the exam table, he asked the physician, “Doc, why have I gained so much weight?”
The doctor glanced up from his clipboard and replied, “I think you have about five books inside of you.”
My friend and I had a good laugh over this visual concept and both agreed that we better get to writing because, between the two of us, it appears we have about 20 books to get out!
As of the writing of this blog post, I have fifteen diverse children’s books to my credit under my Deedee Cummings author name. It has been a long haul, but one filled with joy and many rewards. I wish I could say it was butterflies, unicorns, and Best Seller Lists, but the reality is that it’s hard work. Hard work that never lets up. And when you are eyeball-deep in printing issues or trying to come up with yet another attention-grabbing book summary, you tend to forget your “why.”
“Why” you became an author in the first place.
But for me, as soon as I see a child pick up of my books and I see their faces light up with the “Hey! that character looks like ME!” type of recognition, all the emotional bumps and bruises from the writing journey disappears.
Whether we have one book or twenty “inside of us,” most authors want to write because they have a story to share. They want their books to resonate, entertain, educate, inspire, comfort, and make a difference…no matter what genre they write in.
We all want that “Hey! That’s ME!” moment.
Writing is not always the easiest industry to be a part of. You open yourself up to a lot of criticism and there is a lot to learn. Writing and publishing books is a little like growing tomatoes. It takes time to cultivate and create. It takes time to see the fruits of our labor. But, when it comes to both, I want to encourage you to keep showing up strong every season.
So, my writer friends, go start writing that book that is inside of you today.
Deedee Cummings (Author)
As a therapist, attorney, CEO of Make A Way Media, and author of fifteen children’s books, Deedee Cummings has a passion for ensuring equality, inclusion, and social justice for the next generation. Since her first book was published in 2014, Cummings has been on a mission to help young dreamers and doers “see themselves” in the pages of the books they read.
Cummings has spent more than two decades working within the family therapy and support field, and much of her writing shares her experiences of working with kids in therapeutic foster care.
By the end of 2021, this #OWNVOICES author will have fifteen diverse children’s books to her credit, including the Rapid Release of her Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess five-book series. All fifteen of Cummings’ diverse picture, poetry, and workbooks for kids reflect her professional knowledge and love of life.
Cummings is also the founder and creator of the Louisville Book Festival, a literacy-based celebration in Louisville, KY, celebrated on October 23rd and 24th, 2021.
To learn more about Deedee Cummings and her work, connect with her via her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.