By Tiffany Strelitz Haber

Hi Everyone!

So, in trying to figure out what to write for this post, I was forced to take a cold hard look at what really keeps me going. And the truth is….I have no freaking idea! It’s certainly not nothing. Is it everything?? Little things? Enormous things. Totally random, oddball things? I guess it’s a combination of things that make me want to start writing, and others that make me want to keep writing. And one thing that works wonders like a triple shot of red bull (which I actually find vile and disgusting, so—bad example)—is when I read an interview with an incredibly talented author that I admire and respect, and they say something that makes me think— “Yes! ME TOO!!!” I’m instantly overcome with a case of the warm and fuzzies, coupled with a heart pounding adrenaline surge. It must be something about feeling like maybe, you really do belong? So….to honor the people whose words have been the fuel in my own personal tank, I am going to shush now, and attempt to pay it forward with an assortment of statements that have calmed, excited, tickled, confused, comforted and without question—inspired me. I hope they work for you!

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” — Stephen King

“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” — Christopher Columbus

“I make up a lot of s***.” — Maurice Sendak

“All really good picture books are written to be read 500 times.” — Rosemary Wells

“I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose.” — Stephen King

“There are no rules here. We are trying to accomplish something.” — Thomas Edison

“Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open.” — Stephen King

“So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader that reads.” — Dr. Seuss

“This morning I took out a comma. This afternoon I put it back in.” — Oscar Wilde

“Follow your heart. It is the only right way out of darkness.” — Allison Milana

“Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write “very”; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” — Mark Twain

“I try to leave out the parts that people skip.” — Elmore Leonard

“Every writer I know has trouble writing.” — Joseph Heller

“You fail only if you stop writing.” — Ray Bradbury

Well…there you have it. A selection of yummy tidbits to nibble on. And with Day 27 of PiBoIdMo officially in full swing, we’re in the homestretch now! The time to either slow down and crap out (26 is close enough, right? NOT.)…or push yourself harder than ever, and sail right through the finish line. Here’s to powerful endings!

Tiffany Strelitz Haber is a rhyming children’s book author, represented by Teresa Kietlinski of The Prospect Agency. She has two forthcoming picture books: THE MONSTER WHO LOST HIS MEAN (Holt/Macmillan) Spring 2012, and OLLIE AND CLAIRE (Philomel/Penguin) Spring 2013. To learn more about Tiffany, please visit her website: www.itsrhymetime.com and her facebook author page: www.facebook.com/tshauthor.

Tiffany is giving away a free, in-depth critique of a rhyming picture book manuscript. A winner will be selected at the conclusion of PiBoIdMo.