Day 23 of the Golden Coffee Cup: Dreams into Reality

Today's high five comes to us from Dr. Jonas Salk, the doctor and researcher who developed a vaccine for poliomyelitis:



I think that you might be surprised to find that a brilliant scientist has so much to say to those who create children's books. For me, the divide between artist and scientist is almost invisible in terms of creative work.

Dr. Salk said, "An artist's only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else's. "

Your work must be your own. There is a time to listen to other voices, but there is also time to move away from all the noise and shoot for the illusive perfection that only you have eyes to see.

Another thought from Dr. Salk, Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.

Think about this. Those dreams rolling around in your head in the morning, those daydreams that you slip into while staring out the window, that's the cauldron that brings our imaginations to life; that's the birth place of hope in our soul. Open up to your dreams today. Open up to your to the full brunt of your imagination.

Here's another thought from Dr. Salk, I have had dreams, and I've had nightmares. I overcame the nightmares because of my dreams.

All those voices in your head that try to convince you that you'll never finish this, it's a freaking waste of time. All the nightmares that haunt you, you will rise above them all because of your dreams. Dream on, Golden Coffee Cuppers. Dream on.

Here's one more Dr. Salk quote:
I pictured myself as a virus or a cancer cell and tried to sense what it would be like.

You have to do the same thing to write a book, how weird is that? You must slip inside your characters and sense what they are like, what their world is like. Take some time today and get inside your characters. Picture you in the center of the story, become the wombat, princess, foundling, baby, alien, kid, dinosaur, owl etc. This is will help you steer a clear course through the creation process.

I could go on, but again sleep is sounding like a fab idea. Turn your dreams into reality, folks. Let me know how it goes. SNAP! SNAP! SNAP!


Last, you've marked your calendars for a meet-and-greet, here's the info:

Seattle Kid-Lit Drink Night--Did you do Molly Blaisdell’s Golden Coffee Cup Challenge? NANOWRIMO? Did you make any kind of writing and/or illustrating goal in November?

If you hit the jackpot…if you plodded along…even if you didn’t take a single step…come to celebrate and hang out with your peers at our own Kidlit Drink Night! November 30th at Broadway Grill in Seattle (on Broadway in Capitol Hill, across from the QFC – 328-7000) at 5:30pm. Cash bar. Molly will be giving out the Golden Coffee Cup awards (Don't worry if you're from out of town, you don't have to be present to win.

Street parking is available, or you can park at QFC for a small parking fee (or get your ticket validated by making a purchase).

Questions? Go to Holly Cupala's blog or ask me. :) Hope to see you!