I'm starting a course on children's graphic novels

This week marked the beginning of an exciting journey as I started the course Mastering Great Graphic Novels & Hybrids offered by the Children's Book Academy. Lately, I've been struggling to find the focus needed to make progress on my graphic memoir, which explores the intersection of disability and working in public health. I thought it would be a good idea to try to transform and tailor this project to a younger audience so that I could see it through a different lens. Some might view the transition from an adult graphic memoir to a children's graphic novel as a significant leap. However, deep down, I've always felt the desire to create a captivating picture book for children, and I'm eager to learn how to do so.

I've been writing for a little longer than I've been drawing, and I appreciate the inclusive environment fostered by the community of artists at CB, which invites either writers or illustrators, or people who dabble in both crafts, to help you develop the skills you may be lacking. Taking a leap of faith, I applied for the scholarship, and to my surprise, I received a generous one, allowing me to enroll in the course and begin an exciting learning adventure.

What's truly amazing is how my story will differ from what I had planned, which was a memoir. When Mira Reisberg, the school's Director, reached out to inform me of my acceptance into the course, she also suggested an alternative project for me to consider. In my application, I mentioned my disability and my passion for typewriters. Mira's visit to my website sparked an idea: create a graphic novel about a character who uses a typewriter to write heartfelt letters to children with disabilities. The idea resonated with me instantly, and it's the project I'll be developing over the upcoming six weeks of the course. I don’t know where the story will lead, but I'm looking forward to diving in and learning a lot about writing and illustrating for a younger audience.

Here’s a synopsis of the project:

Title: The Healing Typewriter: A Story of Courage, Creativity, and Imagination

Age range: 9-12

Description: As she struggles with health challenges, a nine-year-old protagonist faces fear and isolation from her peers. With the support of her beloved companion, a petite typewriter, she finds courage by writing about her fears and connecting with other children with disabilities. She embarks on an inspiring journey revealing resilience as well as the transformative power of creativity and imagination.

Making notes from course materials and organizing them in a colorful folder added to the enjoyment of this project. This should be unlike any previous project I've worked on. I was so taken with what the instructors said at the beginning of the course that I had to write it down in my folder as a reminder:

“Don’t worry about anything being perfect, that’s what this is all about, to help you improve no matter what previous level of experience you have. Things take as long as they take and the less pressure you put on yourself the more wonderful your work will be so long as you actually do it.”

Let the fun begin!