The local elementary school has asked me to do a series of children's books for the first grade class. I have a list of vocabulary words to work around, but besides that I am free to do what I want. I am to write stories and include illustrations. They will be laminated and used  only by the school for future lessons. Still, I am excited. It will be a fun project!

I decided to use a pen name for some of my work. Why? I want to write different genres. Who would want to buy a children's picture book from the same person who wrote erotic lit? Besides, the thought of remaining anonymous behind a pseudonym is very appealing to me, social phobe that I am. So, no excuses, right? Time for me to get my arse in gear and start pushing to get more of my stuff out there. Um...not that I am going to turn down any simple freelance projects that come my way...I just want to do something a bit MORE than creating a web page here and there, writing locally for little or no pay. That sort of thing is helping build my portfolio up a bit but I want to start writing for ME.

So, here I go hesitantly dipping my toe into the turbulent water of the publishing world...eep. I don't have too high expectations...I know it is fiercely competitive to get a book published if you can even get them to take a glance at your submission. Failure and rejection are disheartening (Lol...even my alter ego needs to learn some confidence...) but no one ever got published by sitting around moping that they're no good and would get turned down anyway, right? I suppose the worst they can do is say no. Then I just have to get back up, dust myself off, and try again. Wish me luck.

Tags: pen name, pseudonym, publishing, writing